Prologue to Book of John

Recently I got something interesting and beautiful to learn from John's prologue to his book. Quite excited to share this with you. Without further ado, let's dive right into it.

To rightly understand the intention of John, we need some background.

1. Ancient Near Eastern literature is very figurative. They commonly use the personification of inanimate objects, like the lady wisdom in Proverbs 8. In Genesis 1, when God speaks and brings the world into existence, in the Jewish mind, 'Word' is something that is both God and yet distinct from God. The same applies to the 'Glory' of God. In the tabernacle, the 'Glory' of God dwells (Exodus 40:34-38). 'Glory' of God is both God and yet distinct from God. 
2. Scholars consider Genesis 1-2:3, as a prologue to the book of Genesis. It's written in a very interesting way. In this section, the author uses the word 'Elohim' which is translated as God in our English bibles. Elohim simply means 'spiritual being'. Any non-physical being is called Elohim. (e.g. in 1 Samuel 28:13, Samuel's spirit is called Elohim). In Genesis 1, the author is creating curiosity. He says in the beginning a spiritual being (Elohim) created this and that. As a listener, you'll be wondering who is this spiritual being? and then in Genesis 2:4 author introduces him as YHWH (translated LORD in English bibles). Interesting isn't it? But sadly that beauty is lost in the translation. Much like in our movies, where they don't show the face of the character initially to create curiosity in the audience. 

With this information, Let me paraphrase John's prologue, and hope you too will see the beauty in John's writing.

John's prologue (John 1:1-18)

(In verses 1 - 13 John uses the book of Genesis as his framework. In the same style as the book of Genesis, John doesn't tell who is he talking about, he uses a pronoun for Jesus to create curiosity)

You already know guys that in the beginning, God created the world. And the world was created by His Word. The Word is both distinct from God and is also God. In the same way, this Man, about whom I'm going to tell, was also with God in the beginning. Everything that was created, was created through Him. Apart from Him, nothing came into being that has come into being. In this Man was life. And this life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and darkness could not comprehend it. 

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came to testify about this Man so that all might believe through his testimony. John was not the Light but he was only sent to testify about it.

The true Light was about to come that will enlighten everyone. This man was now in the world, the world came into being through Him but the world did not know Him. He came to His own chosen people of Israel but they did not receive Him. But those who did receive Him (even gentiles), He gave them the right to become children of God. It was God's will to adopt them into His family because they believed in His name.

In the above passage, John beautifully puts his argument to Jews, "you know God's word can be distinct from God in the creation and yet it is God. This person I'm talking about is also distinct from God yet He is God. It's nothing new, you already know this is possible, why are you being offended at the deity of this person?"

Then John takes another example. This time from Exodus, alluding to the glory of God.

We know that God's Glory dwelt among us in the tabernacle (tent). His Glory is both God and distinct from God. Like the Word which created the earth, now the Word became flesh (man) and He pitched His tent among us. We saw this Man's Glory. The Glory, which can be only from someone who came from the Father, is full of grace and truth. John testified about Him. He said the one who is about to come is much greater than me because He existed before me. From this Man's fullness, we have received grace upon grace. The Law was given by Moses, but the grace and truth were realised through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God, this man "Jesus Christ" who was with God from the beginning, has explained Him (i.e. interpreted the Law rightly)

Now, at the end of his prologue, after bringing much curiosity about this man, John introduces and tells that this man is no one else but Jesus, the messiah.

A beautiful argument about Jesus's deity using Genesis and Exodus. 

Did you notice that John uses such wonderful and apt adjectives for Jesus? Like the Light. Light is supposed to remove darkness and enlighten men, likewise, Jesus brings forth the true understanding of the Law. 

I'm truly in awe of John's writing and hope you too will appreciate it now. What do you guys think about this paraphrase? Let me know in the comments.

Shalom!