Scofield Reference Bible Notes
John 1

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

Word

Rev 19:13.

Greek Logos (Aramaic Memra, used in the Targums, or Hebrew paraphrases, for God). The Greek term means,

1. a thought or concept;
2. the expression or utterance of that thought.

As a designation of Christ, therefore, Logos is peculiarly felicitous because,

1. in Him are embodied all the treasures of the divine wisdom, the collective "thought" of God (1Co 1:24; Eph 3:11; Col 2:2-3); and,
2. He is from eternity, but especially in His incarnation, the utterance or expression of the Person, and "thought" of Deity (Jhn 1:3-5, 9, 14-18; 14:9-11; Col 2:9).

In the Being, Person, and work of Christ, Deity is told out.

the Word was with God

Jhn 17:5.

the Word was God

Heb 1:8, 13; 1Jo 5:20.

Jhn 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

All things were made by him

Eph 3:9.

Jhn 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

life

Life (eternal). Jhn 3:15-16, 36. (Mat 7:14; Rev 22:19.)

Jhn 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

comprehended it not

Or, apprehended; literally laid not hold of it.

Jhn 1:6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

a man sent from God

Mal 3:1; Luk 3:2-3.

Jhn 1:7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

witness

Jhn 3:26-36

Jhn 1:8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

but was sent to bear witness

Act 19:4.

Jhn 1:9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

the true Light

Isa 49:6.

world [See also Jhn 1:10.]

kosmos (Mat 4:8) = mankind.

Jhn 1:11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

i.e. He came unto his own things, and his own people received him not.

Jhn 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

power

Or, authority.

believe

Faith. Jhn 3:15-16, 18, 36. (Gen 3:20; Heb 11:39.)

Jhn 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

flesh

Flesh. Jhn 3:6. (Jhn 1:13; Jde 1:23.)

Jhn 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.

the Word was made flesh

1Ti 3:16.

Jhn 1:15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

John bare witness

Jhn 1:6-8, 15; Mal 3:1.

Jhn 1:16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

grace

Grace. Summary:

1. Grace is "the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man…not by works of righteousness which we have done" (Tit 3:4-5). It is, therefore, constantly set in contrast to law, under which God demands righteousness from man, as, under grace, he gives righteousness to man (Rom 3:21-22; 8:4; Phl 3:9). Law is connected with Moses and works; grace with Christ and faith (Jhn 1:17; Rom 10:4-10). Law blesses the good; grace saves the bad (Exo 19:5; Eph 2:1-9). Law demands that blessings be earned; grace is a free gift (Deu 28:1-6; Eph 2:8; Rom 4:4-5).
2. As a dispensation, grace begins with the death and resurrection of Christ (Rom 3:24-26; 4:24-25). The point of testing is no longer legal obedience as the condition of salvation, but acceptance or rejection of Christ, with good works as a fruit of salvation (Jhn 1:12-13; 3:36; Matthew 21:37; 22:42; Jhn 15:22, 25; Heb 1:2; 1Jo 5:10-12). The immediate result of this testing was the rejection of Christ by the Jews, and His crucifixion by Jew and Gentile (Acts 4:27). The predicted end of the testing of man under grace is the apostasy of the professing church (see "Apostasy," Scofield 2 Timothy 3:1-8, note), and the resultant apocalyptic judgments.
3. Grace has a twofold manifestation: in salvation (Scofield Romans 3:24, refs.), and in the walk and service of the saved (Scofield Romans 6:15, refs.). See, for the other six dispensations:
   • Innocence (Scofield Genesis 1:28);
   • Conscience (Scofield Genesis 3:23);
   • Human Government (Scofield Genesis 8:21);
   • Promise (Scofield Genesis 12:1);
   • Law (Scofield Exodus 19:8);
   • Kingdom (Scofield Ephesians 1:10).

Jhn 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

law was given by Moses

Law (of Moses). Jhn 7:19. (Exodus 19:1; Galatians 3:1-29).

grace

Grace (in salvation). (Jhn 16:1; Rom 3:24.)

Jhn 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

hath seen God

Cf. Gen 32:20; Exo 24:10; 33:18; Jdg 6:22; 13:22; Rev 22:4. The divine essence, God, in His own triune Person, no human being in the flesh has seen. But God, veiled in angelic form, and especially as incarnate in Jesus Christ, has been seen of men (Gen 18:2, 22; John 14:8-9).

declared him

Literally led him forth, i.e. into full revelation. Jhn 14:9.

Jhn 1:19 And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

Who art thou?

Luk 3:15.

Jhn 1:21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

Art thou that prophet?

Deu 18:15.

Jhn 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness

Mat 3:3.

Lord

Jehovah. Isa 40:3.

as said the prophet Esaias

Isa 40:3

Jhn 1:28 These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Bethabara

Bethany.

Jhn 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sins of the world.

Lamb of God

Sacrifice (of Christ). Jhn 6:33-35. (Gen 4:4; Heb 10:18.)

sins

Sin. Scofield Romans 3:23, note.

Jhn 1:32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

Spirit

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Jhn 1:32-33; Jhn 3:5-6, 8, 34. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

Jhn 1:37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

they followed Jesus

Cf. Mar 1:16-20; Luk 5:1-11.

Jhn 1:39 He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

Come and see

The call to discipleship. Cf. Mat 4:18-22, the call to service.

the tenth hour

That was two hours before night.

Jhn 1:41 He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

the Christ

Or, the anointed.

Jhn 1:45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Moses in the law, and the prophets

Luk 24:27.

Jesus of Nazareth

Deu 18:15.

Jhn 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

an Israelite indeed

Rom 2:28-29.

Jhn 1:48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

I saw thee

Psa 139:1.

Jhn 1:49 Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

thou art the Son of God

Jhn 5:17.

thou art the King of Israel

Mat 21:4-5; Mat 27:11.

Jhn 1:51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

angels

Scofield Hebrews 1:4, note.