A Scripture Structure study · Working draft

Patterns in John 1

The prologue and the opening week of John's Gospel. Each recurring theme gets its own color, so you can watch ideas like "the Word," "light," and "came into being" thread through the passage — and see the titles of Jesus pile up, one after another.

the Word

light

darkness

the world

believe

know

Father

witness / John

grace & truth

a title of Jesus

John 1 · 1–5 — The Word

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

Four lines turn on two anchors — "in the beginning" and "with God" — folding back on themselves like a hinge.

All things, through Him, came into being.
Without Him came into being not one thing
that came into being.

In Him was life, and
that life was the light of men.
The light shines in the darkness, and
the darkness has not overcome it.

John 1 · 6–13 — Witness & Reception

There came into being a man sent from God, whose name was John.
He came as a witness, to bear witness concerning the light,
that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to bear witness concerning the light.

The true light, which enlightens every man, was coming into the world.
The world through Him came into being,
but the world did not know Him.
To His own He came,
but His own did not receive Him.

Yet to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name,
He gave the right to become children of God —
born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1 · 14–18 — The Word made flesh

And the Word came into being as flesh and dwelt among us.

We beheld His glory — a glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John bears witness of Him, crying out: "This was He of whom I said,
'The One coming after me
ranks before me,
because He was before me.'"

From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came into being through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God. The only begotten, who is at the Father's side — He has made Him known.

John 1 · 19–28 — "Who are you?"

When the priests interrogate him, John answers by saying what he is not — three denials, building to the one thing he is: a voice.

This is the witness of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites to ask him:
"Who are you?"
He confessed and did not deny: "I am not the Christ."
"Are you Elijah?"
"I am not."
"Are you the Prophet?"
"No."
"Who are you? What do you say about yourself?"

He said, "I am a voice crying in the wilderness:
'Make straight the way of the Lord,'
as the prophet Isaiah said."

The Pharisees asked, "Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"

John answered, "I baptize with water, but among you stands One you do not know — coming after me, whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."

John 1 · 29–51 — Four days, a rising chorus of titles

"The next day… the next day…" marks off a sequence. Across it, one title after another is laid on Jesus — watch them accumulate.

The next day — John sees Jesus coming and says, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." He beheld the Spirit descending and remaining on Him, and bore witness: "This is the Son of God."
The next day — John points two disciples to Jesus; they follow Him. "Rabbi," they ask, "where are you staying?" — "Come and see."
Andrew finds his brother Simon: "We have found the Messiah." Jesus names him Cephas — Peter.
The next day — Jesus calls Philip: "Follow Me." Philip finds Nathanael: "We have found Him of whom Moses and the prophets wrote — Jesus, the Son of Joseph, of Nazareth." — "Come and see."
Nathanael: "Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel!"
Jesus answered, "Truly, truly I say to you — you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

The titles, in the order they arrive

Lamb of God Son of God Rabbi (Teacher) Messiah (Christ) Son of Joseph, of Nazareth King of Israel Son of Man