Review of Sunday's Class--09/11/2005
Greater Lansing First
Assembly of God
Review of School of Ministry Adult Elective
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Gospel of John
Assembly of God
Review of School of Ministry Adult Elective
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Gospel of John
Teacher Joe Eger
We began by reviewing ancient gnosticism. See following links (I cannot vouch for the entirety of each web site)
So it appears that the Old Testament Rabbis were not totally ignorant of the "Word" being God and involved in the creation of all things.
John, therefore, was inspired to use "logos" (Greek for "word") and thereby addressing two groups of people: Gnostics and Rabbinic Judaism.
A reading of John 1:2
This one = the logos. He did not come into being at the beginning, he was there.
in the beginning = before time. From the Theory of Special Relativity we understand that before the existence of space and matter there was no mathematical time. Only after the creation of space and "stuff" could there be time as defined by movement. If we define time as a sequence of thoughts--there would be time, a Sequential Occurrence of thoughts. But for the discussion of "in the beginning" there was nothing before the creation except God, the Logos and the Spirit.
A reading of John 1:3
This is in contradiction of the gnostic teaching that the Logos was an emanation from the "unknowable God," that he was a creation and not the creator.
It also ties into the Targums' assertions that the Logos (Memra--Aramaic for Word) was co-existent and co-equal with God.
So, John rebutts the gnostics and affirms the Rabbinic Targums in one
sentence.
1. GNOSTICISM: ANCIENT AND MODERN BELIEFS & PRACTICES
2. THE GNOSTICS: A Survey of Gnostic Beliefs and Gnostic-Christian ties
We then reviewed some modern gnostic religions:2. THE GNOSTICS: A Survey of Gnostic Beliefs and Gnostic-Christian ties
1. Who is the "Living Christ" of Mormonism?
2. How do Jehovah's Witnesses' teachings about Christ compare with Scriptures?
3. A Closer Look at Jehovah's Witness View of Christ (pdf)
4. Christian Science
5. Who is Xenu? (Scientology)
A reading of John 1:12. How do Jehovah's Witnesses' teachings about Christ compare with Scriptures?
3. A Closer Look at Jehovah's Witness View of Christ (pdf)
4. Christian Science
5. Who is Xenu? (Scientology)
In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God.We discussed the use of the term "Word" in the Targums. The Targums are the translations of the Old Testament Hebrew into Aramaic.
So it appears that the Old Testament Rabbis were not totally ignorant of the "Word" being God and involved in the creation of all things.
John, therefore, was inspired to use "logos" (Greek for "word") and thereby addressing two groups of people: Gnostics and Rabbinic Judaism.
A reading of John 1:2
This one = the logos. He did not come into being at the beginning, he was there.
in the beginning = before time. From the Theory of Special Relativity we understand that before the existence of space and matter there was no mathematical time. Only after the creation of space and "stuff" could there be time as defined by movement. If we define time as a sequence of thoughts--there would be time, a Sequential Occurrence of thoughts. But for the discussion of "in the beginning" there was nothing before the creation except God, the Logos and the Spirit.
A reading of John 1:3
Because of him all things came into existence, indeed, without his will not even one thing which (came into existence) came into being. (Eger's translation)
This is in contradiction of the gnostic teaching that the Logos was an emanation from the "unknowable God," that he was a creation and not the creator.
It also ties into the Targums' assertions that the Logos (Memra--Aramaic for Word) was co-existent and co-equal with God.
So, John rebutts the gnostics and affirms the Rabbinic Targums in one
sentence.
posted by Bro Joe @ 6:56 PM
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