THE WORLDS OF THE TEXT Example #1 The Gospel of John 1:14

"The Word Was Made Flesh and Dwelt Among Us"

 

This essay examines the Text of the Gospel of John, specifically John 1:14 

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 KJV).  

THE WORLD BEHIND THE TEXT. 

The author of the Gospel of John provides an eyewitness account of Jesus, the Word, in action. John functions as the fourth book of the Gospels. To understand “dwelt among them” (John 1:14 KJV) we need to look through the eyes of the audience and author of John. (John, 1998) 

Various scholars have different interpretations about this Gospel’s authorship. The Gospel’s closing identifies the author as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”  (21:20, 24). Jesus commissioned the apostles to bear witness of Him (15:27). This gave the apostles authority in their message. Such was the case of the earliest believers “steadfastly studying the apostle’s doctrine” (Acts 2:42a). 

The Gospel of John dates to approximately, AD85-95. Some say earlier than this time. Tradition suggests Ephesus as its place of origin.  The city was located on the west coast of Asia Minor among major trade routes. Ephesus held stature as the capital of the province of Asia in Pergamum and largest city in the ancient Mediterranean with a population of 250,000. It also had the temple of Artemis. It was an urban area of prestige and wealth. Theological opinions vary as to the audience. Some maintain that Apostle John wrote to “Christians, especially those in Ephesus.” (Neyrey, 2008)Another expands audience membership, maintaining that it was to Jews and Jewish proselytes, as well as second and third-generation believers who had not seen Jesus.  What one might gather is that the author responds to the human condition about the witness of Jesus as an evangelism tool. Nevertheless, the book states its own purpose with “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name” (John 20:21). The projected audience comprises universal membership. (Malina, 2001) 

THE WORLD OF THE TEXT 

Before determining what it meant for the Word to dwell among the author and audience, you need to consider the nature and character of the “Word” (1:14). With close examination, the “Word’s” (1:14) attributes emerge. (Witherington, 1995) 

The Book of John opens with a prologue (1:1-18), through which a staircase parallel structure (1-5, 10-11) describes the “Word.”  

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

2 The same was in the beginning with God. 

3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not. 

The prologue moves from “the Word was God” (1:1c); to “the same was in the beginning with God (v. 2); to “without him was not any thing made that was made” (v. 3b); “the life was the light of men” (v. 4b); to “the darkness comprehended it not” (v. 5b); to “the world knew him not” (v. 10c), and then to “and his own received him not” (11b). Moreover, through analysis of these descriptors of the “Word,” ones see meaning emerge through the staircase parallel structure. Continuing to study the “Word” (1:1), one learns of five expanded understandings within the Book of John. First, Apostle John tells who the Word is as the “glory of the only begotten Son” (1:14). Second, the author tells what the “Word” does after He was made flesh — He “dwelt among us” (1:14). (Bauckham, 2007) 

Some scholars suggest that the Gospel of John specifically shows an ancient form of biography of whom the subject is “Jesus”. Indeed this Gospel chronicles the earthly ministry of the “Word”. (Neyrey, 2007) 

For many of Jesus’ disciples, dwelling with Him meant walking after Him, such as in John 6:2, of which the multitudes followed Him. Jesus spoke of following Him with a different intent. Follow meant to serve Him 12:26), know His voice as the Shepherd (10:27); go as a disciple (13:36; 18:15); seek Him in worship (4:24; 18:4, 6) and be an attendant in love by His side (21:20). Jesus looks at “dwelt” in the sense of abiding with Him as a follower.  ﷟HYPERLINK "https://specs12.wordpress.com/2012/10/07/word-was-made-flesh-and-dwelt-among-us-part-2/" 

We need to see what follows with a behind the text analysis of “dwelt” from the historical-cultural contours of the Gospel of John. This Gospel is rich in Judean references such as comparisons to “our father Jacob” (4:12) and “our father Abraham” (8:53), connections to the Law (1:17), interchange with Nicodemus (3:1-21), I AM statements and the true God (John 17). Could the Jewish audience of outsiders grasp Jesus dwelling among them any more than Nicodemus?  The echoing of the Tabernacle of Moses during the Jesus/Nicodemus discourse certainly painted an understandable image of Jesus dwelling among them as the great I AM and High Priest, where dwelling connotes the pitching of the tent with the arrived Messiah among them. (Skehan, 2017) 

Further, the author published this gospel after the Jewish temple’s destruction in AD 70. So Jewish Christians, who still identified themselves as Jews but believed the Messiah arrived, may look at “dwelt” as a replacement to the temple. The tabernacle in the Temple was the holy place of worship, and, sacrifices. (Köstenberger, 1999) 

In conclusion, “dwell” might reflect different meanings dependent on the reader at that time. The author viewed the “Word” as God (1:1) who is the life and Light of men (1:4) and the only begotten Son of the Father (1:14) who was made flesh to dwell among His creation. To the Jews, dwelling perhaps meant the pitching of the tent with the Messiah among them. To the newly converted Jews, feeling the loss of the temple, the “Word” possibly offered a new temple within which to dwell. To the Gentile, “dwelt” maybe meant the place to find the “Word” for worship, salvation and healing not found in polytheist Roman gods. (De Silva, 2000) 

THE WORLD IN FRONT OF THE TEXT 

What can the modern reader make of the Text? For anyone interested in learning more about the New Testament social world, research opens new doors for understanding. For example, how do cultural determiners like honour, patronage, kinship and purity influence the meaning of “the Word dwelt among us” (1:14). (Neyrey, 2008) What’s more, examining Scripture behind the text provides a glimpse into the culture of yesterday and original textual meaning, which helps a person know how to apply Scripture to contemporary situations. It can also help us to find the meaning of ‘dwelt’ today across the diversity of people. Not everyone understands “dwelt” as John and his audience originally understood. 

Bibliography 

Bauckham, R., 2007. The Testimony of the Beloved Disciple: The Narrative, History and Theology of John. Grand Rapids,: Baker Academic. 

De Silva, D., 2000. Honor, Patronage, Kinship and Purity: Unlocking New Testament Culture.. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press. 

John, T. A., 1998. Gospel of John. King James Version ed. New York: Wayne and Schuster. 

Köstenberger, A. J., 1999. Encountering John: The Gospel in Historical, Literary and Theological Perspective. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic. 

Malina, B., 2001. The New Testament: Insights from Cultural Anthropology. Louisville:: Westminster John Knox Press. 

Metzger, P. L., 2000. The Gospel of John: When Love Comes to Town. Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press. 

Neyrey, J., 2007. The Gospel of John in Cultural and Rhetorical Perspective. Cambridge: University Press. 

Neyrey, J. a. S. E., 2008. The Social World of the New Testament: Insights and Models. Chicago: Peabody Hendrickson Publishers, Inc. 

Skehan, K. D., 2017. Class Notes on the Gospel of John. Ipswich: St Mary's College. 

Witherington, B., 1995. John’s Wisdom: A Commentary on the Fourth Gospel.:. Louisville: John Knox Press.