Power 7 Class #1 - Logos

 Class #1 Intro - LOGOS

• Bell Ringer Question: Poll Everywhere
• Who was the Author of the Gospel of John?
• John the Baptizer
• John a Son of Thunder
• John Mark the Missionary
• John the Father of Peter
• Prayer for Wisdom:

Isaiah 55:8-9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."

• Greek: LOGOS - λόγος- Word - Lamda, Omicron, Gamma, Omicron, Sigma
• John 1:1 - ᾿Εν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος, καὶ ὁ Λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, καὶ Θεὸς ἦν ὁ Λόγος.
• John 1:1 - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g3056/kjv/tr/0-1/
• 330x in NT
• Used for Jesus in:
• John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 
• Hebrews 4:12 (Maybe?) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
• Revelation 19:13 - He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 

 

• Passage: John 1:1-18

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own,[b] and his own people[c] did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son[d] from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.[e] 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God,[f] who is at the Father's side,[g] he has made him known.

From <https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1&version=ESV>

• The Chosen Clip (1:45) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFIQtNAFW14

• Context/Background : https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/intros/john.cfm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-2e9mMf7E8

• Authorship:
• Eyewitness
• 1:14 - And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• 19:34-36  But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.  He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 
• Extant Sources - John > Polycarp > Irenaeus (130-202AD)

Eusebius Hist. Eccl. 2.23.1-4; 4.14.3-8; 5.8.4 (313 AD - Began Writing HE)

https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250104.htm

• Earliest Manuscript Titles -
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papyrus_66 - Papyrus 66 - Found in Egypt in 1952. Dates to 200 AD.
• https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/new-testament-studies/article/titles-in-the-new-testament-papyri/4ADE3BD7541916BEA44E4E2067AE66A7
• "P66 is a substantial copy of John's Gospel, including the inscription to the work, which is possibly the earliest title for any Gospel: ɛυαγγɛλιον κατα ι̣ωανν̣η̣ν." From <https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/new-testament-studies/article/titles-in-the-new-testament-papyri/4ADE3BD7541916BEA44E4E2067AE66A7>

• Date & Location of Composition:
• The majority of scholars date the Gospel in the period AD 90-100, though some have dated it much earlier <https://www.blueletterbible.org/study/intros/john.cfm>
• Eusebius - Early church tradition suggests that that John composed his Gospel in Ephesus (Asia Minor). An example of this is the testimony of Irenaeus: "Then John, the disciple of the Lord, who had even rested on his breast, himself also gave forth the Gospel, while he was living at Ephesus in Asia."  https://www.newadvent.org/fathers/250105.htm
• Purpose:
• John specifically states his purpose in 20:31, "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."
• The Muratorian Canon (170 AD Table of Contents) says that, " The fourth Gospel is that of John, one of the disciples. When his fellow-disciples and bishops entreated him, he said, "Fast ye now with me for the space of three days, and let us recount to each other whatever may be revealed to each of us." On the same night it was revealed to Andrew, one of the apostles, that John should narrate all things in his own name as they called them to mind.28 And hence, although different points29 are taught us in the several books of the Gospels, there is no difference as regards the faith of believers, inasmuch as in all of them all things are related under one imperial Spirit,30 which concern the Lord's nativity, His passion, His resurrection, His conversation with His disciples, and His twofold advent,-the first in the humiliation of rejection, which is now past, and the second in the glory of royal power, which is yet in the future. What marvel is it, then, that John brings forward these several things31 so constantly in his epistles also, saying in his own person, "What we have seen with our eyes, and heard with our ears, and our hands have handled, that have we written."32 For thus he professes himself to be not only the eye-witness, but also the hearer; and besides that, the historian of all the wondrous facts concerning the Lord in their order.
• https://archive.org/details/cu31924091353528/page/n43/mode/2up
• http://prenicea.net/doc2/29954-en-01.pdf
• Audience - Friends in Ephesus
• Major Themes: What do you think?
• https://www.topverses.com/Bible/John

• Discussion Questions:
• Seven Titles in John 1

In chapter 1, John uses 7 different names describing Jesus that have special importance to us today.

#1 Word (1:1-3,14).

“Logos” translated “Word” communicated to the Jews God’s divine work and dynamic power. To the Greeks, it embodied philosophical reason. As Christians, we acknowledge Jesus as the incarnate Word. The Eternal Word. The creative Word. The Divine Word.

The “Word became flesh.” Divinity took on humanity. God became a man. Jesus is the express image of God. The main message of the Bible. And He’s the Father’s spokesman today.

#2 Light (1:4-9).

Seven times John calls Jesus “The Light.” Jesus entered a world of moral darkness and depravity to enlighten it with Divine light. We don’t have to dwell in darkness. Jesus is the radiance of God’s glory. He points us to the Father. And lights our path.

When I see Jesus, as the Light of the world, I see the Light of understanding and insight. Light that sustains my spiritual life. Light that radiates its purifying impact on my sin-stained soul. Light that nurtures and heals my hurts. And Light that gives security.

#3 Son of God. (1:18, 34, 49).

An unbelieving world denies the Sonship of Jesus. He’s called a great Rabbi. An inspiring teacher. A moral reformer. A social justice advocate. But that won’t do.

John says Jesus was the Son of God. John the Immerser confesses this Truth. And Nathaniel listened to the advice of Philip to “come and see” and exclaimed, “You are the Son of God.”

Jesus was not just a mere man. He was (and is) the Son of God.

#4 Christ (1:19-28, 35-42).

“Christ” is the Greek form of the Hebrew word Messiah. It literally means “the anointed one.” In John 1:41 the two English words are used together when Andrew brought Peter to Jesus and said, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ).

Christ connects Jesus to the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. To the hope of Israel. To our own hope. And provides indisputable evidence to Jesus’ divine identity.

#5 Lamb of God (1:29, 35-36).

“Where is the lamb?” Isaac asked Abraham. John’s pronouncement answers that question. Every slain lamb in the Old Testament offered for sacrifice points to the one, unique and unequaled Lamb of God. He died, not just for the sins of one nation, but for all nations. For every race. For me. And for you.

#6 King of Israel (1:43-49).

When Nathaniel said, “You are the King of Israel,” he probably was thinking of an earthly king like David. But Jesus would be a greater King. A King over spiritual Israel whose throne would be in heaven. A King that Paul would later proclaim as “the blessed and only Potentate. The Lord of Lords, and the King of Kings!”(1 Tim. 6:15).

#7 Son of Man (1:50-51).

This is the name Jesus most often called Himself. Over 80 times in the gospels. The expression “Son of Man” speaks to His human nature. Jesus was tired. Hungry. Thirsty. He suffered pain. Agony. And hurt. These are characteristics of the flesh. Traits of humanity.

Jesus voluntarily came to earth to feel what we feel. To identify with our problems. Challenges. And temptations. He possessed a human mind. Human emotions. Human feelings. His genealogy was filled with regular folks. Good and bad. Rich and poor. Famous and obscure.

Emerson was right when he wrote, “The name of Jesus is not so much written as plowed in the history of the world.”

From <https://thepreachersword.com/2020/10/27/7-names-for-jesus-in-john-1/>

• From Bible Project: 7 titles given by others.
• Lamb of God
• Son of God
• Rabbi
• Messiah
• Jesus of Nazareth
• King of Israel
• Son of Man

 

• Big Idea:  If you believe these miracles and "I am" statements about the Christ, you may have life in His name! - "But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." John 20:31
• Recap: