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John 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

What does John 1:8 mean?

Explanation

John 1:8 discusses the role of John the Baptist relative to Jesus Christ.

It emphasizes that while John was a significant religious figure, he himself was not the Light, which in this context refers to Jesus, the Messiah, and the Son of God.

The “Light” is a metaphor for truth, spiritual illumination, and salvation, embodying the divine and redemptive presence of Jesus.

John the Baptist's mission was to bear witness to Jesus, to testify to the coming of the Light, and to prepare people for the reception of Jesus' teachings and ministry.

The verse underscores the distinction between herald and the subject of the heralding, emphasizing John's role as a precursor and not the fulfillment of the prophecy concerning the Messiah.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of John, traditionally attributed to John the Evangelist, one of Jesus' original disciples, is believed to have been written late in the first century, around AD 90-100.

Its context is shaped by the theological reflections of early Christians as they sought to understand the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

John the Baptist was an historical figure, a Jewish preacher and prophet who baptized many in the River Jordan, and was widely recognized for his role in laying the groundwork for Jesus’ ministry.

The verse reflects the early Christian community's efforts to distinguish Jesus from other significant figures in the religious landscape of the time, such as John the Baptist, and to establish Jesus' divine nature and unique role as the anticipated Messiah, promised in Jewish scriptures.

Theological Insights

From a theological perspective, John 1:8 can be seen as a key component in establishing the preeminence of Christ in Christian belief. It distinguishes the human prophet John from the divine nature of Jesus Christ.

In Christian Orthodoxy, the verse signifies the importance of divine revelation through Jesus and the vital role of human witnesses like John the Baptist who point towards Christ.
Catholic interpretation may emphasize the importance of apostolic witness, highlighting John the Baptist's role in divine providence leading to the revelation of Jesus Christ.
From a Protestant viewpoint, the focus could be on sola scriptura, where the Scriptures alone (including the testimony of John the Baptist) reveal the truth of Jesus Christ as the Light and Savior.

Practical Applications

In practical terms, John 1:8 encourages individuals:

To recognize and respect the role of spiritual leaders while focusing on the ultimate importance of Jesus Christ.
To embody humility, acknowledging that while one may guide others towards faith, the role of salvific Light belongs solely to Christ.
To be witnesses to the truth and the light of Christ in their daily actions and to share His teachings with others.

Cross-References

John 1:7 - "The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe."
John 1:20 - "And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ."
John 1:15 - "John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me."
Matthew 3:11 - "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance. but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire."

Language Study

The key words in the original language (Greek) of John 1:8 include:

"Light" (φῶς, phōs): Referring to light in a literal sense, as well as metaphorically to truth and moral illumination.

In the context of the Gospel, it is a title for Jesus, embodying the divine truth.

"Witness" (μαρτυρέω, martyreō): To testify or bear witness, often used in a legal context; in the New Testament, it often refers to proclaiming religious truth.
"Sent" (ἀπέσταλκεν, apestalken): Denotes being dispatched or sent off with a mission, in John's case, by God to prepare the way for Christ.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Comparatively, many ancient cultures had figures who preceded and pointed towards a greater deity or king. For example, in Egyptian mythology, Anubis prepared the way for Osiris, just as John the Baptist paved the way for Jesus.

Some religious traditions have prophetic figures who precede a major figure, like the concept of Elijah's return in Judaism before the coming of the Messiah.

Scientific Perspectives

While the scientific perspective does not typically intersect with metaphysical claims about spiritual light and darkness, it is interesting to consider the importance of light in life from a biological standpoint.

Light, especially sunlight, is essential for life on Earth, providing the energy necessary for plants to grow through photosynthesis, which in turn supports all other life forms.

This life-giving quality of light parallels the symbolic life-giving and enlightening role Jesus is described as having in the spiritual realm.

commentaries

The verse has been explored by various biblical scholars and commentators.

Some emphasize the christological aspect, like Cyril of Alexandria, who saw John the Baptist's role as testifying to the true Light of Christ. Luther viewed John's role as one of true humility and as a model for all believers to point away from themselves to Christ.

Modern commentators such as **N.T.

Wright** stress the continuation of God's plan through John the Baptist, seeing him as a fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, while **R.C.

Sproul** underlines the importance of the witness to truth in a world that can often reject the light of Christ.

John 1

John 1

What does John 1:8 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 1:8 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?