John 1:1 - Jesus Is God.
John 1:1; Jesus Is God.
John 1:1 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God.
WORD STUDY
The Word: John 1:1 is probably the strongest passage in the New
Testament for declaring the deity of Jesus Christ. Because of this many
who deny this biblical doctrine, especially cultists, have attempted
to undercut it by arguing that this passage only teaches that Jesus
is "a god" and so not fully Deity. This confused position falls on
at least two grounds. Such a view is polytheistic, the belief in
more than one god. Second, it betrays a misunderstanding of Greek
grammar. Verse 1 of the first chapter of John reads, "In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." The
last portion of 1:1 is the major point of contention. It reads in the
Greek theos en ho logos, or literally, "the Word was God." God, or
theos, occurs in this verse without the Greek article ho, so that some
have contended that the lack of the article in the Greek text should
cause the statement to be translated "the Word was a god." The best
understanding for the translation, however, as recognized by Greek scholars,
is that since theos is a predicate and precedes the noun logos and
a verb, it is natural for it to occur here without the article.
Greek scholars are agreed that the verse should be translated as it
regularly is in modern and ancient translations, clearly affirming that
Jesus is indeed God. [Nelson SB]
In the beginning. Before time began, Christ was already in
existence with God. That is what is meant by the term "the pre-existent
Christ.".... In this verse the Word (Christ) is said to be with God (i.e., in
communion with and yet distinct from God) and to be God (i.e., identical
in essence with God). [Ryrie SB]
The robe he [Christ] wore was covered with blood. His name is
"The Word of God." Revelation 19:13 (TEV)
APPLICATION COMMENTARY
One may observe that at the very outset of John's Gospel he
states his thesis, namely, that Jesus is the eternal God of the ages
come in human flesh.... Regarding Jesus Christ, the Bible asserts full
deity and perfect humanity in one Person. [Believer's SB]
The Bible shows Jesus as fully human and fully God. Although
Jesus took upon himself full humanity and lived as a man, he never
ceased to be the eternal God who has always existed, the Creator and
Sustainer of all things, and the source of eternal life. This is the truth
about Jesus, and the foundation of all truth. [Life Application SB]
The Gospel of John opens by reminding us that Jesus is eternal.
He existed from before time began, before he became human and made
his home among us. Jesus is eternal because he is God. This fact
relates to one of Christianity's key doctrines-the doctrine of the
Trinity.
The term Trinity is not found in the Bible; however, the idea is
there. The Bible speaks of God being eternally existent as the Father,
the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Not three gods, but one God eternally
existent in three distinct persons. Not one God who can switch back and
forth from different modes, but one God ever present as three distinct
persons. Admittedly, this is a great mystery, but it is central to our
faith.
John wrote in one of his letters, "We know that the Son of God
has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the
true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we
live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ" (1 John 5:20). The Son
became human not only in order to die for our sins but also so that we
might know God better. [The One Year Bible for New Believers re John
1]
"Three gods! You've got three gods!"
That misunderstanding of Christian faith is common in both
Muslim and Jewish circles. And yet Christians claim, "No. We have one
God, the God of the Old Testament, who is shown in the New Testament
to exist in three Persons."
It's nonsense to many, of course. And yet as we read John's
first verses, we see that this is just what the Bible teaches. The
Word, a few verses later on identified as the Son incarnate, Jesus
Christ, was there in the beginning. He was with God. And He was God.
Many attempts have been made to find an analogy that will help
us better grasp the mystery of the Trinity: the Three-in-Oneness of
Scripture's one God. All fall short. The Trinity remains a mystery. Perhaps
the best suggestion though was made in the fourth century of our era
by Saint Augustine. Augustine argued that God must be a Trinity,
for God is love. Before the Creation of the world, God must have had
someone to love, and some way to convey love. It follows, Augustine
taught, that there must be Three within the oneness of God: a Father to
love, a Son to be the object of that love, and a Holy Spirit to convey
and express love.
What a thought. Before God created, God was a Person who loved.
Because He existed as a Trinity, God has always been able to express
that love fully within His own being. And yet God's love is so great
that it overflowed beyond His own self. In love God created the world
and populated it with persons in His own image. In love God gave
those persons freedom of choice. And, in love, God sacrificed the Son
He loved to preserve all who believe from the disastrous and
eternal consequences of the choices they have made.
The Gospel of John is not only the Gospel of belief and faith,
as most emphasize. John is the Gospel of unimaginable love. [The
365-Day Devotional Commentary]
The incarnation of Christ has ever been, and will ever remain a
mystery. {5BC 1128.6}
THE SEVEN I AM STATEMENTS OF JESUS IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
"I AM" is the Greek equivalent of YHWH, Yahweh, the revelatory
and personal name of God that vitalizes the Old Testament. [Victor
Bible Background Commentary]
The "I AM" Statements of John's Gospel
"I AM the Bread of Life" (6:35, 41, 48, 51).
"I AM the Light of the World" (8:12).
"I AM the Door of the sheep" (10:7, 9).
"I AM the Good Shepherd" (10:11, 14).
"I AM the Resurrection and the Life" (11:25).
"I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life" (14:6).
"I AM the true Vine" (15:1, 5). [Believer's SB]
How do they display the deity that Jesus claimed?
"I AM the bread of life" (6:35). Jesus is the One who sustains
physical and spiritual life.
"Before Abraham was born, I AM!" (8:58) Jesus is the preexistent
One, the witness to and source of sacred history.
"I AM the Gate for the sheep" (10:7). Jesus provides access to
God and salvation.
"I AM the Good Shepherd" (10:11). Jesus lays down His life for
us, His sheep.
"I AM the Resurrection and the Life" (11:25). Jesus is the
source and giver of life eternal.
"I AM the Way and the Truth and the Life" (14:6). Jesus alone
provides access to God the Father and all of the Father's good gifts to
humankind.
"I AM" the true vine (15:1). Jesus is the source of spiritual
vitality. By remaining close to Him we are enabled to bring forth fruit
and so glorify God. [Victor Bible Background Commentary]
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