The Prologue of The Gospel of John John 1:1-18 A Theological and Hermeneutical Analysis
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Date
2004
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Tangaza University College
Abstract
While the gospel of John is seen by many as the theological epitome of the New
Testament, its prologue has been termed as the pearl of the gospel. Scholars down the ages
have dedicated a lot of effort to the study of the prologue, giving rise to different shades of
scholarly opinions and conjectures. The interest it has attracted has actually made the word
prologue to be synonymous to the opening verses of the Johannine gospel often when someone
talks of the prologue without being specific, it is taken for granted that he or she is referring to
John 1:1-18. The theological symbolism and evident multiplicity of sources in its composition
makes it both intriguing and complex. Its flowing poetic form and intensity encapsulate in
very few words the essence of the christological faith of the early Church in the 1st century.
The christological affirmations found in the text have been useful down the ages in defining
and supporting Catholic christological and trinitarian doctrines. During the 4th century, there
was no text that was more used for refuting the Arian heresy than John 1:1-18, during the
Council of Nicea.
There is no doubt that the prologue has a special place in Christian theology. Within
the gospel narrative it has an important significance, which means that a complete
understanding of the gospel narrative will have to include a basic understanding of the
theological symbolism and message of the prologue. It is the interest of deepening my
understanding of the meaning of Christ in the gospel of John that has motivated me to study the
prologue. I do think that the true point of departure and reference in reading the gospel of John
is the prologue. Such an approach would mean that the prologue then is not only an
introduction to the gospel narrative, but more importantly a theological interpreter of the
gospel. Hence the objective in this short study is to critically evaluate and see the applicability
of the prologue as a hermeneutical key in understanding the gospel narrative. The theological assumption made here, that the prologue contains the essential theological keys of opening the
sign language found in the gospel narrative, is the horizon against which this study will evolve.
The methodology of this study will be based on the systematic exegetical procedure
used in the analysis of biblical texts. Chapter one will lay the foundation for the exegesis, by
looking at the nature of the text. This will include delimitation of the text, contextualizing it
and using critical methods in analysing its nature, character, composition and structure.
Chapter two will be a detailed exegetical analysis of the prologue. Rather than use the verse by
verse approach, the exegesis will be based on the chiastic structure of the prologue (the chiasm
used in the study can be found in the appendix) and hence the exegesis will follow a thematic
process as established by the chiastic structure adopted for this study. The purpose of the
exegesis will be to analyse the symbolism in each chiastic step and end up by establishing the
centre of the chiasm. Chapter three will draw theological conclusions based on the literary
structure of the prologue that the exegesis will have established. The application of the text
will be based on illustrating its hermeneutical value in approaching the gospel narrative. By
developing hermeneutical keys from the prologue, this value will be made evident. A personal
reflection on the spirituality of the prologue will conclude the study.
The objective stated above will act as the parameter in which this study will limit itself
to. Whatever has been included in terms of personal reflection or references to scholars who
have done thorough studies on the prologue is based on my personal interest and evaluation
that they help in achieving the goal of this essay. Though not claiming to be an exhaustive
study, the essay brings together different scholarly opinions. It aims to show the difference
between the traditional studies of the prologue done by scholars like Brown and
Schnackenburg and the modern studies by scholars like Anderson and Barnhart among others.
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Keywords
Gospel of John, John 1:1-18, Hermeneutical Analysis