How does John's Gospel begin?

Answer 1

A:

In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God (or, perhaps, a God). This beautiful opening verse can make spirits soar. More than any other gospel, John emphasises the divinity of Jesus. Origen said that, while the others describe Jesus as human, "none of them clearly spoke of his divinity, as John does."

The term used here for Jesus, the Word, came to Christianity from Philo of Alexandria, who inherited the term from the pre-Socratic philosophers. He calls this Logos 'the idea of ideas', 'the first-begotten son of the uncreated Father' and a 'second God'.

Answer 2

The Holy Spirit inspired John to write the gospel.

2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

2Pe 1:21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

Answer 3

A:John's Gospel seems to have originally ended at verse 20:31. John 20:30-31: "And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."

This more or less corresponds with the ending of Luke, which has Jesus appear to the eleven disciples at a meal on the evening of the day of his resurrection, and then go out towards Bethany where he was taken up bodily into heaven. In spite of the traditional attribution to John the apostle, John's Gospel is loosely based on that of Luke, but the author extended Luke's ending by having Jesus visit the disciples twice at a meal, so that the famous story of Doubting Thomas could be depicted.

Chapter 21 seems to have been an afterthought by the same author, who at different stages in the Gospel was at pains to subtly undermine the legacy of St Peter. First, Jesus asked Peter whether he loved Jesus, and Jesus found Peter's answer so unsatisfying that he asked the same question three times, each time exclaiming in exasperation, "Feed my sheep." Then Peter saw Jesus with the unnamed disciple "whom Jesus loved" and asked, What shall this man do?" To this question, Jesus answered, "What is that to thee?' Finally, the ending we now have, at 21:25: "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen."

Answer 4

Matthew 1:1 "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."

After this, Matthew lists the genealogy of Jesus from Abraham-Joseph, Mary's husband. (Jesus's earthly parents) There are 42 generations from Abraham to Joseph.

Answer 5

Most modern New Testament scholars agree that John's Gospel was inspired by Luke's Gospel. It does not always follow its source closely, which is why scholars use the term 'inspired by' rather than 'copied from', and sometimes even reverses a theme. There is a small amount of material that he author also copied direct from Mark's Gospel.

Answer 6

The Gospel of John begins with the famous prologue describing the Word (Logos) as being with God and being God, emphasizing the deity of Jesus Christ. This prologue sets the stage for the Gospel's focus on Jesus as the divine Son of God who brings light and life to the world.

Answer 7

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Answer 8

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (NIV)