Prologue

Question 1

What does BULTMANN say about the Prologue

Answer 1

the ‘overture of the gospel’

Question 2

What are the verses which we ascribe to the Prologue

Answer 2

1:1-18

Question 3

What is the root of the word LOGOS

Answer 3

• From the root word LEG in LEGO original meaning which to lay: to gather: hence gather or put words together: to SPEAK
• Commonly seen as meaning WORD

Question 4

What is the JEWISH ELEMENTS of LOGOS in the Prologue

Answer 4

• NT WRIGHT: the author wants us to see his book within the context of the story
• V1 highlights the BERESHITH (opening of the Torah)
• Hebrew for word DABAR used in Gen 1:1, highlighting God’s powerful activity in creation (CARSON)
• Used in the Spetuagint (Greek translation of OT) to refer to the ‘wisdom of God’ - Psalm 8:22 becomes the agent of God in creation
• ‘wisdom’ idea is rejected by BULTMANN

Question 5

What is the HELLENISTIC ELEMENTS of LOGOS in the Prologue

Answer 5

• Term used by Stoic philosophers to name the rational principle by which the universe & everything in it exists
• PLATO: ‘LOGOS OF GOS’, the world in which the perfect form of all that exists is found (But BULTMANN, not used in definite but in personal way in Prologue)
• Gnostic traditions LOGOS used to mean the means by which human souls can be saved from the world (But appears to little evidence for full-blown gnosticism within Gospel CARSON)
• Verse 14 is KEY, the LOGOS became ‘flesh’ (SARX)
• Without hypostatic union, the ministry of Jesus becomes insubstantial (NT WRIGHT)
• V14 indicates LOGOS becoming something that it was not before (BEASLEY_ MURRAY)

Question 6

Outline key features of the theme of GRACE AND TRUTH

Answer 6

• Found in v14
• Shows that ‘Grace & Truth’ can’t be separated, and that they are features of the Divine God
• Example of INAUGURATED ESCHATOLOGY, God’s grace is given on earth to make a way to heaven.
• WRIGHT- for the grace to be given (v16) Jesus the Messiah, the son of God is needed
• Used the term ALETHEIA (truth) in a Hellenistic way to refer to the divine reality and its revelation
• BARRETT: Glory of God shown by his acting in faithfulness to his own character, and by his characters revealing itself in mercy
• Only place ‘grace’ occurs in the gospel (v14,16-17)
• HOSKYNS rest of the story present grace in narrative form climaxing at the cross

Question 7

Outline the theme of SALVATION

Answer 7

• Soteriology (study of salvation) is present throughout the Gospel
• Reference to ‘light’ highlights the Shekinah of God
• the WORD is the source of light in creation (Gen 1:3), prominent OT theme (‘Lord is my light and my salvation Ps 27:1)
• Gnostic theme of Dualism- significance of light/darkness is important
• Jesus is NOT the light (Elijah) but is the way TO the light (Messiah)
• Significance of Jesus being the SAVIOUR for Israel

Question 8

What does the Prologue ADD to the gospel on a whole

Answer 8

• Most likely an ‘add on’ of the Gospel written separately
• NT WRIGHT- completion of Israel’s story
• KARL BARTH- Novum Testamentum in Vetere Latet, Vetus in Novo Patet (The NT is concealed within in Old, and the OT is revealed by the New)
• ASHTON- Every major motif is directly linked to the concept of revelation
• DODD- can’t confine LOGOS to just mean ‘word’