Prologue - Week 1

John 1:1-18


Note: The study related to these questions may be found at Catholic Exchange. Please go to their site for the complete material concerning this study. Unless otherwise noted, on scriptural references are from the Revised Standard Version (RSV). Below are my thoughts on the questions presented for the given study (Please see disclaimer at bottom).

Read John 1:1-18

1. What are the opening words of John's gospel intended to remind us of? Who or what is the Word? List the all the parallels you can find between the opening verses of John and the opening verses of Genesis.
(a) The opening words are intended to remind us of the creation event. (b) The Word is Jesus Christ. (c) There are many similarities. Among them:



2. Is the "Word" in verses 2-3 a creature or the Creator, according to John? What does John mean by "all things"? (See 1 Corinthians 8:6 and Colossians 1:16.)
(a) The "Word" is the Creator. (b) From 1 Corinthians and Colossians:
yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. (1 Cor 8:6)
He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation (Col 1:16)
John is referring to all of creation (i.e. the universe)

3. Verse 4 states that "the life was the light of men." What are some of meanings of "life" for John? (See John 3:16, 3:36, 6:27, 10:10 and 14:6.) What are some of the meanings of "light"? (See Proverbs 4:19, Isaiah 60:1-3, John 3:19-21 and John 8:12.)
(a) Some meanings for life:
For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him. (John 3:36)
Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on him has God the Father set his seal." (John 6:27)
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
From these passages we see that John means eternal life in heaven when he refers to life. (b) Some meanings of light:
18: But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. 19: The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. (Prov 4:18-19)
1: Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 2: For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. 3: And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. (Is 60:1-3)
19: And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20: For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21: But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God. (John 3:19-21)
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:6)
The light in this context refers to the Christ

4. What kind of darkness did does John have in mind in verse 5? (See Proverbs 4:18, Psalms 82:4-5, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Ephesians 5:8, and Acts 26.18.) The word translated "overcome" can also mean "understood." What would John mean by that double meaning?
(a) Some quotes related to "darkness":
4: Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." 5: They have neither knowledge nor understanding, they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. (Ps 82:4-5)
In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the likeness of God. (2 Cor 4:4)
for once you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (Eph 5:8)
to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' (Acts 26:18)
By darkness John probably means sin and the state of sinfulness. (b) If we change the word to understood it shows that without Christ's Redemptive act, we would not be able to understand the gift of salvation.

5. Read verses 6-8. Who is John? What was John's mission, according to gospel? What was not John's mission? Why would the evangelist need to emphasize that John was not the light?
(a) John the Baptist was a man sent by God (i.e. a prophet) (b) John's mission was to bear witness to Christ. (c) In order to address any who thought that John the Baptist might be the Christ. From the Book of Acts:
24: Now a Jew named Apol'los, a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus. He was an eloquent man, well versed in the scriptures. 25: He had been instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, he spoke and taught accurately the things concerning Jesus, though he knew only the baptism of John. (Acts 18:24-25)


6. Read Acts 14:16-17, Romans 1:19-20 and Romans 2:14-16. In John 1: 9-10, what does John mean by "the light that enlightens every man"? What does this foreshadow about the reception Jesus was to receive?
(a)
16: In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways; 17: yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good and gave you from heaven rains and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness." (Acts 14:16-17)
19: For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20: Ever since the creation of the world his invisible nature, namely, his eternal power and deity, has been clearly perceived in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse; (Rom 1:19-20)
14: When Gentiles who have not the law do by nature what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15: They show that what the law requires is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or perhaps excuse them 16: on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (Rom 2:14-16)
The "light that enlightens every man" is the fulfillment of the law, that is the natural law, through Christ. In other words, Christ has made fully known to man what was made partially known through creation. Namely, God exists and is the Creator.

7. What does John mean by "his own home" and "his own people" in verse 11?
(a) This could be a reference to when Jesus visited his own country:
53: And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54: and coming to his own country he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55: Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56: And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?" 57: And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house." 58: And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. (Matt 13:53-58)
However, given John's penchant for duality of meaning, he could also be referring to how the Jews, the nation of Israel, did not accept the message of Christ and crucified Him.

