The LOGOS
Part Four
By Jonathan Mitchell
Considerations of John 1:15-51
What Is This Passage Saying, and What Do the Various Explanations Mean?
15. John is continuing witnessing about It (or: Him) and has cried out, repeatedly saying, "This (or: This One) was That (or: the One) of Which (or: Whom) I said, 'That (or: The One) progressively coming behind me has come to be in front of me (or: has taken precedence of me),' because It (or: He) was existing first, before me (or: 'that It, or He, was first [in place and station] in regard to me'),"
16. because we all at some point receive (take with our hands) from out of the result of Its (or: His) filling (or: the effect of Its full contents; that which fills Him up): even grace in the place of grace (or: favor corresponding to and facing favor; a [new fresh] gracious favor in the place of and replacing [the previous] gracious favor; [one] joyous favor after and exchanged for [another] joyous favor),
17. because the Law was given through Moses, yet grace and truth are birthed (or: joyous favor and reality came to be and exists) through Jesus Christ [= Messiah Yahshua].
18. No one at any time has seen God. The only-begotten (solitary-race, one of a kind) God [other MSS: Son] - the One continuously Existing - THAT (or: that One) ruled and led the Way forth into the Father's safe place of honored intimacy (or: unto the midst of the breast and garment fold of the Father): [It; He] interprets (explains) [Him] by unfolding and bringing Itself (or: Himself) forth, out of the midst.
Conventional interpretation of these verses has rendered the personal pronoun in the predicate of the first clause of vs. 15, and in the clauses following, as "Him" - referring specifically to Jesus. I include this rendering, in parentheses. It is not an incorrect reading to see verses 15-16 as referring to Jesus Christ, who is specifically named in vs. 17b.
So why did I choose to render the prepositional phrase, in vs. 15a, as "about It"? Because the opening topic, and subject, of vs. 14 is "the Logos." Reading from Jn. 1:1 straight through vss. 14-15, the topic has continued being the Logos. The first word that John cried out is the word, "This," which is a demonstrative pronoun whose antecedent was the Logos of vs. 14. The closest referent of "This," is either the Logos, or Its glory, in vs. 14, where this glory is compared to being "AS of an only-begotten person (or: like One that is an only kin, of a solitary race, in a by-itself-class) at a father's side (or: in the presence of, and next to, [the] Father)." Now notice the location of the Logos: it is the same as that described in Jn. 1:1, where the phrase is often rendered "with God." Now we can apply this to Jesus Christ, introduced in the text in vs. 17, but thus far the topic of the passage is still, "the Logos."
Jumping ahead to vs. 18b we find another demonstrative, "THAT (or: that One)," and this whole verse is echoing the situation described in Jn. 1:1-2. Our point is that John is still talking about the Logos (that was incarnated in Jesus). In 18b, the subject of the verb, "interprets (explains) [Him] by unfolding and bringing Itself (or: Himself) forth, out of the midst," can be either the Logos, "It," or Jesus, "He," both supplied in brackets, which in turn refers back to either rendering of the demonstrative: "THAT (or: that One)" which begins the sentence. Our purpose is to uncover the reading of Jn. 1:1-18 (the Prologue of the Gospel of John) as primarily being a discussion about the Logos. We, of course, find this implied in vs. 17, for Jesus was the Agent and Carrier of "grace and truth." But grace/favor and truth/reality comes to us via the Logos, just as well. The Logos is the vehicle that inhabits Jesus, the Anointed One.
Why did John contrast the Law, and Moses, to grace and truth that came through Jesus? If we look back to the account of Moses being the agent and vehicle of the Law (Mt. Sinai), we observe that the Law was also a production of God's Logos. Of course, John is announcing the new creation of what will become the resurrected Israel - which now is a joining of Jew and Gentile (Eph. 2:15).
With this overview of our present passage, let us now move to some particulars. In vs. 15b:
"'That (or: The One) progressively coming behind me has come to be in front of me (or: has taken precedence of me),' because It (or: He) was existing first, before me (or: 'that It, or He, was first [in place and station] in regard to me')."
The verb "was existing" is the same verb used of the Logos, in 1:1-2. If we take the reading that "It was existing first, before me," we see that this could not apply to Jesus, because John was six months older than Jesus. If we take the reading, "that It, or He, was first [in place and station] in regard to me," then it can refer either to the Logos, or, to Jesus. Likewise, the first clause, "progressively coming behind me has come to be in front of me (or: has taken precedence of me)," can be applied to either the Logos, or to Jesus. Both the Message (Word; Logos) and Jesus Himself came after John, but took precedence of him. We can easily see that Jesus was a manifestation of the Logos, or, existentially was the Logos. But if we keep in mind both the flow of John's Prologue and the topic of the Logos, they will add to our vision and to our comprehension of what John was saying.
