The Strand Study Bible

JOHN JOHN People who prefer to pick and choose what they want to believe from this Book do God an injustice. Proverbs 30:5-6 states: Every word of God is pure: He is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. If God’s Word contradicts one’s traditions and customs, then one’s traditions and customs are wrong (Mt 15:1-9). 1:1 c The last part of John 1:1 ( and the Word was God ) is frequently misquoted by Jehovah’s Witnesses . Because they hold to Arianism doctrine (Arius, a 4 th century figure, maintained that CHRIST was a created angel), the Jehovah’s Witnesses interpret the last part of John 1:1 to read, “… and the Word was a god.” However, the original Greek reads” You will note that there is no article before the word God ( θHο9 ). There is a conjunction ( NDL ), but no article. In Greek when the speaker wanted to point out a person of object, he used the article; but when he wanted to bring out the inherent quality or nature of the same he left off the article. Thus, the literal translation of the last part of John 1:1 is to read: … and the Word was of the very nature or quality of God .” Jesus is not “a god” or even some “created angel.” He is the very nature or quality of God Himself ( SECOND PERSON of the Triune Godhead - Jn 1:2 ). NOTE – Thankfully Athanasius condemned Arianism at the Council of Niceae in AD 325.) 1:2 Long before CHRIST ever became flesh and dwelt among us, He existed as the SECOND PERSON of the Triune Godhead. There are three truths concerning Christ found in verse one: 1. CHRIST is eternal ( In the beginning was the WORD … The SAME was in the beginning with God ) Verse 1 states that from all eternity past ( in the beginning ) Jesus was co-existent, co-equal, and co-eternal with both the FATHER A person is defined as someone with personality (a mind to think, a heart to feel, and a will to act). Verse 1 states that the WORD was “face to face” with God. Meaning: The WORD has a personal relationship with the other two Persons of the Triune Godhead. Therefore, the WORD is a person . 3. CHRIST is God ( And the WORD was God ) Verse 3 says: All things were made by HIM ; and without him was not any thing made that was made. Jesus is not the “object” of Creation; He is the “subject” of creation. He is the Creator, not the created. Jesus ever was, is, and ever shall be God. NOTE – The reason for John’s introduction of the pre-existent Jesus (vs 1-5) is to remind us that the SECOND PERSON of the Triune Godhead was the embodiment and expression of all that God is ( Heb 1:3 ). Meaning, if you want to know what God is like, study the life of Jesus. Isaiah reminds us of these same three great truths concerning Jesus in Isaiah 9:6: 1712 and God was the Word “ NDL θHο9 KQ ο OοJο9 ” and the HOLY SPIRIT ( Gen 1:1 c and Phil 2:6 a ). 2. CHRIST is a person ( And the WORD was with God )

For unto us a child ( CHRIST is a person) is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God ( CHRIST is God) , The everlasting Father ( CHRIST is eternal) , The Prince of Peace .”

Micah does the same in Micah 5:2:

But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He ( CHRIST is a person) come forth unto me that is to be Ruler in Israel ( CHRIST is God) ; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting ( CHRIST is eternal) .”

1:5 This word ( shineth ) is the Greek word MDLQHL ( phainei ) and is in the Greek present tense (continuous action). Meaning, CHRIST , who is the Light of Life (vs 4), continues to shine as the Light of Life despite the hostility of the darkness (Satan) to put out that Light. 1:7 From Moses (Genesis – Deuteronomy) to Malachi, every prophetic finger was pointing ( bear witness of the LIGHT ) to the distant day when the OT MESSIAH should come ( I Pet 1:10,12 ). The holy pleasure, which all prophets (from Abel to Malachi) must have coveted, was given to John. 1:9 Whenever “light” invades a dark setting, it doesn’t drive the darkness out; it fills the space. That’s what CHRIST did when He came into the world. He filled a spiritually dark and empty space (Jn 3:19) with the light of God. 1:12 According to John 4:10, Romans 5:15-18 & 6:23 and Ephesians 2:8-9, salvation is a gift that must be received . A gift is not a gift because you believe it’s a gift (Jms 2:19); a gift is a gift because you “receive ” it as a gift (Rom 10:9-10,13). 1:13 This word ( blood ) comes from a Greek word that is plural in number and means “ bloods; human descent .” What John was saying is:

Neither bloods (i.e., human lineages or heritages - Mt 3:9) nor the will of the flesh (i.e., human passion or desire - Mt 7:21-23) nor the will of man (i.e., human achievement or works - Heb 6:1 c ) can bring about the new birth.

Being born-again (birthed into God’s family) is impossible for any human to attain. It is supernatural and can only be accomplished by God ( Eph 2:8-9 ). So, it doesn’t matter what race you belong to ( bloods ), or howmuch you want to go to heaven ( will of the flesh ), or even how hard you work to get there ( will of man ); the new birth (salvation) can only be achieved by God.