John 1:8 - Printer Friendly

ESV: He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

NIV: He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

NASB: He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

CSB: He was not the light, but he came to testify about the light.

NLT: John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.

KJV: He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

NKJV: He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Verse 8 clearly states that John the Baptist is not the promised Light itself, but only a witness. Unlike many popular teachers, the Baptist wasn't interested in fame or fortune. He was there only to point others to Christ. Later on, as his followers begin to leave him for Jesus, the Baptist is happy (John 3:28–30). His repentance ministry was meant to soften hearts prior to Jesus emerging on the scene. The Baptist's claim is that the One who is coming is far more worthy; John the Baptist is not fit to untie His sandals (Mathew 3:11). This is a fulfillment of prophecy, recorded in Isaiah 40:3, which speaks of a single voice, crying out in the desert, making a straight path for God. Previous signs pointing towards God, such as the law of Moses, and the tabernacle, were meant to lead people to this point. Now, the time has come to repent of sins and accept the Light of the World.

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 5/8/2024 2:49:52 PM