Now, to vs. 16: "because we all at some point receive (take with our hands) from out of the result of Its (or: His) filling (or: the effect of Its full contents; that which fills Him up): even grace in the place of grace." Once again, the Greek text is ambiguous. We thus translate it according to the lens with which we read the text. I have given both options. Yes, we do receive from out of the result of His filling, but in reality this happens to us through the Logos: the Word about Him, the Patterned Information that IS Him, and the Message from Him. So, you see, the Logos (and recall that the effects of the flows of words from Jesus ARE Spirit, and they are Life) is critically and essentially involved in our receiving grace from the Logos, and Jesus, being filled with grace.
Another thing to observe in this verse, is that it does not say "grace in the place of the Law." The Law was grace (a favor which created them as a nation with probably the best ethics of that day) to Israel, and we read of repeated favor to them, in their story. But now comes a new expression of grace: "a [new fresh] gracious favor in the place of and replacing [the previous] gracious favor; or: [one] joyous favor after and exchanged for [another] joyous favor." Consider the provision given to Israel in their wilderness wanderings. Paul instructs us that, "they all drank the same spiritual drink, for they kept on drinking from out of a spiritual bedrock (or: cliff rock; rock mass) - one continually following along behind (or: progressively accompanying [them]). Now the bedrock (or: cliff rock) was the Christ (or: the rock mass was existing being the Anointing)" (1 Cor. 10:4).
We have two different verbs that John used in vs. 17: "the Law was given through Moses, yet grace and truth are birthed (or: joyous favor and reality came to be and exists) through Jesus Christ." Law was GIVEN; grace and truth are BIRTHED. This latter takes us back to Jn. 1:12-13, where it speaks of being birthed as God's children. It was the Law, GIVEN at Sinai, that made Israel the People of God, or, God's corporate Son (Ex. 4:22). Notice that in that verse of the Torah, Yahweh pronounced this Son as His Firstborn. Ponder that, in regard to Jn. 1:14. As noted above, both the Law and Grace-Truth were embodiments of the Logos. John's point, here in vs. 17, may be pointing to what we find in Heb. 8:
7. For if that first one was being unblamable (without ground for faultfinding; beyond criticism; satisfying), a place of a second one would not have continued to be sought (looked for).
8. For continuously blaming (finding fault and being dissatisfied with) them, He is saying, "'Consider! Days are progressively coming,' says the Lord [=Yahweh], 'and I shall progressively bring an end together (a conclusion of its destiny; or: a joint-goal) upon the house of Israel and upon the house of Judah with a new arrangement (a different covenant; an innovative disposition),
9."'not down from nor in accord with the arrangement (covenant) which I made with their fathers, in a day of My taking hold upon their hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they did not remain (abide; dwell) in My arrangement (covenant) and, for my part, I paid no attention to and gave no care for (or: was unconcerned about; neglected) them,' says the Lord [= Yahweh].
10. "'Because this is the arrangement (covenant; disposition) which I shall continue arranging for the house of Israel, after those days,' says the Lord: 'progressively giving My Laws into their thought (into that which goes through their mind; into their perception and comprehension), and I shall progressively imprint them (write or inscribe marks) upon their hearts, and I shall continue being in and among them ([in relation] to them; for them), into [the position of] a God, and they shall continue being (exist being) in Me ([in relation] to Me; for Me), into [the position of] a people.
11."'And they may by no means teach each one his fellow-citizen, and each one his brother, saying, "Know the Lord (or: You must be intimate with [Yahweh])," because everyone (all) shall progressively perceive and thus understand and be acquainted with Me, from a little one even to a large one of them,
12."'because I shall continue being (existing) merciful with a cleansing covering for their injustices (behaviors contrary to the Way pointed out; inequities) and acts of lawlessness, and then I would by no means be reminded further of their mistakes and failures (errors and falling short of the target; sins).'" [Jer. 31:30-33]
13. In thus to be saying "new: different in kind and quality," He has made the first (or: former) "old," and that [which is] progressively growing old (or: obsolete) and decrepit (failing of age; ageing into decay), [is] near its disappearing (vanishing away). [cf 2 Cor. 3:7-13] The "grace and truth" that came through Jesus Christ was the new arrangement (covenant) prophesied by Jeremiah. This was the fulfilling of the Law (Mat. 5:17: Lu. 21:22).
