The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 138

(2) The creation of all thing• through the Logo•, B8 the Agent i,f the eternal counsel and activity of God. Ch. I. 3. (a) Inclusive of the fact th11t he has always been 11nd now is the Life, and therefore (b) The Light of men. Ch. I. 8, 4. (8) Throughout the entire history of the action of the Logos on mRn, the eff'nlgence of the light has been enr.onntered by the misapprehension of human darknees. Ch. i. 5. (4) The general manifestatiom of the r-eDealing Logo,. Ch. i. 8-13. (a) The prophetic dispensation recapitulated in John's ministry, with its effects, bearing witness to the Light, bot not itself the Light. Ch. i. 6-8. (b) The illumination •treaming from the veritable Light before he came hi•toricallv into the world. Ch. i. 9, • (o) The twofold elfect of the pre-Incarnation activity, anticipatory of the complete manifestation in the elected nation and individuals. Ch. i. 10-13. (5) THE INCARNATION Oil' THE Looos. Ch. i. 14. (6) The testimony to this fact by the prophetic spirit. Ch. i. 15. (7) The experience of the writer, Ch. i. 16-1B. Close of the prologue, 2. The testfmony of the Baptist. Ch. i. 19-34. (1) Ho defines his own position, negatively (eh. i. 19-21); positively (eh. i. 22, 23). (2) Hie testimony to the pre-existence and_ superiority of the Christ, with indications of place and time. Ch. I. 24-28. (3) His perception of the fulfilment, by Jesus, of prophetic symbolism, in virtue of his pre-natal glory. Ch. I. 29, 30. (4) The prime purpose of John's mission-to introduce him to Israel; and the special preparation by which he was empowered to do this thing. Ch. i. 31-34. ••* The incarnate Word recognized as SON OF GOD, LA14B 01' GoD, BAPTIZER WITH THE HOLY GHOST, 8. Tl,e first disciples, and their testi1T1U11y. Ch. i. 35-51. (1) John and Jesns. John directing his own disciples to Jesns. Ch. i. 35-39. (2) The naming and first convictions of the disciples. Ch. i. 40-49. (a) The Messiah. Ch. i. 40---44. (b) The theme of the Old Testament. Ch. i. 45, 46. (c) The SON Oil' GoD, and King of Israel. Ch. i. 46-49. (d) The SoN Oil' MAN, the link between earth and heaven. Ch. i. 50, 1'11. 4. The testimony of signs to the glory of the Word who was ma.de flesh. Ch. ii. 1-iii. 2. (1) The first sign, mastery over the old creation: sign of love and power. Ch. ii. 1-11. (2) The second sign, sopremacy over the theocratic house: illustrations of righteousness, power, and sacrificial ministry. Ch. ii. 12-22. (3) Numeroos signs in Jerusalem, at the Passover, with twofold effect-some yielded a momentary bot UJ1trustworlhy allegiance ; others knew that God wns with him. Ch. ii. 23-iii. 2. 5. The r-611elafion of earthly and heavenly things to one who klWID tl1at God wa, with him. Ch. iii. 3-21. (1) The conditions of admission into the kingdom of God. New birth of the Spirit. Ch. iii. 3-12. (2) The truth concerning the Son of man and his sacrifice. Ch. iii. 13-15. (3) Divine love and judgment. Ch. iii. 16-21. 6. Tl1e swcmliks song of the Baptist. Ch. iii. 22-36. (1) Circomstanoe which led to its utterance. The ministry and baptism of Jesus in Judiea. The baptismal difficulty. Ch. iii. 22-26. (2) The earthly and the heavenly commission. Ch. iii. 27-32. (3) The consequences of accepting and rejecting the supreme revelation. Ch. iii. 33-36. Tlie ministry and reDelation of the Lord to tho84 beyond thB strict compasa of thB theocr-acy- Samaria. Ch. iv. 1-42. (1) The contrast between Jewish unsosceptibility and Samaritan predisposition to faith, in the entire narrntive, as compared with the previous chapter, richly prophetic of aubseqoent development. Circomstantial introduction. Ch. iv. 1-6. (2) Revelations and mieonde1·standings comprised in the interview with the Samaritaness. Ch. iv. 7-26, (a) The Giver and Crentor of all asks alms, thos submitting to the conditions of humanity. Cb. iv. 7-9. (b) The LIVING WATER otfe1·ed and misunderstood. Ch. iv. 10-15, (c) The hea1·t-se81'ching issuing in the perception of the PROPHETIC rank of Jesus, by the Samaritan woman. Ch. Iv. 16-20. (r/) The 1piritu11l nature of God and his wor1hi11, GOD 1s Srmn:. Ch. iv. 21-2-J.. clvl INTRODUCTION TO