The Gnosis of John 1:1-18
By Yuri A. Nesteruk, the Messiahist
Those who have been indoctrinated will be the ones who are most shocked and speechless when it comes to what Apostle John is really teaching here. For instance, how many Christians actually understand John Chapter 1? Barely any, almost none in our modern days. Then the questions comes, "So, you're saying that both Trinitarians and Jehovah Witnesses lack understanding of John Chapter 1?" Yes, that's exactly what I am saying. And, "Well, what about Modalists, Biblical Unitarians, and Binitarians?" Yes, they too lack the understanding of what Apostle John is teaching in John Chapter 1. The most important question should be asked is, "Does Apostle John himself explains what he means in John 1:1-18?" Yes, Apostles John does explain what he means in John Chapter 1, and the rest of the details are found throughout his gospel. Then comes the slanderous question, "Who do you think you are that you are the only one who knows what Apostle John is teaching?" I'm only a son of the Most High GOD by adoption who has stayed true to the saying, 'Nothing beyond what is written,' and 'Those who go beyond the doctrine of The Messiah have not GOD.'
Jeremiah 16:19 O LORD, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge on the day of trouble, to you shall the nations come from the ends of the earth and say: Our ancestors have inherited nothing but lies, worthless things in which there is no profit.
I do acknowledge that this document is inspired and is dedicated to show the Shepherd's sheep the truth of the matter, for they have listened to a stranger's voice and need guidance back to the Shepherd. Modalists, Binitarians, Trinitarians, Biblical Unitarians, and Arians do not have this authority, for they themselves need the light. I, Yuri A. Nesteruk, approve this message.
Revelation 3:14 To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the arch of the creation of GOD, says this.
This is Yehoshua HaMoshiach[1] who is speaking, and he does say he is the arch[2] of the creation of GOD. The Greek word arch is found in the beginning of the Old Testament (in the LXX) and in the beginning of the New Testament. These two places are Genesis 1:1 and John 1:1. Let's first explain the Hebrew word B'RESHIYT before going any further.
B' or Be means In. Reshiyt means beginning. It is not proper for Genesis 1:1 to start out as B'RESHIYT if it would be referring to a time frame such as In the beginning. Many, many rabbis note this fact in their commentary on the passage. The correct grammatical form Genesis 1:1 should start out with is BARISHONA in the place of B'RESHIYT if it would be referring to a time frame. However, this is not the case; Moshe[3] is teaching here that GOD created in the Messiah (or in the RESHIYT). Barishona (which means in the beginning) appears 22 times in Tanach[4]. To list five places in Torah: Numbers 10:13-14; Deuteronomy 13:4, 10; 17:7. The other 17 places of barishona are throughout the Tanach. There are five cases of ke'varishona (which means as in the beginning): Judges 20:32; 1st Kings 13:6; Isaiah 1:26; Jeremiah 33:7, 11. There is also one case of le'ma'barishona (which means from the beginning) in 1st Chronicles 15:13. There are many cases of rishona with other prepositions, not just ba'.
So, all this being said, it should be understand that Moshe is not teaching that GOD created in the beginning, but that he created in the RESHIYT. The Greek equivalent for RESHIYT, as found in the LXX, is arch. Yehoshua HaMoshiach is the, so be it, the faithful and true Witness of the creation of GOD because he is the arche/RESHIYT of the creation of GOD. This probably won't make much sense to English speaking Americans or to anyone else that doesn't understand the Hebrew and Greek language. So, alternative translations will be presented to help such individuals.
Genesis 1:1 B'reshiyt bara ELOHIM eth hashamayim ve'eth ha'arets.
Genesis 1:1 In reshiyt GOD created the heavens and the earth.
LXX Genesis 1:1 En arch epoihsen o qeoV ton ouranon kai thn ghn
LXX Genesis 1:1 In arche GOD made the heaven and the earth.
NIV Alternative: In [the] Leader GOD created the heavens and the earth.
NRSV Alternative: In [the] Origin GOD created the heavens and the earth.
NASB Alternative: In [the] Beginning GOD created the heavens and the earth.
John 1:1 En arch hn o logoV, kai o logoV hn proV ton qeon, kai qoeV hn o logoV.
John 1:1 In arche was the logos, and the logos was with GOD, and the logos was God.
NIV Alternative: In [the] Leader was the logos, and the logos was with GOD, and the logos was God.
NRSV Alternative: In [the] Origin was the logos, and the logos was with GOD, and the logos was God.
NASB Alternative: In [the] Beginning was the logos, and the logos was with GOD, and the logos was God.
Colossians 1:16-17 for in him (arche/reshiyt) all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
The Scriptures speak for themselves.
