John 1:10 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

NIV: He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him.

NASB: He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and yet the world did not know Him.

CSB: He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him.

NLT: He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.

KJV: He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

NKJV: He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

Jesus is not only the light, He is also the Creator. As Jesus, God was physically present on earth, but verse 10 describes a sad situation. The people of the world didn't recognize Him. Not only do people reject the knowledge brought by the light, they run from the One the light comes from in the first place! The Greek term for "world" in this verse is kosmos, often used to refer to the fallen, sinful system of thinking. This is the worldly mindset which rejects God, His knowledge, and His Word. This is why repentance is a core aspect of the gospel: a person must be willing to turn away from darkness and into the light. Jesus later points out that God has given many reasons for mankind to believe in Him (John 5:31–47). These include scriptures, miracles, and human testimonies. For those who want to know, there is more than enough evidence to make the right choice. However, people continue to reject Him out of pride and arrogance (John 7:17).

John 1:1–18 is a poetic introduction of Jesus Christ. Jesus is referred to using the Greek word Logos, meaning “The Word.” This passage clearly describes Jesus as identical to God, and co-creator with God. These verses summarize Jesus’ ministry and mission on Earth. The passage also explains how John the Baptist (a different John from the author of this gospel) was sent ahead of Christ to prepare for His arrival.

The first chapter of John introduces Jesus as “the Word,” from the Greek Logos. This chapter clearly describes Jesus as identical to God. After this prologue, the chapter describes Jesus recruiting the first of His disciples, as well as a conversation between John the Baptist and the Pharisees. There are seven names for Christ in this chapter, including “The Son of God,” “The Word,” and “The King of Israel.”

The first chapter of the gospel of John equates Christ with God, and introduces John the Baptist. The Baptist specifically points to Jesus as the Promised One. Jesus collects the first five of His disciples. In this chapter, Jesus is given seven descriptive names, including “The Word,” “The Son of God,” and “The King of Israel.” This chapter sets the stage for the rest of the gospel, by giving the reader a sense of who Jesus truly is, and why He has come. The rest of the gospel is an exploration of the claims made in this initial passage.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 5/7/2024 9:17:58 PM