JOHN 1:16–18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him (John 1:18). The glory of “grace and truth” not revealed in John the Baptist but in the “only begotten”—Jesus Christ. This extraordinary statement of John’s concerning the Son’s relationship … Continue reading “THE ONLY BEGOTTEN”
CHILDREN OF GOD
JOHN 1:10–13 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God (John 1:12). When Christ entered into His public ministry, the world did not acknowledge Him. Even though Christ was God, Creator of all things, and even though all creatures should have recognized Him and worshiped Him, … Continue reading “CHILDREN OF GOD”
JOHN’S TESTIMONY
JOHN 1:6–9 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe (John 1:7). Some people in the early church believed that the baptism of John was superior to Jesus’ baptism. The apostle corrects this error by stressing that John the Baptist was a man who testified … Continue reading “JOHN’S TESTIMONY”
THE LIGHT OF MEN
JOHN 1:4–5 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men (John 1:4). Once again, John uses three abstract terms to describe Christ and our relation to Him: life, light, and darkness. What was John’s intention in using these terms? Does life, for instance, merely describe our existence in Christ? From the … Continue reading “THE LIGHT OF MEN”
THE ETERNAL WORD
JOHN 1:1–3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1). John begins his gospel with a proclamation of Christ’s divinity by using the highly abstract term Word or Logos. In Greek philosophy, logos meant logic or reason. Philosophers such as Philo used the word … Continue reading “THE ETERNAL WORD”
OUR “RESIDENT SCHOLAR”
EPHESIANS 4:7–16 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints (Eph. 4:11–12). As we have done for the past few years, we will base our studies on the teaching of an eminent Reformed pastor or teacher. This year’s “resident scholar” … Continue reading “OUR “RESIDENT SCHOLAR””
THE SON OF GOD
JOHN 1:29–34 And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God (John 1:34). The gospel of John may have been written around A. D. 90 near the end of John’s life. From the varied explanations given on Jewish customs in the book, we can assume that the writer was a Jew … Continue reading “THE SON OF GOD”
AN AMAZING BOOK
JOHN 20:30–31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31). Today we embark on an exciting study of the book of John. Basing our studies on William Hendriksen’s commentary, we will explore the many … Continue reading “AN AMAZING BOOK”
APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY
2 CORINTHIANS 10:7–11 Let such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present (2 Cor. 10:11). This passage fills in the portrait we have of Paul as an apostle endowed with the authority and power to … Continue reading “APOSTOLIC AUTHORITY”
ANSWERING THE CRITICS
2 CORINTHIANS 10:1–3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh (2 Cor. 10:3). The drastic change in tone from chapter 9 to chapter 10, a tone which continues through chapter 13, has created much debate. Paul moves from a tone that is mild and pastoral to one … Continue reading “ANSWERING THE CRITICS”