John 1 Scofield
Read John 1 · Matthew Henry on John 1
1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
“Word”
Gr. "Logos" (arm. "Memra," used in the Targums, or Heb. paraphrases, for God). The Greek term means,
(1) a thought or concept;
(2) the expression or utterance of that thought. As a designation of Christ, therefore, Logos is peculiarly felicitous because,
(1) in Him are embodied all the treasures of the divine wisdom, the collective "thought" of God 1 Cor 1:24; Eph 3:11; Col 2:2; Col 2:3 and,
(2) He is from eternity, but especially in His incarnation, the utterance or expression of the Person, and "thought" of Deity John 1:3–5; John 1:9; John 1:14–18; John 14:9–11; Col 2:9.
In the Being, Person, and work of Christ, Deity is told out.
1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
“comprehended”
Or, apprehended; lit. "laid not hold of it."
1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
“world”
kosmos = mankind. (See Scofield "Matt 4:8")
1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
“He came”
i.e. He came unto his own things, and his own people received him not.
1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
“grace”
Grace. Summary:
(1) Grace is "the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man... not by works of righteousness which we have done" Titus 3:4; Titus 3:5.
It is, therefore, constantly set in contrast to law, under which God demands righteousness from man, as, under grace, he gives righteousness to man Rom 3:21; Rom 3:22; Rom 8:4; Phil 3:9. Law is connected with Moses and works; grace with Christ and faith; John 1:17; Rom 10:4–10. Law blesses the good; grace saves the bad; Ex 19:5; Eph 2:1–9. Law demands that blessings be earned; grace is a free gift; Deut 28:1–6; Eph 2:8; Rom 4:4; Rom 4:5.
(2) As a dispensation, grace begins with the death and resurrection of Christ Rom 3:24–26 Rom 4:24; Rom 4:25. The point of testing is no longer legal obedience as the condition of salvation, but acceptance or rejection of Christ, with good works as a fruit of salvation,; John 1:12; John 1:13; John 3:36; Matt 21:37; Matt 22:24; John 15:22; John 15:25; Heb 1:2; 1 John 5:10–12. The immediate result of this testing was the rejection of Christ by the Jews, and His crucifixion by Jew and Gentile Acts 4:27. The predicted end of the testing of man under grace is the apostasy of the professing church: See "Apostasy" (See Scofield "2 Tim 3:1") 2 Tim 3:1–8 and the resultant apocalyptic judgments.
(3) Grace has a twofold manifestation: in salvation Rom 3:24 and in the walk and service of the saved Rom 6:15.
See, for the other six dispensations:
Innocence, (See Scofield "Gen 1:28")
Conscience, (See Scofield "Gen 3:23")
Human Government, (See Scofield "Gen 8:21")
Promise, (See Scofield "Gen 12:1")
Law, (See Scofield "Ex 19:8")
Kingdom, (See Scofield "Eph 1:10").
1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
“hath seen God”
“declared”
Lit. led him forth, i.e. into full revelation. John 14:9.
1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
“sins”
Sin. (See Scofield "Rom 3:23").
1:39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.
“Come”
The call to discipleship. Cf. Matt 4:18–22 the call to service.
“tenth hour”
That was two hours before night.
1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
“angels”
(See Scofield "Heb 1:4")
Public domain (1917). Text from the BibleSupport.com e-Sword module.
Introduction to John
WRITER: The fourth Gospel was written by the Apostle John John 21:24. This has been questioned on critical grounds, but on the same grounds and with equal scholarship, the early date and Johanean authorship have been maintained.
DATE: The date of John's Gospel falls between A.D. 85 and 90. Probably the latter.
THEME: This is indicated both in the Prologue (John 1:1–14), and in the last verse of the Gospel proper (John 20:31), and is: The incarnation of the eternal Word, and Son of life; (2) that as many as believe on Him as "the Christ, the Son of God" (John 20:31) may have eternal life. The prominent words are, "believed" and "life."
The book is in seven natural divisions:
1. Prologue: The eternal Word incarnate in Jesus the Christ, John 1:1–14.
2. The witness of John the Baptist, John 1:15–34.
3. The public ministry of Christ, John 1:35 to John 12:50.
4. The private ministry of Christ to His own, John 13:1 to John 17:26.
5. The sacrifice of Christ, John 18:1 to John 19:42.
6. The manifestation of Christ in resurrection, John 20:1–31.
7. Epilogue: Christ the Master of life and service, John 21:1–25.
The events recorded in this book cover a period of 7 years.