Here's an expository study and comprehensive commentary on John 1:18 using the New International Version (NIV) Bible by Dr. Maxwell Shimba
**Verse 18 (NIV):**
"No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known."
**NIV Bible's Reference:**
"No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known." (John 1:18, NIV)
**Interpretation:**
In this verse, John explains that while no one has seen God the Father, Jesus Christ, who is the unique Son of God and who shares the same divine nature, has revealed God to humanity. Jesus, being in the closest relationship with the Father, makes the invisible God known to us.
**Commentary:**
"No one has ever seen God": This statement emphasizes the transcendence and invisibility of God. It acknowledges that God, in His essence, is beyond human sight and comprehension (Exodus 33:20; 1 Timothy 6:16).
"But the one and only Son, who is himself God": John asserts the unique and divine nature of Jesus, the one and only Son (also translated as "the only begotten Son"). This affirms Jesus' divinity and His unique status as God's Son, fully sharing the divine nature (John 1:14; Colossians 1:15).
"And is in closest relationship with the Father": The phrase "closest relationship" (or "in the bosom of the Father") signifies the intimate and unique relationship between the Father and the Son. This indicates a deep, personal connection and unity (John 10:30; John 17:21).
"Has made him known": Jesus' mission includes revealing God to humanity. Through His life, teachings, and actions, Jesus makes the character and nature of God known to us. He is the perfect revelation of God (John 14:9; Hebrews 1:3).
**Concordance:**
- **No one has ever seen God**: This emphasizes God's invisibility and transcendence (Exodus 33:20; 1 Timothy 6:16).
- **But the one and only Son, who is himself God**: This highlights Jesus' unique divine nature and His role as God's Son (John 1:14; Colossians 1:15).
- **And is in closest relationship with the Father**: This phrase signifies the intimate relationship between Jesus and the Father, indicating unity and personal connection (John 10:30; John 17:21).
- **Has made him known**: Jesus reveals the nature and character of God through His life and teachings (John 14:9; Hebrews 1:3).
**References from the NIV Bible:**
1. **Exodus 33:20**: "But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live."
2. **1 Timothy 6:16**: "who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and might forever. Amen."
3. **John 1:14**: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
4. **Colossians 1:15**: "The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation."
5. **John 10:30**: "I and the Father are one."
6. **John 17:21**: "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me."
7. **John 14:9**: "Jesus answered: 'Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?"
8. **Hebrews 1:3**: "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven."
**Interpretation and Application:**
- **God's Invisibility**: The verse emphasizes that God, in His essence, is beyond human sight. This speaks to God's transcendence and the mystery of His being.
- **Revelation through Jesus**: Jesus, being in intimate relationship with the Father and sharing the same divine nature, reveals God to humanity. He is the perfect image and representation of God, making the invisible God known to us.
- **Intimate Relationship**: The close relationship between the Father and the Son highlights the unity and love within the Trinity. Believers are invited to participate in this relationship through faith in Jesus.
- **Importance of Jesus' Mission**: Jesus' mission includes making God known to humanity. Through His teachings, actions, and very being, Jesus reveals the character, love, and nature of God, providing us with the perfect example to follow.
The phrase "who is himself God" in John 1:18 from the New International Version (NIV) Bible carries significant theological weight, affirming the divinity of Jesus Christ. Let's delve deeper into the implications and importance of this phrase.
**"Who is himself God": The Divinity of Jesus Christ**
1. **Affirmation of Jesus' Divine Nature:**
- The phrase "who is himself God" unequivocally states that Jesus Christ possesses the divine nature of God. This assertion is foundational to Christian theology, establishing that Jesus is not merely a prophet or a great teacher but God in human form.
- **John 1:1**: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." This verse sets the tone for the entire Gospel of John, emphasizing that Jesus (the Word) is fully divine.
2. **Christological Significance:**
- This declaration is central to Christology, the branch of theology dealing with the identity and work of Christ. Understanding Jesus as fully God and fully man is crucial for grasping the significance of His incarnation, life, atoning death, and resurrection.
- **Philippians 2:6-7**: "Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness."
3. **Revelation of God's Nature:**
- Jesus, being God, reveals the very nature and character of God to humanity. In seeing Jesus, we see God. This revelation includes God's love, mercy, justice, and truth.
- **Hebrews 1:3**: "The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word."
4. **Essential for Salvation:**
- The divinity of Jesus is essential for the efficacy of His sacrificial death on the cross. Only God could atone for the sins of the entire world, making Jesus' sacrifice sufficient and effective.
- **Colossians 2:9**: "For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form."
5. **Foundation for Worship:**
- Recognizing Jesus as God is fundamental for Christian worship. Believers worship Jesus not merely as a mediator or a holy person but as God Himself, worthy of all honor, glory, and praise.
- **Revelation 5:12-14**: "In a loud voice they were saying: 'Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!' Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying: 'To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!'"
6. **Theological Controversies and Creeds:**
- The affirmation of Jesus' divinity has been a central point in various theological debates throughout church history, leading to the formulation of creeds that clearly state this belief.
- **Nicene Creed (325 AD)**: "We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father."
