An Exegetical Essay On John Chapter 1 Religion Essay

An Exegetical Essay On John Chapter 1 Religion Essay INTRODUCTION Unlike the synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John does not begin with the historical Jesus, instead, the author exalts his eternal existences over his earthly entrance into the world. The eternal existence of Jesus is perceived by the use of Word (logos) in the prologue. Thus, the author begins his gospel with the words, In the beginning was the Wordà ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ Johns Gospel stresses on the deity of Jesus, he strikes the reader straight with the Greek Word (Logos) as a replacement of Jesus until the end of the prologue. One could say that the understanding of this Gospel is centred on the Word (logos) as a key affirmation of the entire Gospel. The prologue affirms that Jesus used the eternal Word which has been translated from the Greek word (logos). In chapter (1:1-5) the author talked about the pre- existence, in (1:6-8) he elaborated on the witness of John the Baptist, in (1:9-13) he highlighted on the light coming to the worlds, in (1:14-18) he accounted on the incarnation of th e Word. This prologue is specially or specifically designed to prepare the way for the evidence of the doings of no ordinary person but Jesus Christ. This paper is an attempt to exegete the passage of (John 1:1-18). The Pre-existence Word (1:1-5) The commencement of this Gospel as stated, in the beginning was the word has something to do with (Genesis 1:1). John was trying to say that Jesus Christ was in the beginning and He was the Word which existed in the beginning before creation or before the world began and was fully God (John 1:1-3). Jesus is indeed the creator, sustainer of all belongings, our source of living and the establishment of eternal life. To understand this concept one must commence with the Father-Son relationship which is the central revelation of Johns Gospel and also the key to understand the sayings and deeds of Christ Jesus (17:5, 24). Extensively, this term (logos) which has a meaning in English as the Word was used in Greek literature or theologians and philosophers; among them were the Stoics who used the term to describe the principle of divine reason which caused the natural creature to grow.  [1]  Philo of Alexander was the mastermind of this idea in his writings and maintained it as an instr ument of the world creation. There are dissimilarities between the usage of the Word by John and Philo. In the mind of Philo, he by no means consider the Word as a person and he did not maintain its pre-existence, he denied the incarnation of the Word which is known as Jesus. But in Johns mind the Word was maintained and became flesh. This points to Jesus Christ who came to save humanity and dwell among them. One could say the fifth verse of this chapter shows the compassion of the author as a beloved disciple and an eyewitness of Jesus who is trying to communicate the good news to the Jews, Greek philosophers and all kinds of people from generation to generation in his writings. Here John declares that Jesus Christ is the true light, who shines in the darkness, but the darkness which can be translated as sinful man has not understood it. The better understandings of this verse rely on (verse10-11).  [2]   Witness of John the Baptist (1:6-8) At this point, the author diverted his thought form eternity towards historical. These verses point to the identity of no other person but John the Baptist who is not the light; however Johns job is to testify that Jesus is the coming light. This testimony of John appears strongly in public in (verse 15-34).  [3]  Johns idea is that, people might believe in Jesus alone and that He is the saviour. Light Coming to the World (1:9-13) In verses 9-13, Johns emphasis has changed from witness to Jesus as the true light that gives light to every man coming into the world. He is the fulfilment of all light foreshadowed and the one who called light into existence (Genesis 1:3).  [4]   Regarding the statement of John concerning the world did not recognise him here it means something further than created world? John is referring to people who opposed or do not believe in God or those who reject Christ as the true light. The Israelites were chosen by God to prepare the rest of the world for Christs coming but they rejected Him despite the prophecies recorded in the Old Testament.  [5]  In verses 12-13, the author elaborates on how some people received the Word. Johns centre of attention is based on the covenant people of God or believers who receive the power to be children of God. This implies to the children who are not born of natural or physical human descent. This is for those who receive Jesus Christ as their personal saviour; they are spiritually born again and have received a completely new life from God through faith. Incarnation of the Word (1:14-18) This last section of the prologue explains how the divine Word points how Jesus came into the world in a human form. Apostle Paul, one of the major characters in the New Testament writings understood this concept (Colossians 2:9). The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John1:14). The first century church debated on how the Word who was God could become human but thats not important to John because his main concern is to explain the price that Christ paid. The bible explains how Gods presence was in the midst of the children of Israel in the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-38), although that was on temporal basis. John also has a similar view in a sense that the Word became flesh or Jesus became like mortal human being and made his dwelling among us likewise Gods presence to the children of Israel in the tabernacle. According to Kruse, the reference to glory is also an allusion to Gods presence in the tabernacle. Moses was instructed by God to build a tabernacle and after fini shing Moses couldnt enter the Tent of meeting because it was covered by the cloud and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle (Exodus 40:34-35). And that same way Gods glory is been manifested in the Word made flesh. John was an eye witness to Christs earthly life and ministry and he saw His glory. He firstly saw the glory of the One and Only who came from the Father. Further more, he saw Christ as the one who comes from the Father and the fact that he is the source of grace and truth.  [6]  The evangelists intention is for people to see Christs ministry us a manifestation of Gods grace and an exposure of his truth. Christ makes it possible for people to know God better than before, for the reason that God became visible and tangible in Christ. And he is the perfect manifestation of God in human form. Moses accentuated the law of God and His justice, but Christ emphasized His mercy, forgiveness, faithfulness and love. Moses was known as law giver, however Christ is known as the fulfilment of the law (Matthew 5:17).  [7]   This last verse of the prologue is a reminder of the first verse. There was no other better means for people to know God unless the Word point to Jesus Christ the One and Only Son of the living God. Regarding the statement John made that no one has ever seen God it has something to do with the OT in a sense that Moses did not have the chance to see God face to face, although prophet Isaiah said my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty (Isaiah 6:5), none of the prophets were able to see Gods essential nature. He may be seen in anthropomorphism, but Christ Jesus made it possible to His inner essence or nature. Through Jesus Christ Gods nature and will is been revealed. The more a person gets closer to Christ, the better he or she understands the will of God. In Christ people saw the clear picture of God and even touched Him.  [8]   Conclusion The major concern of John in his prologue is to portray Jesus as an eternal being who has existed from the beginning with God. Furthermore, the prologue describes the incarnation of Christ, by coming in human form so as to identify with humanity and to save them from sin. John shows us the complete deity, the divinity and the fullness of God in Christ Jesus. Christ makes it possible for people to know God better than before, for the reason that God became visible and tangible in Christ. And he is the perfect manifestation of God in human form. Moses accentuated the law of God and His justice, but Christ emphasized His mercy, forgiveness, faithfulness and love. John wrote this gospel so that we might believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and by believing we may have eternal life (John 20:31).

