João 1
David Guzik · Citado em PreceptAustin
João 1
Guzik - At the dawn of His ministry, Jesus was greeted with words declaring His destiny – His sacrificial agony and death on the cross for the sin of mankind. The shadow of the cross was cast over the entire ministry of Jesus.. John didn’t present Jesus as a great moral example or a great teacher of holiness and love. He proclaimed Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. It wasn’t “Behold the great example” or “Behold the great teacher” The ISBE (old edition) has an interesting note - In Testament of the Twelve Patriarchs an apocryphal book, probably of the 2nd century - we have the term used for the Messiah, "Honor Judah and Levi, for from them shall arise for you the Lamb of God, saving all nations by grace." But the term does not seem to have been of any general use until it received its distinctly Christian significance. It has been generally understood as referring to the prophetic language of Jeremiah 11:19 , and Isaiah 53:7. Henry
João 1:4
Guzik - The Word is the source of all life. The ancient Greek word translated life is zoe, which means "the life principle," not bios, which is mere biological life. Matthew Poole on in Him was life - in this Word was life corporal, spiritual, eternal; it was in him as in the fountain. Some understand this of corporal life, both in the first being and preservation of it; it is certain that this is in Christ, for He upholds all things by the word of his power, Hebrews 1:3 Acts 17:28; and thus it is another demonstration of the Deity of Christ. Others think that here is rather a transition from creation to redemption; you hath he quickened, Ephesians 2:1. Others understand it of eternal life, because our evangelist most generally takes the term life, as a benefit flowing from Christ, in this sense, as Ephesians 3:16, and Ephesians 4:14, and in a multitude of other texts. I know no reason why we should not understand it of all life; all life being in Christ, as God equal with the Father; and spiritual and eternal life flowing also from Him in a more peculiar consideration, as Mediator. (John 1 Commentary - English Annotations) Life refers to that supernatural life which includes a fullness of life which alone belongs to God the Giver of life and is available to His children now (Ro 6:4-note, Ep 4:18-note) and forever, amen (Mk 10:30, Titus 1:2-note on Eternal Life). John frequently associates life with Jesus... John 5:21; 26 “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 26 “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself; John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me shall live even if he dies, John 14:6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me. Life (2222)(zoe) speaks of "life in the sense of one who is possessed of vitality and animation. It is used of the absolute fullness of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God. The ethical and spiritual qualities of this life which God is, are communicated to the sinner when the latter places his faith in the Lord Jesus as Saviour, and this becomes the new, animating, energizing, motivating principle which transforms the experience of that individual, and the saint thus lives a Christian life." (Wuest) See also William Barclay's discussion below on Life W Hall Harris on zoe - Regarding John’s use of zoe: John uses the term 37 times. 17 times it occurs with (eternal), and in the remaining occurrences outside the Prologue it is clear from context that ‘eternal’ life is meant. The 2 uses in Jn 1:4, if they do not refer to ‘eternal’ life, would be the only exceptions. (Prologue John 1:1-18) Richards adds that zoe "is used to designate the life which God gives to the believing sinner, a vital, animating, spiritual, ethical dynamic which transforms his inner being and as a result, his behavior." In classical Greek refers to natural life--the principle that enables living things to move and to grow. In the NT, zoe focuses on the theological meaning rather than on the biological. From the perspective of the NT, in every respect life is the counterpart of death. Each book of the NT speaks of zoe. In each, the principle of life lifts our vision beyond our earthly existence to reveal a unique quality of life that spans time and eternity and that has its roots in God." In his first epistle John writes - And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1Jn 5:11-13) Marvin
João 1:4
Guzik - This life is the light of men, speaking of spiritual light as well as natural light. It isn’t that the Word "contains" life and light; He is life and light. Therefore, without Jesus, we are dead and in darkness. We are lost. Significantly, man has an inborn fear towards both death and darkness. Jesus sums up His public ministry declaring "For a little while longer the LIGHT (referring to Himself) is among you. Walk while you have the LIGHT, that darkness may not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the LIGHT, believe in the LIGHT, in order that you may become sons of light." These things Jesus spoke, and He departed and hid Himself from them (Marking the end of His PUBLIC ministry)." (Jn 12:35-36) This Scripture is an excellent illustration of the meaning of John's description that "the LIFE was the LIGHT of men." (Jn 1:4) and this same "LIGHT shines (continually) in the darkness. (Jn 1:5) For three and one-half years Jesus' LIFE had been walking among the Jews as the LIGHT shining into their SPIRITUAL DARKNESS (cp Mt 4:16, Lk 1:78-79), the LIGHT in Whom they must believe in order that they might have spiritual life, new life, His LIFE in them (cf Col 3:4).