2.1 the prologue in John Flashcards
What did Morna Hooker say about the prologue?
the prologue is the ‘glorious key’ to understanding the rest of the gospel
- it reveals the theological intent to link the beginning of the account of Jesus to the beginning of the Hebrew scriptures
What did Raymond Brown say about the prologue?
the opening of John functions as an ‘overture’ to the gospel -> an overture is a piece of music used as an introduction to an opera, the prologue sets up the tale of the ministry of Jesus
What are the key concepts put forward by the prologue?
- the Logos
- John the Baptist
- the Incarnation
- Children of God
- law and grace
- life, light and darkness
Logos - influences and significance
Logos has both Greek and Jewish influences
-> Greek = opinion, reason, discourse, speech, divine force
-> Jewish thought = linked to creation, wisdom, God’s creative power
therefore the logos would have an equal appeal to both audiences
What does C H Dodd say about the logos?
‘It is never expressly said in the body of the Gospel, apart from the prologue, that Christ is the divine logos’
John the baptist - significance
John the Baptist bridges the gap between the OT and the NT -> showing humanity how to recognise the Word made flesh
Where is the logos seen in the prologue?
1:1-3 ‘In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…’
Where is John the Baptist seen in the prologue?
1:6-8 ‘there was a man sent from God whose name was John… he himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light’
What does Stanton say about John the Baptist?
It is more accurate to describe him as John the Witness rather than John the Baptist
the incarnation - significance
connects the earthly ministry of Jesus with the pre-existent Son as God becomes fully human, with flesh and blood
Where is the incarnation seen in the prologue?
1:14 ‘the Word became flesh’
Children of God - significance
those who believe in the Logos are given the right to be children of God
- a spiritual birth rather than a physical birth
Life, light and darkness - significance
The logos is the source of life and light for humanity; which darkness can’t overcome
- to be in the light is to be in the knowledge about the nature of Jesus and his authority WHEREAS the darkness is to be ignorant of knowledge
Where is life, light and darkness seen in the prologue?
1:4-5 ‘In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness’
law and grace - significance
the law is replaced by grace BUT this had been God’s intentions all along - Hooker describes this as a ‘gigantic takeover bid’
- Jesus becomes the only way to salvation
