Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-01-04

L INot>'NIN' E. llt III ~ ''i'
gospels We're designed for classes OF
men-Matthew for the Jews. Mark for
the Romans Luke for the Greeks Each
presented view of Christ adapted TO
its readers. Those views. united and
expanded in the Pauline and Catholic
epistles. furnished body of truth suf-
fcient for the needs of the church.
which. after the discussion concerning
the Gentiles. was in great harmony.
Toward the close of the first century
Christianity came into conflict with the
learned world. and a new statement of
doctrine was needed. Its preparation
was the task of John. the beloved dis
ciple;" then an old man residing at
Ephesus. one of the chief cities Of Asia
Minor. He announced his purpose in
writing (John Xx:3D to convince men
that Jesus was the son of God. and that
by union with Him they might have
eternal life. This simrle creed IS out
lined in the passage before MS. which is
the prologue or introduction 10 the
book.
THE WOPD oversees 1-rN-TohN
began nv exnlainino terrr. tl'n Wo~d.
in cntnrror nen hut greatlv miSnnder-
stood. - ha~ .heen frequently rmplnye'
in tho Ole Testament. In :h" act o.
creation Cod spoke fGe". i:1D. aud
the message TO tho prophets was nv
word (Hns. i:1). The Jewish theol"-
~iars. under the influence Of oriental
thnupht. had made manv fancifn' in
terpret" tions of this Scrintrre e"nres-
sion. PEIn. an A1evandrian nhi'"eo-
nher. held that God was concealed; thai
He acted only bv servants: that
ANON" these servants was re Word
(Crnnr, 1oros). These spnoula'ions were
nre iudicia1 to religion To refuto them
Tohn declared that the Word was q
nerson: that This person twisted in the
beeinnir~ (Ger. 1:1: that he was
with Cod: that he wa Cod. the rrontN"
Of all things. Here the doctrine Of the
trinity. rot vet fnrmu'ntn tod is io'Dlied-
a fuller view of tho Godhead than any
previously presented.
THE LIFE oversees 4-5>.-The an
clients We're in great uncertainty con-
corning the nature and origin Of life.
The movements Of animals and men
excited their wonder and sometim rs
prompted their worship. They had
many theories for the variors nhe-
no-nenn The Gnostics taught there
were two emanatio from God-life
and light-one of the vital the other
of the roental nrnciple. ThesH acted
senaratA1v and indenandnrtlv. oroduc-
inr without divine aid all living forms
and all intellectual activities. But
view. that life was in the Word and
that it was the light of men (Iohn
v:26). He traced all things Dack TO
one and the same source-not ault mat
ter alone. hut animal mental, moral.
RELIGIOUS life also. Whatever insight
might he given tn men. whatever as
prations might fill their hearts. in any
ee or land. all had their origin in the
life that was in the Word. VINO was
the eternal God. the sole creator of all
things.
THE WITNESS oversees 5-O.-The
doctrine thus announced is as fmpor-
tant to religion as was the law Of
gravitation to science. One person. the
Supreme Being. having life within
Himself by His direct energy quickens
and Eliminates men. That doctrine
ought 70 unite and elevate mankind.
Why. then. the discord and degrade
tiono John anticinated this question
and answered it. Men failed tn COM
prehend the light. and so failed of its
benefits. But must men remain in ig-
norance? Must they grope about in
John answers this question also. A
man was sent from God to witness for
the light. He had been with Gee and
was sent out-he did not go out of his
own accord. Otner men mad COmmun-
ion with God. and went forth on other
errands-to declare law. to denounce
sin. to call to repentance. to predict
judgment to proclaim mercy. But this
man was confined to a mission. unlike
that of any who were before him-so
to witness for the light that men
might believe. This reference is to
the Baptist.
THE REJECTION oversees 10. ID
How did man regard this light which
shines upon the whole race? John an
swers The world at large the great
mass of mankind. the heather probably of
whom Paul speaks CRom.. i:19. 25). did
not even know him. They did. indeed,
perceive that a benign influence was eX-
erted upon them. but they had supersti-
tious notions concerning it. There was
another class of men of which better
things might have been expected. the
posterity of Abraham. With them a
covenant had been made. to them prec-
ious promises had been given. For many
centuries they had been under the in
struction of inspired men. They had
been nurtured by law and ceremonial that
they might understand what God was
doing for men. and that they might be
the teachers of other peoples Gen, xxi:
49,. Yet when the Word came unto them
He was rejected.
THE RECEPTION Oversees u, 49,
If the above had been the only response
to the Word in His approach to men, the
world would have been in deplorable