THE PROLOGUE
OUTLINE
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IN
Father' (John 14:9), and so the apostle, looking up to the right hand of
the Father, could say: `He hath declared Him' (John 1:18).
The word `declare' here is exegeomai (giving our word `exegesis'),
and means literally `to lead out'. The word occurs six times in the
New Testament, including the passage in Luke:
`And they told what things were done in the way, and how He was
known of them in breaking of bread' (Luke 24:35).
The other occurrences are in Acts 10:8; 15:12,14, and 21:19.
It is not surprising, seeing that in this prologue John has taken up
the language of philosophy, to find that this word `declare' was a
technical term much used in connection with speaking by oracle, and
interpreting things regarded as being Divine. Christ is the true
Interpreter of God to man. He came from heaven, not to demonstrate
His own Deity, but to show us what the invisible God was like. Those
who have rightly `seen' Christ, have `seen' the Father. We know what
the love of God is, because we have seen it manifested in Christ. We
know His patience, His peace, His power, His mind, His will - we
know Him, for the `Only Begotten Son' has given a complete
exposition of Him. He is our Interpreter, our Mediator, our Daysman.
He has `shown' us the Father `and it sufficeth us'.
The prologue has now accomplished its purpose. The Gospel itself
now awaits us, and from first to last we shall discover that in it the Son
of God is manifesting, revealing, interpreting the Father to His
children. It must now be our delightful task to endeavour to open up
these treasures and exhibit them for the blessing and comfort of the
believer, and to the glory of the Lord.