8. Read verses 12-13. What is the contrast between "all" and "his own people"? Does the evangelist believe we can become children of God simply by willing it? Does he teach that we can become children of God against our will? What is the contrast between birth "of blood" or "of the flesh" and birth "of God"?
(a) All refers to those who did accept the message of Christ, namely the Jews and the Gentiles. (b) No. (c) No. (d) The contrast between a birth "of blood" or "of the flesh" and a birth "of God" is that the latter is a birth into eternal life.

9. The memory verse in this lesson states that the "Word became flesh." What does John mean by "the Word became flesh"? Where does the glory of Jesus come from? (See Col. 2:9, John 7:18, 11:4, & Hebrews 1:3.)
(a) John is referring to the Incarnation. This affirms that fact that Jesus became fully human. (b) Passages related to the source of Jesus' glory:
For in him the whole fulness of deity dwells bodily, (Col 2:9)
He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. (John 7:18)
But when Jesus heard it he said, "This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by means of it." (John 11:4)
He reflects the glory of God and bears the very stamp of his nature, upholding the universe by his word of power. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Heb 1:3)
The glory of Jesus comes from God.

10. John states in verse 15 that Jesus was before him. What is the double meaning of "before" in this statement?
(a) The double meaning of before is first that Jesus was greater than John and second that Jesus existed before John existed. This is obvious when you consider that the "Word" created everything.

11. What is "grace"? (See the Catechism of the Catholic Church [hereafter CCC], paragraph #257.)
(a) From the Catechism:
257 "O blessed light, O Trinity and first Unity!"93 God is eternal blessedness, undying life, unfading light. God is love: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God freely wills to communicate the glory of his blessed life. Such is the "plan of his loving kindness", conceived by the Father before the foundation of the world, in his beloved Son: "He destined us in love to be his sons" and "to be conformed to the image of his Son", through "the spirit of sonship".94 This plan is a "grace [which] was given to us in Christ Jesus before the ages began", stemming immediately from Trinitarian love.95 It unfolds in the work of creation, the whole history of salvation after the fall, and the missions of the Son and the Spirit, which are continued in the mission of the Church.96 (CCC 257)
93 LH, Hymn for Evening Prayer.
94 Eph 1:4-5,9; Rom 8:15,29.
95 2 Tim 1:9-10.
96 Cf. AG 2-9.
Grace is first and foremost a gift from God. In this context, grace refers to God's destiny for us in "love to be his sons" and "to be conformed to the image of His Son".

12. According to the statement in verse 17, why does John think Jesus is superior to Moses?
(a) For while the law came through Moses, salvation came through Christ.

13. Read verse 18. How does God reveal himself to us? What is the "bosom" of the Father? (See CCC, paragraph #151.)
(a) God reveals Himself through Jesus Christ. (b) From the Catechism:
151 For a Christian, believing in God cannot be separated from believing in the One he sent, his "beloved Son", in whom the Father is "well pleased"; God tells us to listen to him.18 The Lord himself said to his disciples: "Believe in God, believe also in me."19 We can believe in Jesus Christ because he is himself God, the Word made flesh: "No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known."20 Because he "has seen the Father", Jesus Christ is the only one who knows him and can reveal him.21 (CCC, 151)
18 Mk 1:11; cf. 9:7.
19 Jn 14:1.
20 Jn 1:18.
21 Jn 6:46; cf. Mt 11:27.
The "bosom" of God is a reference to Jesus and God being one and the same.

Disclaimer: I do not wish to present myself as an expert in either theology, history, or scriptural interpretation. I am merely someone who is attempting to answer the call of Christ. The ultimate authority and interpreter of scripture is our Holy Catholic Church. If at any point I deviate from the teachings of the Church, please correct me, alfredo@nevarez.net, as this is my shortcoming and in no way meant to be an expression of my views superceding those of the Church founded by Jesus Christ.

San Jose Bible Study
 Alfredo Nevarez
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 alfredo@nevarez.net
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