RESPONSE: A Closer Read of the Prologue
The Evangelist
The majestic opening with its echo of Genesis 1,1 and the first words of the Bible "In the beginning" already clear the authority of the evangelist. His claim in the opening words of the Gospel show that he regards this Gospel story as a new beginning.
Throughout this Prologue, the evangelist is staking his claim as the one who knows that the fullness of truth is to be found in Jesus Christ (1,17-18) and that his listeners and readers can rely on him as a guide to the truth. The evangelist also claims to know everything, right back into eternity. It's not surprising the the image of this Gospel is the eagle, who views everything from above.
A reader who continues after the prologue of the Gospel can best do so therefore by accepting the claims of the evangelist that he is true and trustworthy. These are indeed high claims which are made again at the end of the Gospel (20,30-31).
Furthermore, in the prologue the evangelist has already set out his stall as it were, the Gospel story is already proclaimed in these few verses and will now be told in detail.
Yet in speaking of the evangelist as "he", the evangelist also claims to be the spokesperson for a community: "we beheld his glory". The witness of the community can only add to the authority of the evangelist.
The Old Testament Background
The passages given for exploration show how the Word can be seen within the tradition of personified Wisdom of the Old Testament and then consider the links between Jesus and Moses.
Passages like Proverb 8,30, wisdom alongside God at creation "like a master worker" (NRSV) allow this evangelist to present Jesus as the pre-existent Word of God, alongside him even before time began. As is well known, "dwelt amongst us" in 1,14 is in Greek "pitched his tent amongst us". Whilst this refers primarily to the Exodus motif, there are echoes of this in the Wisdom hymn of Sirach, Sir 24,8.
I also mentioned a verse from Jeremiah which allows us to see the evangelist's choice of "word" more generally than wisdom - apart from the fact that word in Greek is masculine whilst wisdom is feminine.
In this verse (Jer 18,18), Jeremiah speaks of instruction not lacking from the priest (literally "torah", used for the Jewish Law) or counsel from the wise or the word from the prophet. Torah, prophetic word and wisdom are the three ways in which God speaks, reveals himself, to humans. Jesus in himself fulfils all three means.
In Exodus, tent pitching (1,14) is found in Ex 25,8-9. The theme of the glory of the Lord is found in a number of places, Exodus 16,10, for example. "Glory" means the outward manifestation of the divine presence, of the all holy God. It was often dramatic (Ex 24,15-17, see also Ex 19,16-19 though "glory" is not used here)
That last reference was to the giving of the 10 commandments, the law (torah) given through Moses (1,17). "Grace and truth" pick up two Hebrew words, "hesed" and "emet" (for example, Ex 34,6) which together proclaim God's faithfulness to his covenant. This is conveyed in the RSV and NRSV consistently as "steadfast love" (Ex 34,7).
Themes anticipated in the Gospel
We will be picking these up as we read through the Gospel. "Light and darkness" I have already mentioned. Also in the early verses is "life" The "world", referring to the powers of this world who reject Jesus, will be used frequently as the Gospel builds to a climax. "Sending" and "witness" - we will be seeing more of John in the next session. "knowing" in 1,10. "Believing" in verse 12 is a key word throughout the Gospel (always a verb, never the noun). "seeing" (1,14, 1,18) will be another very common word in the Gospel Also in 1,14, "glory" and "truth" will be important later in the Gospel I've just listed this words at this stage simply to illustrate how key themes and words of the Gospel are already present in the Prologue.
What do we learn about Jesus?
In a way, everything! We learn about his existence with the Father "in the beginning", before creation. He came into the world, to his own people (the Jews) to make known God his Father. Many rejected him but to all who believe in him, he gives them the power to become the children of God.
As the Word made flesh, Jesus is the unique and perfect revealer of God. The choice of believing in him is ours. This is the story which is about to unfold ....