The Incarnation: John 1:1-14

Scripture Study

We invite you to use these scripture studies for personal enrichment, group study or discipleship.

Context

Verses 1–14 serve as the prologue to John’s gospel and introduce many of the major themes John will address, most prominently that Jesus is the promised Messiah and the Son of God. This deeply theological prologue has been foundational to the classic Christian formulation of the doctrine of Christ. Here divinity and humanity, preexistence and incarnation, revelation and sacrifice are each discussed. Many of the major themes developed later in the Gospel are also introduced, such as Jesus as the life (v. 4), the light (vv. 5–9), and the truth (vv. 14, 16–17); believers as God’s children (vv. 12–13); and the world’s rejection of Jesus (vv. 10–11). In using the term “Word” (logos), John was using a term familiar to both Jews and Greeks, though each attributed a different meaning to the term. For the Greek mind the “Word” referred to the rational principle that supervised or governed the universe. To the Jew, “Word” was a reference to God. Thus John wanted to equate the “Word” with God while noting that the Word was distinct from the Father. The opening words “In the beginning” are a clear allusion to the creation account in Genesis 1:1. John stated that Jesus was with God “in the beginning” and that through Christ “all things were made.” Jesus is therefore seen as co-eternal with God and as the Creator, but also as “the Word made flesh” in the miracle of the incarnation.

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, 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, and his own people 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 from the Father, full of grace and truth

John 1: 1-14

Key terms

Incarnation

Incarnation is the act of grace whereby God, in the form of Jesus Christ, the Eternal Son, became flesh and dwelt among us. Jesus took on real human flesh, and he took our human nature into union with his Divine Person. Christ is both God and man. Human attributes and actions are fully his, and yet, he is still fully God. A Divine Person was united to a human nature. And yet in the incarnation, Jesus was not marked or stained by original sin.

Hypostatic Union

The hypostatic union is the personal union of Jesus’s two natures in the one person of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus has two complete natures: one fully human and one fully divine. What the doctrine of the hypostatic union teaches is that these two natures are united in one person in the God-man. Jesus is not two persons. He is one person. The characteristics of each nature are preserved, and in no way annulled by the union, even as they come together in the one person, Jesus.

Study questions

  1. How does the beginning of John’s gospel differ from the beginning of Matthew and Luke’s gospels?
  2. Is the “Word” presented as an abstract idea/ force, or as a personal being?
  3. To whom does the “Word” refer in this passage?
  4. What does it mean that the Word was “In the beginning?” What does this tell us about Jesus’ nature?
  5. If Jesus was “with God” and “was God” what does that tell us about Jesus’ nature?
  6. What did Jesus create (v. 3)?
  7. If there are two kind of things in the universe, things made and things not made, of which kind of thing is Jesus according to this passage?
  8. Of whom was John speaking in verses 6–8 and what was this person’s task?
  9. Even though Jesus created the world, how did the world respond to him?
  10. What characteristics did Jesus display when he became flesh and dwelt among us?

Application Questions

  1. What hope can you find in verse 5?
  2. In what ways are all Christians called to be like John the Baptist?
  3. What are the implications of our gaining “the right to become children of God?”
  4. How well do we balance grace and truth in our lives?
  5. Write down one action you will take because of what you have learned from this passage.

“The Incarnation: John 1:1-14,” The Advent Christian Witness, Summer 2021