The new arrangement is a blueprint (Logos) for the new creation, and for the new Temple.
In light of Jn. 1:17, Dan Kaplan has pointed us to Heb. 3:
2. [and His] continuously being faithful by and loyal to and in the One forming (making; creating; constructing; establishing; producing; [in LXX the same word as Gen. 1:1]) Him, even as "Moses [was loyal] within His (or: his) whole house." [Num. 12:7]
3. For this [reason] He (or: You see, this One) has been esteemed worthy of more glory and a greater reputation than Moses, proportionally to the degree that He who constructs (or: prepares; fully implements) it has more value (honor; worth) than the house itself.
4. For every house is constructed, prepared and fully implemented by someone, but the One constructing all humanity (or: all [situations; circumstances]; = everything) [is] God!
5. And so on the one hand, Moses [was] faithful and loyal in the midst of His (or: centered in his) whole house, as an attending therapeutic and medical care-provider (or: trainer; cultivator; or: valet; squire; companion in arms) - [which leads] unto a testimony (or: witness) of the things going to be spoken (or: into evidence from those [future] sayings being said) -
6. Yet on the other hand, Christ [is faithful and loyal] as a Son upon His house - whose [p46, D* read: which] house (or: household) we, ourselves, are (or: continuously exist being)!...
This passage expands the thoughts of John, in Jn. 1:17. Observe the appositional reading of the last phrase of Heb. 3:1, "the like-logos which is US!" Consider allusion to the creation passage of Gen. 1, and to the "beginning" statement of Jn. 1:1 that we see in Heb. 3:2a. And then the metaphor of "houses" that we read in Heb. 3:2b-6, which sheds light on the contrast between Land and Grace/Truth in Jn. 1:17. The Logos created a replica of Itself, a "like-logos" which is the "house" of the Son, Who "has been esteemed worthy of more glory and a greater reputation than Moses" (Heb. 3:3). Jn. 1:3 is echoed in Heb. 3:4, where we are informed that, "but the One constructing all humanity (or: all [situations; circumstances]; = everything) [is] God!" Heb. 3:6a explains that we are Christ's house, just as we are the like-logos.
Dan also pointed us to what is given in 2 Pet. 1:19,
"And so, we continue having (or: constantly hold) the Idea which was spoken ahead of time in and as Light (or: the prior-enlightening Logos, Blueprint, Thought and Reason; or: the Prophetic Word) more confirmed (validated; established; certain), by which (or: in which) you folks continue doing beautifully (performing ideally; producing finely), while continuously holding toward (= paying close attention to) [it] as to a lamp continually shining within a parched place - until which [time or occasion] the Day may shine through and a light bearer [= a morning star] may rise within your hearts (or: constantly heeding, as to a lamp progressively making things appear in a dark, dingy or dirty place, until that Day can dawn, and a light-bringer can arise in union with your core and innermost being)."
In this verse, Peter speaks of "continuously holding toward (= paying close attention to)" the prophetic Logos, and this calls to mind Jesus' admonition to His followers in Jn. 15:5.
This in turn enlightens the admonition in Heb. 3:
12. Exercise sight (Be continuously observing), brothers, [so] there shall not once be (or: exist) in any of you folks a bad, useless or misery-gushed heart (a heart causing labor, sorrow or pain) of unfaithfulness (or: from disloyalty, disbelief or distrust; or: the source and character of which is an absence of faith and trust), in withdrawing (or: standing away and aloof; separating or revolting) from the living God.
13. But rather, be habitually calling yourselves alongside - entreating, admonishing, encouraging, bringing relief and helping each other - daily, concerning (or: in accord with) each day, until (or: as long as; during) that which continues being called "Today" [with A, C and other MSS: while you folks continue inviting this present Day,] so that not any one from the midst of you folks may be hardened by a deception of failure (or: in treachery from a miss of the target; with seduction of sin; by cunning in regard to error; by deceit relating to a mistake).
14. For we have been born partners of the Christ (or: we have come to be associates and participants who partake of the Anointed One and commonly hold the Anointing) with the result that we are now in a binding partnership with Him, since surely we can fully hold in our possession - so as to retain firm and steadfast - the Origin of the substructure to the point of completion of the intended goal (or: if indeed, unto [the condition or state of] maturity, we would fully hold in our possession, so as to retain firm and steadfast, the beginning [position] with regard to the substance, essential nature and basis [of the new reality] - as well as the rule of that [which was] put under, as a standing for support)."