Yehoshua HaMoshiach, in the Gospel/s, said that Torah speaks of him. Truly, the Torah does speak of him, from the very beginning. GOD is also there from the very beginning, and likewise the logos. Let's look at these passages a bit more before moving on.
In Genesis 1:1 reshiyt/arche = Yehoshua.
In Genesis 1:1 elohim/theos = GOD.
In Genesis 1:3; 1:6; 1:9; 1:11; 1:14; 1:20; 1:24; 1:26; 1:29 God said = The Logos.
The Hebrew word for logos is dabhar. Let's look at some of the usages of dabhar in the Scriptures.
Lexicon Results for dabar (Strong's H1697)
1) speech, word, speaking, thing
a) speech
b) saying, utterance
c) word, words
d) business, occupation, acts, matter, case, something, manner (by extension)
Genesis 24:66 And the servant told Isaac all the dabhar that he had done.
Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.
Genesis 44:2 And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack's mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to the word that Joseph had spoken.
Genesis 44:10 And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless.
Ecclesiastes 10:13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.
1st Kings 10:6 And she said to the king, It was a true report that I heard in mine own land of thy acts and of thy wisdom.
Esther 10:2 And all the acts of his power and of his might, and the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai, whereunto the king advanced him, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Media and Persia?
Now let's look at some examples of how logos is translated in various passages and translations.
NASB Matthew 21:24 Jesus said to them, "I will also ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things.
NIV Matthew 21:24 Jesus replied, "I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
Young's Matthew 21:24 And Jesus answering said to them, `I will ask you -- I also -- one word, which if ye may tell me, I also will tell you by what authority I do these things;
KJV Luke 1:4 That thou mightiest know the certainly of those things, wherein thou hast been instructed.
KJV Acts 20:7 And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
NKJV Acts 20:7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.
Young's Acts 20:7 And on the first of the week, the disciples having been gathered together to break bread, Paul was discoursing to them, about to depart on the morrow, he was also continuing the discourse till midnight,
NIV Colossians 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
NASB Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, {as though} seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.
Young's Colossians 4:6 your word always in grace -- with salt being seasoned -- to know how it behoveth you to answer each one.
NKJV Matthew 15:12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?"
NASB Matthew 15:12 Then the disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?"
Young's Matthew 15:12 Then his disciples having come near, said to him, `Hast thou known that the Pharisees, having heard the word, were stumbled?'
KJV Mark 9:10 And they kept that saying with themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead should mean.
NKJV Mark 9:10 So they kept this word to themselves, questioning what the rising from the dead meant.
NIV Mark 9:10 They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what "rising from the dead" meant.
NASB Mark 9:10 They seized upon that statement, discussing with one another what rising from the dead meant.
Young's Mark 9:10 and the thing they kept to themselves, questioning together what the rising out of the dead is.
Now let's expound on Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:26-27.
Genesis 1:1 B'reshiyt bara elohim eth hashamayim ve'eth ha'arets.
Moshe chose to use the singular bara instead of the plural baru. In the Hebrew language when we have a plural noun like elohim, the verb to the noun must also be plural. When the verb is not in the plural but the noun is, it is understood that the noun is as a singular. In Genesis 5:1 it says, "bayom baro elohim adam." In the Hebrew baro literally means he created, but it's not translated as such in this passage because it's followed by the noun elohim. So, from the very beginning of the Bible elohim is to be understood as singular. EL, in Hebrew, literally means power or might. The im in the Hebrew language, as in elohim, is often used to emphasize the majesty (or importance) of something. ELOHIM, in Hebrew, literally means majestic power or majestic might.
Exodus 4:16; 7:1 Moshe, a singular being, is referred to as elohim.
Judges 8:33 Baalberith, a singular being, is referred to as elohim.
Judges 11:24 Chemosh, a singular being, is referred to as elohim.
Judges 16:23 Dagon, a singular being, is referred to as elohim.
1st Kings 11:5 Ashtoreth, a singular being, is referred to as elohim.
2nd Kings 1:2-3 Baalzebub, a singular being, is referred to as elohim.
2nd Kings 19:37 Nisroch, a singular being, is referred to as elohim.
Genesis 1:26 …vayomer elohim na'aseh adam b'tsalmenu kidmutanu…
GOD cannot be talking with himself because says vayomer elohim. In order for GOD to be talking to himself it needs to say va'omrim elohim or any other form of the verb, and yet it doesn't. So, it is understood that GOD is talking to some other being/s other than himself.
Genesis 1:27 …vayivra elohim eth ha'adam b'tsalmo…
When the action was brought about, it says that GOD made man in his image, not their image. The plural was dropped in the action, thus teaching that the being/s he was talking to had nothing to do with creating man.
So, who was GOD talking to and how? GOD, by the Holy Spirit that was inside Yehoshua, spoke through Yehoshua to angelic beings such as Seraphim (Isaiah 6), Cherubim (Genesis 3), and others (Genesis 11) informing them what he was going to do himself. Whenever the angels would come, they are in the appearance of us human, minus the wings.
Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible GOD, the firstborn of all creation.
The wisdom of the Apostles surpasses the so-called wisdom of mainstream Christianity which is actually heterodoxy by the name orthodox. The original believers, the Messiahists[5], did not believe in any demonic doctrines such as the fake deity of Jesus or the fake triune god. He is called the firstborn because GOD brought him forth before everything else, and then through him created everything else as the next verses, 16-17, teach. Yehoshua HaMoshiach is the image of invisible GOD, because no one has ever seen God[6] nor can they.
So, now that John 1:1 has been explained, let's move on to John 1:2-3.
John 1:2-3 He was in the beginning with GOD. All things came into being through him, and apart from him nothing came into being that has come into being.
So, he is referring to the arche/reshiyt. Let's look at two passages to better grasp this concept.
Hebrews 1:1-2 Long ago GOD spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways in the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us in a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.
1st Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is one GOD, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Master, [the] Anointed Yehoshua, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.
Apostle Paul is teaching, like Apostle John, that GOD, the Father, created through our Anointed Master Yehoshua. It is from GOD whom are all things and for whom we exist, and it is through HaMoshiach whom are all things and through whom we exist.
So, now that verses 1-3 have been explained, let's move on to verses 4-5.
John 1:4-5 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
The him is the logos, and the life, which is the light, is Yehoshua HaMoshiach. Let's look at a few passages to better grasp this concept.
John 8:12 Again Yehoshua spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.'
John 14:6 Yehoshua said to him, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Alright, but what about how it says that Rabbi Yehoshua was in the logos in verse 4, how was this so? I refer you to read Matthew 1:18-25 and Luke 1:26-38.
So, now that verses 1-5 have been explained, let's move on to verse 6-34. First, however, it must be understood that John 1:1-18 is poetry, and poetry is never to be taken literally lest the meaning is misunderstood. Apostle John explains his own poetry (6-15) in verses 19-34.
Apostle John Himself Explains
Compare the Two
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6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
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19This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, 'Who are you?' |
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7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. |
20He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, 'I am not the Messiah.' 21And they asked him, 'What then? Are you Elijah?' He said, 'I am not.' 'Are you the prophet?' He answered, 'No.' 22Then they said to him, 'Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?' 23He said, 'I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of the Lord"', as the prophet Isaiah said. 24Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25They asked him, 'Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?' 26John answered them, 'I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.' 28This took place in Bethany across the Jordan where John was baptizing.
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14And the logos became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's unique son, full of grace and truth. 15John testified to him and cried out, 'This was he of whom I said, "He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me."' |
29The next day he saw Jesus coming towards him and declared, 'Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is he of whom I said, "After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me." 31I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel.' 32And John testified, 'I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. 33I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit." 34And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.' |
Therefore, the logos became flesh at Yehoshua's baptism and dwelt among them inside Yehoshua.
Isaiah 11:2 The spirit of YHVH shall rest on him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of YHVH.
Luke 3:21-22 Now when all the people were baptized, and when Yehoshua also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased."
Acts 10:38 how GOD anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for GOD was with him.
Luke 11:20 But if it is by the finger of GOD that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of GOD has come to you.
Matthew 12:28 But if it is by the Spirit of GOD that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of GOD has come to you.
John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
1st Corinthians 2:10 these things GOD has revealed to us through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of GOD.
Acts 1:2 until the day when he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.
Whether we like it or not, this is what Apostle John and others in the Bible are teaching. All the other little details are explained throughout John's Gospel and others places in the Bible. Because you have been indoctrinated that Jesus is the logos, this might seem strange to you, but why? You believe that Jesus is the logos, why cannot the Holy Spirit be the logos as the Bible teaches? You see, you can reject it all you want, but your doctrine isn't Biblical.
[1] This is in Hebrew which means the Messiah Jesus.
[2] Beginning, origin. - Oxford Greek Dictionary. NASB translates arch as beginning, NRSV as origin, and NIV as ruler.
[3] The Hebraic version of Moses, although Moses is actually an Egyptian name.
[4] Other ways of saying it is TNK and TaNaK. The letter T stands for Torah (or Law), N stands for Nevi'im (or Prophets), and K stands for K'tuvim (or Writings).
[5] The earliest disciples of Yehoshua believed in his Messiahship but not in his divinity. Jacob of the village of Sachnon was one of the first disciples of Yehoshua. -History of the Talmud, Chapter II and Appendix A.
[6] The true GOD is omnipresent as Psalm 139:7-8, 1st Kings 8:27, and 2nd Chronicles 6:18 says. Also Apostle John teaches that no one has ever seem GOD in John 1:18 and 1st John 4:12.
