§ 1. Preface

Genesis 2:4

These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.

Genesis 5:1

This is the book of the generations of Adam….

Genesis 6:9

These are the generations of Noah….

Genesis 11:27

Now these are the generations of Terah….

Genesis 37:2

These are the generations of Jacob….

Isaiah 53:8

By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
    and as for his generation, who considered
he was cut off out of the land of the living,
    stricken for the transgression of my people?

John 19:26–27

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

The apostle Paul consider's Luke's gospel to be Scripture.

1 Timothy 5:18

For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages."

Luke 10:7

And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages.

The Word, or Logos, was in fact a long-standing discussion among ancient philosophers, and John here settles the matter for all time.

It seemed potentially useful to share here the secular history on the Logos so you can see for yourself what they were saying before the Lord ever came to this world. Here is a lengthy quotation from Stanford's entry on Presocratic Philosophy. It is by no means inspired; this is presented here for us to appreciate the impact the gospel must have had on the educated people of the first century who were looking for a Logos. Paul speaking in Athens (Acts 17) is a prime example of such a monumental shift in worldview.

Presocratic Philosophy

The Presocratics were 6th and 5th century BCE Greek thinkers who introduced a new way of inquiring into the world and the place of human beings in it. They were recognized in antiquity as the first philosophers and scientists of the Western tradition.

Xenophanes of Colophon and Heraclitus of Ephesus

…The opening of Heraclitus’ book refers to a “logos which holds forever.” There is disagreement about exactly what Heraclitus meant by using the term logos, but it is clear from…fragments that he refers to an objective law-like principle that governs the cosmos, and which it is possible (but difficult) for humans to come to understand. There is a single order that directs all things (“all things are one”…); this order is divine, and is sometimes connected by humans with the traditional gods (it is “both unwilling and willing to be called by the name of Zeus”…). Just as Zeus, in the traditional view, controls everything from Olympus with a thunderbolt, so this single ordered system also steers and controls the whole cosmos, but from within. The sign of the unchanging order of the eternal system is fire—just as fire is always changing and always the same, the logos, itself permanent, contains the unchanging account that explains the alterations and transformations of the cosmos.

This plan or order that steers the cosmos is, itself, a rational order. This means not only that it is non-capricious and so intelligible (in the sense that humans can, at least in principle, come to understand it), it is also an intelligent system: there is an intelligent plan at work, if only in the sense of the cosmos working itself out in accordance with rational principles….

…The cosmos itself is an intelligent, eternal (and hence divine) system that orders and regulates itself in an intelligent way: the logos is the account of this self-regulation. We can come to grasp and understand at least part of this divine system. This is not merely because we ourselves are part of (contained in) the system, but because we have, through our capacity for intelligent thinking, the power to grasp the system as a whole, through knowing the logos….

Diogenes of Apollonia and the Sophists

…Diogenes claims that the cosmic system is ordered by intelligence, and he argues that that “which possesses intelligence (noēsis) is what human beings call air”…. Humans and animals live by breathing air, and are governed by it —in them air is both soul and intelligence, or mind…. Moreover, Diogenes argues, air governs and rules all things and is god…. Thus, like Anaxagoras, Diogenes has a theory grounded in intelligence, although Diogenes is more fully committed to teleological explanations, insofar as he states explicitly that intelligence (noēsis) orders things in a good way…. In presenting his arguments, Diogenes fulfills his own requirement for a philosophical claim. …He says, “In my opinion, anyone beginning a logos (account) ought to present a starting principle (archē) that is indisputable and a style that is simple and stately….”

It is quite interesting to hear of this last challenge issued by an ancient philosopher, "anyone beginning a logos (account) ought to present a starting principle (archē) that is indisputable and a style that is simple and stately…". This is exactly what John did.

The Greek here translated "with God" (πρὸς τὸν θεόν) is difficult.

Liddell, Scott, Jones Lexicon

πρός, Preposition, expressing direction, on the side of, in the direction of

The most useful meanings given further down in the entry include:

• "various kinds of [interaction] or reciprocal action"
• "in reference to", "in respect of"
• "in proportion" or "relation to", "in comparison with"

What is quite clear is that the Word is co-equal with God, a mirror image of Him. This Word can only be Divine.

Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26

And God said, "Let there be light…."
And God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters…."
And God said, "Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear…."
And God said, "Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth…."
And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night…."
And God said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens."
And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds--livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds…."
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."

Colossians 1:16–17

By him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

John 8:12

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

2 Timothy 1:10

…and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel

Philippians 2:14–16

Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

2 Peter 1:19

And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts….

1 John 2:7–10

Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have heard. At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining. Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness. Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

Revelation 21:23

And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb.

Compare:

2 Corinthians 4:5–7

What we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.

John 12:31–36

"Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself." He said this to show by what kind of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, "We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?" So Jesus said to them, "The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

1 Thessalonians 5:2–5

You yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.

Compare:

Mark 11:29–30

Jesus said to them, "I will ask you one question; answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was the baptism of John from heaven or from man? Answer me."

John 5:31–33, 35–36

If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth….
He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.

Compare:

John 3:5–6

Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

John seems to treat grace almost as prologue. Apart from this chapter, he uses the word only three times:

2 John 3

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.

Revelation 1:4

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before his throne,

Revelation 22:21

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

John mentions truth often. Perhaps the most direct relationship to the current passage is:

John 17:17

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

Compare: "fullness of time"

Galatians 4:3–5

…When we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Ephesians 1:7–10

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Compare: "fullness of God"

Ephesians 1:22–23

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

Colossians 1:18–19

And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell….

Colossians 2:8–10

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

Colossians 1:15

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Hebrews 1:1–3

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power….

The word "side" (κόλπος) also means "bosom" or even sometimes "lap."

John 13:23

One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side….

For explanation of its use in John 13:23 above, see Appendix: Reclining At Table.

The Greek for "make known" (ἐξηγέομαι) means "tell at length", "relate in full;" "set forth", "explain."

Luke 24:35

Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Acts 15:12

And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

Acts 21:19

After greeting them, he related one by one the things that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry.