John 1
John 1 is the first chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Christian Bible. It is widely considered a pivotal chapter due to its theological depth and its introduction of key themes and figures that are central to the Gospel's narrative and theological arguments.
The chapter can be broadly divided into three main sections:
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The Prologue (John 1:1-18): This section presents a highly poetic and theological introduction to Jesus Christ, identifying him as the Logos (Word) who existed with God from the beginning, through whom all things were made, and who is God himself. The Prologue speaks of the Word's incarnation, his coming into the world as Jesus, and his revelation of the Father. It also introduces John the Baptist as a witness to the light. The Prologue establishes the divine nature and pre-existence of Jesus, which is a foundational assertion of the Gospel of John.
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John the Baptist's Testimony (John 1:19-34): This section focuses on the ministry of John the Baptist and his testimony about Jesus. Jewish leaders send priests and Levites to question John about his identity and authority. John clearly states that he is not the Messiah, Elijah, or "the prophet." He identifies himself as "a voice of one calling in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way for the Lord.'" John then declares that he baptizes with water, but that someone greater than him, "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world," is coming after him. He recounts how he saw the Spirit descend upon Jesus and identifies him as the Son of God.
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The Calling of the First Disciples (John 1:35-51): This section describes the beginning of Jesus' ministry and the calling of his first disciples. John the Baptist points out Jesus to two of his own disciples, Andrew and another unnamed disciple (traditionally believed to be John the Evangelist). Andrew then brings his brother Simon Peter to Jesus. Jesus renames Simon as Cephas (Aramaic for Peter), meaning "rock." The next day, Jesus calls Philip, who in turn brings Nathanael to Jesus. Nathanael initially expresses skepticism about Jesus being from Nazareth, but after a personal encounter with Jesus, he declares, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" Jesus affirms Nathanael's faith and promises that he will see even greater things.