Educating Essex Essay

Dear editor, I am writing to you because I find it impossible to understand why ‘Educating Essex’ represents teenagers in this such way to society today, it only makes an impression of them, that â€Å"all Britain’s teenagers are goby, impolite, spoilt and lacking enough self-discipline to interact with anyone. † This supports stereotypes of modern reckless teens, when in reality â€Å"the majority of Britain’s teenagers are interesting, polite and simply brilliant young people quietly going about the business of creating a bright future for themselves. On ‘Educating Essex’ I have witnessed many negative things that show teenagers in a bad way, such as students walking across a table, pupils on mobile phones, swearing at each other and teachers, cyber-bullying, teenage pregnancy and young girls caked with make-up, even the introduction is very negative towards teenagers. This shows that all teenagers don’t behave in school and do not care about their education and future, but majority of students are not like that, most of them are fun-loving, active and mature for their age. I think the reason for their behaviour are the cameras, as most of them want to show off and think it’s a good idea to play up to them. ‘Educating Essex’ has only focused on the students that badly behave and cause the trouble all the time, but they haven’t showed the good side of teenagers, where they work hard in class, and behave because they are working to achieve the equivalent of five or more GCSE’s at grade A* to C. The programme only creates a fake image of a typical teenager, but certainly they do not act like that, and I know that because I am a student myself, and I’ve never seen this kind of behaviour in my school. I think that the Daily Mail article only focuses on the teachers in ‘Educating Essex’ and mostly points out the bad things teachers say and do. Also how they carry out the lesson, it shows how immature they are when they burst into a class and disturb the lesson just to sing happy birthday. Another teacher is shown; as the students are leaving his class he tells them â€Å"Clear off, scumbags†. In a different scene it shows when Mr Goddard hides behind his door as Mr Drew enters the room, he reaches out his arm around the door to welcome his deputy with a two-fingered gesture, and Mr Drew’s respond is â€Å" You are such a ****er†. In episode two, there is a scene shown of a girl called Carmelita, who accuses the deputy of assaulting her. At first she tells him to â€Å"get lost† and â€Å"shut up†, but in the end she gets excluded when he tells him to â€Å"**** off†. The deputy is cleared after the headtecher watches the CCTVcameras footage. Also the article mentions that â€Å"this sort of behaviour by pupils shouldn’t be allowed and there is extremely childish behaviour by the teachers, who are setting a very bad example for the pupils as they are likely to see the programme† in results of this the teenagers are influenced by what they see on the TV, and think it’s right to behave in this practical way, another influence are the teachers, as they set an example for the students. One more significant reason for child’s behaviour are the parents, because of the way they are bough up, if they have problems at home they will release their anger in school, on students and teachers. But essentially that article did not mention any positive things about teenagers. There were few positive things that I’ve witnessed on ‘Educating Essex’ but not many as I expected to be. I think one of them was when, they showed the students reflecting on what they have done wrong and teachers, because it’s great to hear both sides of the story, also the relationship between the teachers and students which doesn’t happen very often. Additionally how the teachers refused to give up on challenging the pupils, so they have a chance to achieve. But I think the programme should’ve showed more of the satisfactory students who are interesting, polite and clearly brilliant young people trying to achieve, to have a better future. The ‘Observer’ article has also only highlighted the bad points about teenagers, much the same as the ‘Daily Mail’ article. But it makes the reader hate teens, as they call them â€Å"gobby, spaced- out, bizarre† this only shows how selfish they are, and do not care about others. Also they point out how they dress and refer to girls as â€Å"spoiled brats†, and in my opinion they are allowed to do what they want, because it’s their own choice to look like that. I think that the programme doesn’t give a real image of teenagers today because, in my opinion everyone is different, and also because it only concentrated on the bad behaved student where on the other hand there is more students that work really hard on everything, and also contribute in society.

