Feb.4, ‘07

Intro: Ch.3:16- an early creedal statement.

I. There is a textual or manuscript conflict.

God =KJV, NJKV, Amplified    Christ =Cont.Eng.Version

He =NIV, RV, RSV, NEW WORLD, THE MESSAGE,

    NEW BERKELEY, GOODSPEED,

He, who=NASV, MOFFAT, GOOD NEWS

Which =Auth.Catholic Edition

Majority of manuscript evidence has “God”.

II. The word “manifest” means to uncover, make

clear, visible.  Jesus came to reveal God as no one else

could or would.

John 14:8-9,   Matt.11:25-27- exclusive

Clearly, Jesus was God- John 1:1-3, 14 and that was

the belief of early Christians!

III. Flesh, here, speaks of His genuine humanity.

1) He was not an “appearance” of being human-

Docetics & Gnostics    The apostolic witness is clear!

Looked human- Mat.26:48    Emotions-Mt.8:10, 26:38

Physical symptoms- Lk.22:42, 8:23, 4:2   John 19:28

2) His coming was with an actual birth- Lk.1:31, 2:5,6

Phys. Development-Lk.2:40,52,  relatives- Mk.6:1-3

3) Response to Him 1:22,27, 2:12, 3:8, 4:41, 5:15,20,42,

 6:2, 51, 7:37, 9:6,15,32, 10:24,26,32, 11:18, 12:17 37,  

 15:5,16:8

4) Jesus was amazing in His balance & equanimity (evenness)