John 1

Chapter 1

1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Word

Gr. "Logos" (arm. "Memra," used in the Targums, or Heb. paraphrases, for God). The Greek term means,

(1) a thought or concept;

(2) the expression or utterance of that thought. As a designation of Christ, therefore, Logos is peculiarly felicitous because,

(1) in Him are embodied all the treasures of the divine wisdom, the collective "thought" of God 1 Corinthians 1:24 ; Ephesians 3:11 ; Colossians 2:2 Colossians 2:3 and,

(2) He is from eternity, but especially in His incarnation, the utterance or expression of the Person, and "thought" of Deity John 1:3-5 John 1:9 John 1:14-18 ; 14:9-11 ; Colossians 2:9 .

In the Being, Person, and work of Christ, Deity is told out.

1:5  And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

comprehended

Or, apprehended; lit. "laid not hold of it."

1:10  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

world

kosmos = mankind. (See Scofield "Matthew 4:8")

1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

He came

i.e. He came unto his own things, and his own people received him not.

1:17  For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

grace

Grace. Summary:

(1) Grace is "the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man. . . not by works of righteousness which we have done" Titus 3:4 Titus 3:5 .

It is, therefore, constantly set in contrast to law, under which God demands righteousness from man, as, under grace, he gives righteousness to man Romans 3:21 Romans 3:22 ; 8:4 ; Philemon 3:9 . Law is connected with Moses and works; grace with Christ and faith ; John 1:17 ; Romans 10:4-10 . Law blesses the good; grace saves the bad ; Exodus 19:5 ; Ephesians 2:1-9 . Law demands that blessings be earned; grace is a free gift ; Deuteronomy 28:1-6 ; Ephesians 2:8 ; Romans 4:4 Romans 4:5 .

(2) As a dispensation, grace begins with the death and resurrection of Christ Romans 3:24-26 Romans 4:24 Romans 4:25 . The point of testing is no longer legal obedience as the condition of salvation, but acceptance or rejection of Christ, with good works as a fruit of salvation, ; John 1:12 John 1:13 ; 3:36 ; Matthew 21:37 ; 22:24 ; John 15:22 John 15:25 ; Hebrews 1:2 ; 1 John 5:10-12 . The immediate result of this testing was the rejection of Christ by the Jews, and His crucifixion by Jew and Gentile Acts 4:27 . The predicted end of the testing of man under grace is the apostasy of the professing church: See "Apostasy" (See Scofield "2 Timothy 3:1") 2 Timothy 3:1-8 and the resultant apocalyptic judgments.

(3) Grace has a twofold manifestation: in salvation Romans 3:24 and in the walk and service of the saved Romans 6:15 .

See, for the other six dispensations:

Innocence, (See Scofield "Genesis 1:28")

Conscience, (See Scofield "Genesis 3:23")

Human Government, (See Scofield "Genesis 8:21")

Promise, (See Scofield "Genesis 12:1")

Law, (See Scofield "Exodus 19:8")

Kingdom, (See Scofield "Ephesians 1:10") .

1:18  No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

hath seen God

CF Genesis 32:20 ; Exodus 24:10 ; 33:18 ; Judges 6:22 ; 13:22 ; Revelation 22:4 . The divine essence, God, veiled in angelic form, and especially as incarnate in Jesus Christ, has been seen of men. ; Genesis 18:2 Genesis 18:22 ; John 14:8 John 14:9 .

declared Lit. led him forth, i.e. into full revelation. John 14:9 .

1:29  The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

sins

Sin. (See Scofield "Romans 3:23") .

1:39  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.

Come The call to discipleship. Cf. Matthew 4:18-22 the call to service.

tenth hour That was two hours before night.

1:51  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.

angels

(See Scofield "Hebrews 1:4")