I make an exciting announcement at the start of this episode!

In this and the following two episodes, I present and comment on my recent debate with Dr. James White. This episode contains my opening statement and part of his.

Here is an interpretive paraphrase which summarizes the interpretation I argue for in my opening statement:

John 1:1–5 The Early Career of God’s Word

When the world was created, God’s Word was with him—not that “he” was someone else. All things came into being through him; not a single thing came into being apart from God’s Word. He was the source of life, a guiding light for all people. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness didn’t overcome it.

1:6–9 Interlude: The Word Didn’t (Fully) Arrive in the Great Prophet John the Baptist

God sent a man named John [the Baptist], who came as a witness to testify to that light, so that all might trust in God through his Word. John came to testify to the light but wasn’t himself the Light. The True Light which enlightens everyone was yet to come.

1:10 –13 The Further (Pre-Jesus) Career of God’s Word

God’s Word was in the world, which came into being through him, yet the world didn’t know him. He came to his own people, the Jews, but they didn’t fully accept him. Of course, he enabled those who received him, trusting him, to become God’s children, born of God, not merely of human blood, will, or flesh.

1:14 –16 God’s Word Arrives Fully in the Man Jesus

Then God’s Word became a man and lived among us. And we’ve seen Jesus’ glory, that of the unique Son of the Father, one who is full of grace and truth.

1:17 –18 – Jesus is an Even Greater Revealer of God than the Great Prophets John and Moses

(John the Baptist testified to him: “It was about him that I said, ‘The one coming after me surpasses me, because all along he’s out-ranked me.’ ”)

All of us have benefitted from Jesus’ fullness, grace on top of grace. God gave us the law through Moses, but now he’s given us grace and truth through Jesus the Messiah. You can’t see God, but his unique Son who’s close to his heart has shown him to us.

If you don’t want to download all of my opening statement slides, the following images should be enough to help you follow my opening statement in this audio version.

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Links for this episode:

How John 1 was intelligible in the first century

Dale Tuggy – What John 1 Meant (UCA Conference 2021) (podcast)

the host of the debate: Covenant Reformed Baptist Church

Jeremiah Nortier’s Apologetics Dog channel

Matthew 16:13-20

anachronism

St. Patrick’s Bad Analogies [for the Trinity]

Gaston, Dynamic Monarchianism: The Earliest Christology?

podcast 259 – Who is the one Creator? – Part 2

podcast 258 – Who is the one Creator? – Part 1

John A. T. Robinson on “the Word” of John 1

Debating John 1: Eusebius vs. Marcellus

John 12:48 – Jesus personifies God’s word (as someone else)

Jesus Christ as “The Word of God” in Revelation 19:11-16

Hanson, The Search for the Christian Doctrine of God

Do the Gospels disagree about Jesus and God? Part 1 – Three Options

our previous debate: Dale Tuggy and James White debate: “Is Jesus YHWH?” (best quality, with slides)

This week’s thinking music is “Gemini Instrumental” by Pipe Choir.