**Scriptural References and Further Exploration:**
- **John 10:30**: "I and the Father are one." Jesus' statement about His unity with the Father underscores His divinity and equality with God.
- **Titus 2:13**: "while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ," This verse explicitly refers to Jesus as "our great God and Savior."
- **1 John 5:20**: "We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."
**Implications for Believers:**
- **Relationship with God**: Understanding Jesus as God deepens our relationship with Him. We are not just following a teacher but are in communion with the Creator Himself.
- **Assurance of Salvation**: Believing in Jesus' divinity assures us of the sufficiency of His sacrifice and the power of His resurrection, giving us confidence in our salvation.
- **Motivation for Mission**: Recognizing Jesus as God compels believers to share the gospel, proclaiming the good news of God's incarnation, life, death, and resurrection for the salvation of all humanity.
Delving further into the divinity of Jesus Christ involves examining key theological concepts, scriptural evidence, historical developments, and implications for Christian doctrine and life. Here’s an in-depth exploration:
### Scriptural Evidence for Jesus’ Divinity
1. **Explicit Claims of Divinity**:
- **John 8:58**: "Very truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" Here, Jesus uses the divine name "I am" (echoing Exodus 3:14), asserting His eternal existence and divinity.
- **John 10:30**: "I and the Father are one." This declaration underscores Jesus' unity and equality with God the Father.
2. **Divine Titles**:
- **Emmanuel** (Matthew 1:23): Meaning "God with us," indicating Jesus' divine presence among humanity.
- **Son of God**: While this title also denotes a special relationship, its use in contexts like John 5:18 and John 10:36 highlights Jesus' unique divine sonship.
3. **Attributes of Divinity**:
- **Eternality**: John 1:1-2, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.”
- **Omnipotence**: Matthew 28:18, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
- **Omniscience**: John 16:30, “Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.”
4. **Divine Works**:
- **Creation**: John 1:3, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”
- **Sustaining the Universe**: Colossians 1:17, “He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
- **Forgiving Sins**: Mark 2:5-7, where Jesus forgives sins, an act only God can do.
5. **Worship and Prayer**:
- **Worship**: Hebrews 1:6, “And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, ‘Let all God’s angels worship him.’”
- **Prayer in Jesus’ Name**: John 14:13-14, where Jesus promises to answer prayers asked in His name, showing His divine authority.
### Theological Concepts
1. **Hypostatic Union**:
- The doctrine that Jesus Christ is one Person with two distinct natures, fully divine and fully human. This was formally defined at the Council of Chalcedon in 451 AD.
2. **Trinity**:
- Jesus’ divinity is essential to the Christian understanding of the Trinity: one God in three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Each Person is fully and completely God, yet there is only one God.
3. **Incarnation**:
- The theological term for God the Son becoming human in the person of Jesus Christ. John 1:14, “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”
### Historical Developments
1. **Early Church Creeds**:
- **Nicene Creed (325 AD)**: Affirmed Jesus as "true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.”
- **Athanasian Creed**: Further clarified the co-equality and co-eternity of Jesus with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
2. **Council of Chalcedon (451 AD)**:
- Defined the doctrine of the hypostatic union, affirming that Jesus is fully God and fully man, without confusion, change, division, or separation.
### Implications for Christian Doctrine
1. **Atonement**:
- Only Jesus, being both fully God and fully man, could mediate between God and humanity and provide a sufficient atoning sacrifice for sin.
2. **Resurrection**:
- Jesus’ divine nature validates His resurrection, affirming His power over life and death (John 10:17-18).
3. **Salvation**:
- Salvation is found in Jesus alone (Acts 4:12), as He uniquely bridges the gap between a holy God and sinful humanity.
### Implications for Christian Life
1. **Worship**:
- Believers are called to worship Jesus as God, giving Him the honor, praise, and adoration due to Him (Philippians 2:9-11).
2. **Prayer**:
- Christians pray in Jesus’ name, acknowledging His divine authority and intercession (John 14:13-14).
3. **Ethics and Morality**:
- Jesus’ teachings and life provide the perfect model for Christian conduct. Believers strive to follow His example in love, humility, and obedience to God (1 Peter 2:21).
### Apologetic Defense
1. **Addressing Objections**:
- Some argue that Jesus never explicitly claimed to be God. However, His declarations (e.g., John 8:58), His acceptance of worship (e.g., John 20:28), and His divine actions (e.g., forgiving sins) provide strong evidence of His self-understanding as divine.
- Early Christian martyrdom and the rapid growth of the Church, rooted in the belief in Jesus’ divinity and resurrection, support the authenticity and sincerity of this belief.
2. **Historical Evidence**:
- Historical documents, such as the writings of early Church Fathers (e.g., Ignatius of Antioch, Irenaeus), affirm the belief in Jesus’ divinity from the earliest stages of Christianity.
This comprehensive exploration affirms the centrality of Jesus’ divinity in Christian theology and practice, highlighting its biblical foundation, historical development, and profound implications for believers. If there is a specific aspect you would like to delve deeper into or have more questions, feel free to ask!
Shalom
Dr. Maxwell Shimba
Shimba Theological Institute
New York, NY
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