Now even though the Prologue of this Gospel begins Good News about Jesus, this Gospel was written after the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. So why does John open 1:18, here, with, "No one at any time has seen God"? It would seem that John is using this verb for "seeing" in the sense of perceiving, or understanding, or seeing with the mind or with spiritual discernment. Recall Jn. 14:9b, where Jesus told His disciples, "The person having discerned and seen Me has seen, and now perceives, the Father!" But taking 1:18a at face value, was John saying that before Jesus no one had really perceived or understood Who God is? They observed the results of His works and experienced His presence, but apparently did not really know Who He is, until:
"The only-begotten (solitary-race, one of a kind) God... ruled and led the Way forth into the Father's safe place of honored intimacy [cf Jn. 1:1-2] [and] interprets (explains) [Him] by unfolding and bringing Itself (or: Himself) forth, out of the midst."
There are other MSS which read "Son" instead of "God" following "only-begotten." Some MSS, which have the word "God," do not have the definite article "The" before "only-begotten," and thus it could read, "An only-begotten God." We will not attempt to sort this out, but rather commend our readers to the Spirit of Truth for understanding.
The MS variations, and the awkward syntax of vs. 18b, has made translation of the text a bit difficult. As noted above, my decision was to set off in dashes the subordinate clause, "the One continuously Existing," which directly follows," The only-begotten God," thus rendering this clause as describing the noun "God." By doing this, we have "The only-begotten God" as the referent of the final clause:
"THAT (or: that One) ruled and led the Way forth into the Father's safe place of honored intimacy (or: unto the midst of the breast and garment fold of the Father): [It; He] interprets (explains) [Him] by unfolding and bringing Itself (or: Himself) forth, out of the midst."
This can, of course, be read as referring to Jesus (and is probably why some MS changed the word God to Son). But John's ambiguous language can give rise to the consideration that this "only-begotten God" phrase is speaking of the Logos, which originated in the Mind of God as the Thought, the Idea and the Blueprint of the plan of the ages, and which was given birth by the Breath-effect when God spoke the Logos into Being - both as creation, in its beginning, and as fulfillment throughout the ages. The Alpha and the Omega; the Beginning and the End. It was this Logos (from Gen. through Rev.) that explains and interprets God - forth from out of the midst of Himself (cf Rom. 11:36).
The intimacy implied by the phrase, "unto the midst of the breast and garment fold of the Father," is another allusion of Jn. 1:1 - the implied face-to-face intimacy of the Logos with God. An expressed logos comes forth via a breath-effect, or life-spirit. The Blueprint (Logos) "explains" what God has been, and continues, doing.
John the immerser gave another witness about what he had said in 1:15, above, in 1:26-27,
"He, Whom you men have not seen or perceived, and have no knowledge of or acquaintance with, has stood in your midst [other MSS: continues presently standing in your midst]. He is the very One, Who, progressively coming behind me, has come to be in front of me, of Whom I am not worthy (equal of value) that I should loose the lace (strap; thong) of His sandal."
This affirms that he spoke about Jesus in the previous statement, and the narrative now fully focuses on Jesus, and His ministry as the Anointed One, as we read in the following verses:
30. "This One is He over whose situation [other MSS: concerning Whom] I said, 'An adult male is progressively coming behind me Who has come to be in front of me,' because he was existing before me (or: was continuously being first in rank and importance in regard to me). [Observe the added description, beyond vs. 15, "An adult male"]
31. "And I myself had not seen Him to know, recognize or be aware of Him, but nevertheless, to the end that He may be brought to light in (or: for; by) Israel (or: be manifested to Israel) - because of this - I came continuously immersing (or: baptizing) in water."
32. John also testified, repeatedly saying that, "I have viewed and continued gazing at, so that I can now visualize, the Spirit progressively stepping down (or: the Breath-effect continuously descending), as a dove, forth from out of [the] atmosphere (or: as a pigeon out of the sky, or from heaven), and It remains and dwells upon Him (or: It abode [= nested] upon Him).
33. "And yet, I had not seen Him to know or be aware of Him! But further, the One sending me to be habitually immersing in water, that One said to me, 'Upon whomever you may see the Spirit progressively stepping down (or: the Breath-effect continuously descending) and then continuously remaining (dwelling; abiding) upon Him, this One is the One progressively (or: habitually) immersing (or: baptizing) within a set-apart spirit (or: in the midst of [the] Holy Spirit; in union with the Sacred Breath-effect and Attitude).'