Langston Hughes And Yusef Komunyakaa And My Black Face...

Langston Hughes and Yusef Komunyakaa, much like any two poets when compared, are very different. However, they composed two poems that are very similar. Langston Hughes’s poem, â€Å"Theme for English B†, and Yusef Komunyakaa’s, â€Å"Facing it†, can be compared in many different ways. The most outstanding similarity of the two poem’s, is the fact the speakers are outsiders and very much unlike everyone else in the poem because of their race. With the quotes â€Å"I am twenty-two, colored, born in Winston-Salem† (Hughes 7), and â€Å"My black face fades† (Komunyakaa 1), It is very clear both writers want their audience to know early on in the poems that each are speaking from an African-American perspective. In the early to the middle of the 1900’s when the poems were written, things were different for a person from African-American decent, in Hughes case it was college and in Komunyakaa’s case it was the Vietnam war. Bei ng of African-American decent is a minority that most people wouldn’t understand because of the history in their race. Both poets have endured experiences of oppression in the past that have effected their writing styles. Other similarities in the poems include the use of the same literary techniques such as narrative structure, symbols, metaphors, and tone to prove that the speakers are different and unlike the majority because of their past experiences in the past. Both poems use the speakers past to further capture their feelings and emotion towards each subject. Hughes and

Was the New Deal Succesful Essay - 582 Words

Henry Ford once said â€Å"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success†. The new deal depended on the whole nation working together to strive for relief, recovery, and reform. Whether or not the new deal was a success depends on what one believes the new deal was designed to achieve. To me, the new deal was implemented to aid in restoration of the economy of the United States, not to simply fix the economy. The new deal greatly repaired the economic condition of the United States caused by the great depression, however, it did not fully restore the economy to the peak point that it was at before the stock market crash on October 29, 1929. The new deal was a set of relief programs to provide out†¦show more content†¦The Agricultural Adjustment Act (AAA 1938) restricted agricultural production by paying farmers to reduce crop area. As a result of reducing the amount surplus crop produced, the value of crops would increase. The money for these bonuses was collected through taxes solely on companies which processed farm products. Now for the big question: was the new deal successful? Well once again, that depends on one’s definition of success. The new deal did was not 100% successful as it did not fully restore the economy to its maximum potential, but it did in fact greatly improve the economy and set it on the right course toward growth and greater improvement. With help from the new deal, America’s Gross National Product rose approximately 65% from 1933 to 1939 and the amount of consumer goods purchased rose approximately 70% from 1933 to 1939. Before the Wall Street stock market crash, America was at its economic peak and when the great depression struck, America was at its economic base. The new deal improved so many aspects of the economy which was been drastically damaged by the great depression. 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