If you take time to read the prologue to John's Gospel and the the prologue to his first epistle you will see many similarities. However there are some differences as well. We are told that in the beginning was the Word and we know that the beginning was the beginning of time and the Word was definitely the second person of the Trinity. He was there at creation and He was the creator.
But when you read John's epistle you are not so sure as to what beginning he is referring to. Is it the beginning of time as in John's Gospel or is it the beginning of Jesus' ministry. I believe that John is referring to the same beginning in both his gospel and his epistle.
The second difference is in John's Gospel there is no doubt that when he refers to the Word he is referring to the Living Word but that is not so obvious in the epistle. On this point the commentators are split. Again I think John is writing about the living Word. He does refer to the Word of Life and the emphasis is definitely on life. Some say that he is writing about the Gospel but remember that the good news, the gospel, is about a person.
Read both prologues and see the similarities and the differences.
Do you agree or disagree about the beginning referring to the same time? Do you believe that John's reference to the Word and the Word of Life are the same?
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