John 1:4

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 1:4

". . . we move on from creation in general to the creation of life, the most significant element in creation. Life is one of John’s characteristic concepts: he uses the word 36 times, whereas no other New Testament writing has it more than 17 times (Revelation; next come Romans with 14 times and 1 John with 13 times). Thus more than a quarter of all the New Testament references to life occur in this one writing." [Note: Morris, p. 73.] Jesus was the source of life. Therefore He could impart... read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - John 1:4

1:4 men. (d-12) This latter is a reciprocal proposition, i.e. it can also he read 'the light of men was the life.' read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:1-51

The Divinity and Incarnation of the Word. Witness of John. The First Disciples1-18. Preface, declaring (1) that the Word was God, (2) that He was made man, (3) that He revealed the Father.This sublime preface is intended to commend ’the truth as it is in Jesus,’ both to Jewish and Gentile minds. It describes our Lord’s person and office by a term familiar to both, that of the Logos or Word of God. ’Logos’ has two meanings in Greek: (1) reason or intelligence, as it exists inwardly in the mind,... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - John 1:4

(4) In him was life.—The creation, the calling into existence life in its varied forms, leads up to the source of this life. It is in the Word by original being, while of the highest creature made “in the image of God” we are told that God “breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living soul” (Genesis 2:7).“Life” has here no limitation, and is to be understood in its widest sense; the life of the body, even of organisms which we commonly think of as inanimate, the life... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - John 1:1-51

Agnosticism, Positivism and Materialism John 1:1 John outstrips Genesis. He begins the record of the world anew, but starts from a deeper starting-point. In Genesis the history of the world arises out of the God of Creation. In John there is a deeper starting-point: history commences with the God of redemption. I. This, then, is the first assertion we have to consider Redemption is older than Creation. God the Saviour is a more fundamental fact than God the Creator. Redemption was not an... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - John 1:1-8

Chapter 1THE INCARNATION.“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that hath been made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not. There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - John 1:1-18

Chapter 2RECEPTION CHRIST MET WITH.John 1:1-18.In describing the Word of God, John mentions two attributes of His by which His relation to men becomes apparent: “All things were made by Him,” and “the life was the light of men.” By whom were all things made? what is the originating force which has produced the world? how are we to account for the existence, the harmony, and the progress of the universe?-these are questions which must always be put. Everywhere in nature force and intelligence... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - John 1:1-51

Analysis and Annotations I. The Only-begotten, the Eternal Word; His Glory and His Manifestation -- Chapter 1:1-2:22 CHAPTER 1 1. The Word: the Creator, the Life and the Light. (John 1:1-4 .) 2. The Light and the Darkness. The Light not Known. (John 1:5-11 .) 3. The Word Made Flesh and Its Gracious Results. (John 1:12-18 .) 4. The Witness of John. (John 1:19-34 .) 5. Following Him and Dwelling With Him. (John 1:35-42 .) 6. The Next Day. Nathanael’s Unbelief and Confession. (John 1:43-49... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - John 1:4

1:4 {i} In him {k} was life; and the life was {l} the light of men.(i) That is, by him: and this is spoken after the manner of the Hebrews, meaning by this that by his force and working power all life comes to the world.(k) That is, even at that time when all things were made by him, for otherwise he would have said, "Life in him", and not "life was".(l) That force of reason and understanding which is kindled in our minds to acknowledge him, the author of so great a benefit. read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - John 1:1-51

CHRIST THE LIVING WORD (vs.1-5) Revelation 19:13, speaking of the Lord Jesus, says, "His name is called the Word of God." As such He had no beginning: in the beginning He was there. In person He is eternal. Yet also, He was with God, which shows Him to be a distinct person. Yet more than this, "the Word was God:" He is a divine person. Then verse 2 is added to guard the fact that He was (and is) eternally distinct. In the eternal past, as in the eternal future, God is a blessed Trinity,... read more

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