Analyze John 1:1-18
Step One: Reading the Text (up to 10 points)
Read the following text carefully. Look for key words and phrases, recurring themes, structural relationships, confusing claims, etc. Take thorough notes on the next page. Or, if you prefer, you may print this page off, mark it up and then scan it for submission. Either way, part of the professor’s evaluation will be the
physical evidence of your engagement with the text.
John 1:1-18 (NIV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and
the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made
that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of
men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not
understood it.
6 There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John.
7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that
through him all men might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he
came only as a witness to the light. 9 The true light that gives light to
every man was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him,
the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his
own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who received him,
to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become
children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of
human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We
have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only [or “only
begotten”], who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he
of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me
because he was before me.’ ” 16 From the fullness of his grace we
have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was
given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only [or “only
begotten”], who is at the Father’s side, has made him known.
Step Two: Asking Questions of the Text (up to 20 points)
List here five theological questions concerning this text. Some of these may be
questions of clarification (e.g., what does this word or phrase mean?), but make
sure the majority are substantive questions related to the topic(s) of the week
(e.g., what does this statement imply about how we come to know God?). Try to
avoid asking questions to which the answer is already obvious to you. To get
you started, the first three have already been supplied.
- What is the relationship between the “Word” and “God” in this passage?
- According to this text, what are the consequences of the Word becoming
flesh? - What does v. 18 tell us about God and how he can be known to us?
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