Reading John 1:1-5, Genesis 1:1, Colossians 1:15-17, Hebrews 1:2-3- Genesis 1:1 relates to John 1:1-5 by stating that in the beginning the Word who was God created the heavens and earth. Heavens and earth means everything, I think. So there was nothing before God.
- Colossians 1:15-17 tells almost the same message as John 1:1-5 for me. That Christ is God, He is before all things, and everything is in Him.
- Hebrews 1:2-3 relates to John 1:1-5 by explaining phrase "...the Word was God" in verse 3, "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word."
- From John 1:1 there are three phrases that give information about "the Word" before He "became flesh". The phrases are "in the beginning," "was with God," and "was God."
- Collosians 1:16 has additional information that is not in John 1:3. It is mentioned there specifically about all things: things in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities, and that all things were created by him and for him. This means, I think, that human personality was also created by him and for him, and that true fulfillment of human personality lies in Christ being the Supreme center of one's whole life. Then why, oh why, am I not living in such way?
- Comparing John 3:19-21, 8:12, 12:35, 46, and 1 John 1:5-6 with John 1:4-5. From the way I see it, "light" refers to Christ, and His shine means life (a bit too impressed with "life was the light of men"? I don't know), whereas "darkness" refers to the world, the people who reject him, and everyone who does evil.
Reading John 1:1-18, called the “Prologue” or Introduction- There are two main personalities in this prologue, Christ and John who is called “John the Baptist.” Verses which relate to John the Baptist are 1:6-8, 15. These verses form a kind of parentheses to the main topic.
- John 1:1-18 is divided into three sections:
John 1:1-9. This section tells about Christ’s relationship to God, to creation, and to spiritual life and light. A phrase that impresses me in this section is “…life was the light of men.”
John 1:10-11. This section tells what happened after Christ became man and was rejected by the majority of the world to whom He came. A phrase that impresses me in this section is “He came to that which was his own…”
John 1:12-18. This section tells about the privileges given to those who receive him by faith. A phrase that impresses me in this section is “grace and truth.”
