THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

           In the study of the Gospel of John, it is well to keep the time of its writing in mind. The time of John's writing can be realized from his statement at the start of his Gospel, in chapter 1, verse 11. There we read that Christ, "...came unto His own, and His own received Him not." He came unto His own nation, His own city and kingdom, but His own People received Him not. 
       This could not be said until the leaders of the scattered Jews, as well as those in the Land, had rejected Christ, their Messiah/King. It could not be said that, "His own received Him not," until about 35 years after His ascension, when the Jews' of the dispersion in Rome rejected Christ.
       At that point, after Israel's complete national rejection of Christ, then God sent His Salvation (Christ) to the nations. (Acts 28: 28) It is after that when John wrote his good news to the world (nations) telling them how to receive life and become "saints." It is then too that Paul wrote his good news telling saints of something more, of a calling out and inheritance in Christ, far above all heavens. (Ehpesians chapter 1 and Colossians chapter 2) 

CHAPTER 1

LESSON 1

Greek philosophers in John's day, called that One Who created and controlled all things, the "Logos", which is Greek for "Word."
In his Gospel John shows that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the true Logos. He shows that Jesus was both God and the Son of Man.
As you read, you may want use a red pencil to mark each place you find that shows Christ as God, omniscient and omnipotent. You might mark each place, which shows His human nature with another color.

READ John 1:1-10

1.a. Who does John call the Word in verse 1?

   b. Consider the function of a word in language. What does it do? 
       Why then is "Word" a good title for Him?

2.	When did the Word come into existence?  Jn.17: 5, 24

3.	What other name does John call the Word in verse 1?

4.	a. Who was the creator of the original heavens and earth? Gen.1: 1; Isa.45: 5,12

       b. What did God create, according to the Scriptures below?
     Heb.1: 2

     2 Cor.5: 17

     Col. 1: 16

     Eph.2: 13-15

5.    a. Where is the only source of life, both physical and spiritual? V 4; 1Jn.5: 11-13

 b.  How does a man gain spiritual life?  Jn.3: 16

6.a.  Where is the source of Light?  1Jn. 1: 5 

   b.  That Light came for what people?  Vs 7, 9

7.a.  What effect did the darkness of this world have on the Light?

    b. What benefits come to those who receive that Light? 1 Jn. 1: 7 
   
    c. What does Paul say to us about that Light? Eph.5: 8

8. a. Who was that "John" who is referred to in verse 6? 
  
  b. Was he one of the 12 apostles?

9. What was the mission and message of the John of verse 6? See 1: 7;  Mt.3: 1, 2

10. Why is "Light" a fitting title for the Lord Jesus Christ? Ps.119: 1O5, 130;  Eph.5: 13

11.a. When He came did the world learn about Him, the Light?
   
  b. Who had God chosen to be priests and teachers for the world? 
      EX.19: 1-6; 
      1Pet.1: 1, 3;  2: 9

READ John 1: 11-13

12.a. Christ came unto His own things (neuter). What were those things that He came to?
         Lev. 25: 23 
         
         Dan. 9: 16,17

     b. What was His own that "received Him not"?  Acts 28: 20-27

13. Why was John unable to pen the words of verse 11 until after the events recorded in
      the Book of Acts, events such as those in Acts 3: 17-21 and Acts 2: 36-39?

14.  Note that the English "sons" in verse 12 should read "children" since it is a translation of 
       the Greek word for "children, or born ones." It is not the word for adults or males. 
       To whom did He give authority to become children born into God's family?

15.  Some Bible texts indicate that in verse 13, "which" should read "Who" because It is a 
       continuation of verse 12 and it refers to Christ and not to human believers.  It would read,  
       "His name which (who)..."  
       What is said in verse 13 that can only be said of Christ and not of man and which supports 
       this view?