THE PROLOGUE
OUTLINE
65
IN
The Invisible and the Only Begotten (1:18)
We have now arrived at the stupendous conclusion to this great
prologue, from the revelation of `the Word' in the beginning, we have
descended to creation, to manifestation and to incarnation. The Word
was made flesh. Then we commence the ascent to `the glory that He
had before', but the coming of the Word in the flesh was for the
purpose of redemption.
`No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, Which
is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him' (John 1:18).
The `Word' of verse 1 becomes here `the only begotten Son', while
`God' becomes `the Father'. When we speak of the Holy Spirit, we do
not mentally conjure up some particular shape or form, but when
believers speak of the `Father' they are apt to forget the words of John
4:
`... the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in
truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship Him. God is spirit,
and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth'
(John 4:23,24 Author's translation).
There can be no mistaking the meaning of this passage. `The
Father' is placed in correspondence with `God', Who is spirit. Again,
in John 5 we read:
`And the Father Himself, Which hath sent Me, hath borne witness
of Me. Ye have neither heard His voice at any time, nor seen His
shape' (John 5:37).
And again in chapter 6, `Not that any man hath seen the Father,
save He which is of God, He hath seen the Father' (46). Similarly, in
1 Timothy 1:17 God is declared to be `the King eternal, incorruptible,
invisible', while in chapter 6 of the same epistle we read, `Who only
hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach
unto; Whom no man hath seen, nor can see' (16). Such is the
consistent testimony of Scripture. It is of the very essence of material
things that they can be either seen, or heard, or felt. The world of
matter is intimately linked with the bodily senses, but it is of the very
essence of spirit that the human eye, and ear, and hand cannot
apprehend it: `Handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones
as ye see Me have' (Luke 24:39). While the reader will readily