34. "And so I myself have seen and given witness, and thus now bear testimony, that this One is God's Son (or: continuously exists being the Son which is God; or: the son having the character and qualities of God; or: the Son from God; The Son of The God)."
In this passage we have some specific things said about Jesus:
a) He is God's Lamb, who is continuously lifting up and progressively carrying away the Sin of the world;
b) the Spirit (Breath-effect) descended upon Jesus, and nested there;
c) Jesus would also progressively (or: habitually) immerse folks within a set-apart spirit (Holy Spirit; Sacred Breath-effect);
d) Jesus is God's Son.
The Logos became flesh...
But what are WE to expect, in our day? Jesus said to Nathaniel,
"And He is further saying to him, 'It is certainly true (or: Amen, amen; Most truly; Count on it). I am presently laying it out, saying to you folks, you will proceed seeing the heaven (or: sky; atmosphere) being one that is opened back up again, and 'God's agents (the folks with a message from God) repeatedly (progressively; continuously) ascending (stepping back up again) and habitually (progressively; continuously; repeatedly) descending (stepping down)' [Gen. 28:12] upon the Son of the Man (or: Mankind's Son; = the Son of Adam; the Human Son; = the Human Being; = the eschatological Messianic figure).'" (Jn. 1:51).
Was this an allusion to 1:32, above? Was "the Son of the Man (the Human Being)" figurative language for more than just Jesus, but also included the whole of "the Second Man/Humanity" (1 Cor. 15:47)? Were the apprentices of Jesus going to experience the same thing as He did, when John immersed Him (Lu. 3:21b)? Here, Jesus told Nathaniel, regarding him and the other apprentices,
"you folks will proceed seeing the heaven (or: sky; atmosphere) being one that is opened back up again."
Note the reference to Jacob' dream, in Gen. 28:12. And furthermore, consider a literal rendering of 1 Tim. 3:13,
"You see, those giving supporting service and dispensing [goods] in a fine, beautiful, excellent and ideal manner continue in (or: by; for; among) themselves building around themselves a beautiful (fine; excellent; ideal) circular staircase (that which enables folks to step up to a higher place) and much freedom of speech (confident outspokenness and boldness which is the right of citizens) resident within faith, trust and loyalty - that which is resident within, and in union with, Christ Jesus."
This verse describes that of which Jesus spoke to Nathaniel: we, as the body of the Son of Man, become the means of transport from realm to realm; from the earth (humanity) to the heavens (realm of spirit)
So who are "God's agents (the folks with a message from God)"? They are those who are a part of the Logos, and who function in bringing the Logos to humanity. Paul listed some of these functions in Eph. 4:11-13. In that passage, notice the "ascending and descending" language in Eph. 4:8-10. His apprentices are called to do the works that Jesus did (Jn. 14:12). In Rev. 21:2 we see God's people descending (taking a low position, as Christ did - Phil. 2:5-9):
"Next I saw the set-apart (or: holy) city, a new Jerusalem (or: an innovative, different Jerusalem that is new in character and quality), progressively descending from out of the atmosphere (or: presently stepping down out of the midst of the sky; or: steadily stepping in accord, forth from heaven), [coming] from God, being prepared (having been made ready)..."
In Rev. 22:17, we see one of the reasons for the Bride to descend (Eph. 2:6 tells us from where we descend, and Heb. 12:22-24 describes the location of the City):
"And now the Spirit and the Bride are continuously saying, 'Be repeatedly coming!' Then let the one continuing to listen and hear say, 'Be continuously coming!' And so let the person constantly thirsting continuously come; let the one habitually willing at once receive Water of Life freely" (or:" And so the Breath-effect and the Bride are constantly laying it out: 'Be progressively going!' Also, let the person now hearing say, 'Be progressively going!' Then, let the one repeatedly being thirsty habitually come and go. The person desiring and intending must at once take the Water from, and which is, Life for a free gift [to others]"). [Cf Jn. 4:14]
Moses ascended into Sinai to receive the pattern (the Blueprint; the Logos) for the first tabernacle, and then he descended to share this with the people, and then they built the tabernacle. In 1 Cor. 3:9ff, Paul, who had seen things in the third heaven (2 Cor. 12:1-5), was expecting the people to be building God's Temple, following the new Blueprint (Logos). This is what we, being filled with the Logos (the Blueprint), are about.
Jonathan
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