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Scott's Reference Library
January 5, 2003 | January 4, 2004 | January 2, 2005 | January 3, 2010
John 1:1 through John 1:18 (NIV)
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was
God. 2He was with God in the beginning.
3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been
made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The light shines in
the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.
6There came a man who was sent from God; his name was John. 7He came as a
witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all men might
believe. 8He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
9The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.
10He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did
not recognize him. 11He came to that which was his own, but his own did not
receive him. 12Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name,
he gave the right to become children of God—13children born not of natural
descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,
the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and
truth.
15John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, “This was he of whom I
said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’” 16From
the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17For
the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No
one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father’s side,
has made him known.
Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
VERSES 1-5
The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word, seems to be, that as
our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God sent in order to
reveal his Father’s mind to the world. What the evangelist says of Christ proves
that he is God. He asserts, His existence in the beginning; His coexistence with
the Father. The Word was with God. All things were made by him, and not as an
instrument. Without him was not any thing made that was made, from the highest
angel to the meanest worm. This shows how well qualified he was for the work of
our redemption and salvation. The light of reason, as well as the life of sense,
is derived from him, and depends upon him. This eternal Word, this true Light
shines, but the darkness comprehends it not. Let us pray without ceasing, that
our eyes may be opened to behold this Light, that we may walk in it; and thus be
made wise unto salvation, by faith in Jesus Christ.
VERSES 6-14
John the Baptist came to bear witness concerning Jesus. Nothing more fully shows
the darkness of men’s minds, than that when the Light had appeared, there needed
a witness to call attention to it. Christ was the true Light; that great Light
which deserves to be called so. By his Spirit and grace he enlightens all that
are enlightened to salvation; and those that are not enlightened by him, perish
in darkness. Christ was in the world when he took our nature upon him, and dwelt
among us. The Son of the Highest was here in this lower world. He was in the
world, but not of it. He came to save a lost world, because it was a world of
his own making. Yet the world knew him not. When he comes as a Judge, the world
shall know him. Many say that they are Christ’s own, yet do not receive him,
because they will not part with their sins, nor have him to reign over them. All
the children of God are born again. This new birth is through the word of God as
the means, 1 Peter 1:23, and by the Spirit of God as the Author. By his Divine
presence Christ always was in the world. But now that the fulness of time was
come, he was, after another manner, God manifested in the flesh. But observe the
beams of his Divine glory, which darted through this veil of flesh. Men discover
their weaknesses to those most familiar with them, but it was not so with
Christ; those most intimate with him saw most of his glory. Although he was in
the form of a servant, as to outward circumstances, yet, in respect of graces,
his form was like the Son of God His Divine glory appeared in the holiness of
his doctrine, and in his miracles. He was full of grace, fully acceptable to his
Father, therefore qualified to plead for us; and full of truth, fully aware of
the things he was to reveal.
VERSES 15-18
As to the order of time and entrance on his work, Christ came after John, but in
every other way he was before him. The expression clearly shows that Jesus had
existence before he appeared on earth as man. All fulness dwells in him, from
which alone fallen sinners have, and shall receive, by faith, all that renders
them wise, strong, holy, useful, and happy. Our receivings by Christ are all
summed up in this one word, grace; we have received “even grace,” a gift so
great, so rich, so invaluable; the good will of God towards us, and the good
work of God in us. The law of God is holy, just, and good; and we should make
the proper use of it. But we cannot derive from it pardon, righteousness, or
strength. It teaches us to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, but it cannot
supply the place of that doctrine. As no mercy comes from God to sinners but
through Jesus Christ, no man can come to the Father but by him; no man can know
God, except as he is made known in the only begotten and beloved Son.