Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 166:664 (Oct 2009)
Article: The Literary and Theological Significance of the Johannine Prologue
Author: Stephen S. Kim

BibSac 166:664 (Oct 2009) p. 421

The Literary and Theological Significance
of the Johannine Prologue

Stephen S. Kim

Stephen S. Kim is Professor of Bible, Multnomah Biblical Seminary, Portland, Oregon.

The Prologue of the Fourth Gospel (John 1:1-18) is one of the most profound passages in all of Scripture. It is crafted with unparalleled literary beauty while also possessing unique theological depth. Thus Polhill is not exaggerating in calling the Prologue a “theological masterpiece.”1 Its masterful presentation of Jesus as the eternal λόγος of God provides a unique and vital angle from which to view the Son of God. The distinctiveness of the Johannine Prologue can be appreciated also in comparison with the prologues of the other Gospels. For instance Matthew and Luke begin their presentation of Jesus from His birth, and Mark begins his presentation of Jesus from the commencement of His earthly ministry. The Fourth Evangelist, on the other hand, presents Jesus as the divine Son of God who exists from eternity past with the Father. Although thought-provoking studies have shown certain similarities between the Johannine Prologue and the prologues in the Synoptics,2 the uniqueness of the Johannine Prologue

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stands out in many respects, just as the Fourth Gospel as a whole is distinct in many ways from the Synoptic Gospels.

The Placement of the Prologue

The uniqueness of the Prologue, along with its stark contrast in literary form to the rest of the Gospel, has led many Johannine scholars to question its authenticity and to conclude that it is a later addition by a redactor.3 However, there are solid reasons for accepting the Prologue as part of the original text. Among the various arguments for the authenticity of the Johannine Prologue, perhaps the most convincing is the close thematic connection between the Prologue and the rest of the Gospel. As Carson correctly summarizes, “The tightness of the connection between the Prologue and the Gospel render unlikely the view that the Prologue was composed by someone other than the Evangelist.”4 Morris echoes this sentiment, based also on the close relationship between the Prologue and the rest of the Gospel. “It is more likely that it is the original, for it accords so well with what follows. These verses bring

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before us some of the great tho...