Conservative Friends Bible Study of The Gospel of John #4

#4 John 1:19-34
The Greek word for “gospel”, is “euangelion” (“good news”). “Euangelia” is Greek for “a good message”, and “angelos” is the word for “messenger”, which is also the source for our word, “angel”. A verse-by-verse commentary of John 1:18-34, points out significant issues and Greek meanings.
Verse 19
“Jews” had at least two meanings during the time of Jesus: 1. It could refer to one who was ethnically a Jew, and 2. “Jews” could also refer to the Jewish establishment who opposed Jesus.   By A.D. 80, those who followed Jesus were completely excluded from ordinary Jewish worship.
Verse 20
The Hebrew word, “meshiach” (“anointed one”) became transliterated into English as “messiah”. In Greek, “meshiach” is translated as “christos”, which was then transliterated into English as “Christ”. In the time of Jesus, the Jews expected messiah would be a king.
In connection with the anointing of Jesus, the Greek word for “spirit” (“pneuma”), literally means “wind” or “breath”.  There are two other Greek synonyms for “spirit”: 1. “hudor” (“water”) and 2. “eleion” (“olive oil”). However, the most common of these three in the Holy Scriptures is “pneuma”. What is common to all three of these (“pneuma”, “hudor” and “eleion”) is that all three indicate flow and movement, whether it is physical flow/movement, or the spiritual flow/movement of God.   
Verse 26
In Greek, the word, “baptisma” (“baptize”) does not necessarily require physical water. It means “to immerse”, along with “to plunge”, or “to dip”. Thus, when translated, Matthew 28:19 should read, “. . . make students, immersing them/baptizing them in the Name. . . .” The Greek word, “onoma” does mean name, but it also means “the basic nature of something/the essence of something.” Thus, while Matthew 28:19 can mean to baptize in physical water, the greater, deeper meaning is “immersing them in the basic nature of God as Father, as Son, as Holy Spirit. . . being baptized in the death and resurrection of Jesus”; being immersed in the understanding and experience of dying and thriving with Christ.
Baptizing in water was a common Jewish ritual, one variant of which was John’s baptism: a baptism for repentance. There were Christians who continued this Jewish ritual . However, as early Friends pointed out, it should have died out as did the other Jewish rituals. John baptized with water, but Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit: being immersed into divine things, rather than just being immersed into water. 
Verse 27
Untying the straps of someone’s sandals was a slave’s work. John is implying he is far less than Jesus. 
Verse 32 
The Greek word “pensteron” often translated, “dove” also can be translated, “pigeon”.
Verse 34
“Son of God”: Hebrews 1:1 clarifies that being God’s Son is a far higher ranking than just being a prophet/oracle/mouthpiece for God.


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