Sacred Wisdom, Sacred Texts

Episode 1 Beginnings #origins #beginning #sacredtexts

Beginnings, origins, starting points. Of the cosmos, or a person, or a podcast, or in a podcast about sacred texts, even the beginnings of sacred texts!
 
#sacred #interconnection #religion #spirituality #spiritualwisdom #kevincaldwell #soulcialism

Episode 2 God in the Mirror #divine #gospelofjohn #sacredtexts

What or who is God like, if there is a God? And can God be known in some way? How? In a world of influencers, self-help gurus, and fake news, I am turning to sacred texts to look for answers, beginning with the Gospel of John…
John 1:1-18: Greek Text and My Translation:
The Greek Text 1 Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος. 2 οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν. 3 πάντα δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν. ὃ γέγονεν 4 ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων· 5 καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν. 6 Ἐγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ θεοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ἰωάννης· 7 οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν, ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν δι' αὐτοῦ. 8 οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ' ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός. 9 Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. 10 ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω. 11 εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθεν, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον.12 ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, 13 οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτων οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος σαρκὸς οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος ἀνδρὸς ἀλλ' ἐκ θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν. 14 Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας. 15 Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ κέκραγεν λέγων, Οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, Ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν. 16 ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς πάντες ἐλάβομεν, καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος· 17 ὅτι ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο. 18 θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο
My Translation: 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was towards God, and God was the Word: 2 this Word that was towards God in the beginning, 3 the Word through whom all things came to be and without whom nothing came to be. What came to be 4 in him, in that Word, was life, and this life was the light of all human kind. 5 That light still shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not snuff out the light. 6 It came about that there was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, in order to bear witness concerning that light, so that through him everyone might believe. 8 He himself was not the light itself; he came as a witness to the light. 9 There was the true light, the light that enlightens every person. That light was coming into the world. 10 The light was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to what belonged to him, but they did not receive him. 12 And yet, to as many of those who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are not children related by blood. They are not conceived by natural human desire. They are not conceived as a result of a husband’s will. They are children begotten by God. 14 The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory of one who is unique, one of a kind, from the Father, whose nature was full of grace, fully worthy of trust. 15 John bore witness about the Word made flesh. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I meant when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me, who has come to be prior to me, because he was before me.’” 16 It is from his fullness that we have all received, grace in return for grace. 17 Because the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only God, who leans into the Father’s bosom, that one has brought out into the open and made known…
#spirituality #spiritual #meditation #kevincaldwell #soulcialism

Episode 3 The Lord of "the Rings"? #life #meaningoflife #cosmos

What is life, what does it mean? Yes, these can be questions typical of the age of adolescence. But for John the question “what is life” touches everything: you, me, the world, and the divine nature. Everything
(Note: I tried to include the full Ring Structure here, but the formatting is more confusing than it is helpful! If you would like a document with the Ring Structure included, message me in the Comments)
John 1:1-18: Greek Text and My Translation:
The Greek Text1 Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος. 2 οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν. 3 πάντα δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν. ὃ γέγονεν 4 ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων· 5 καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν. 6 Ἐγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ θεοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ἰωάννης· 7 οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν, ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν δι' αὐτοῦ. 8 οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ' ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός. 9 Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. 10 ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω. 11 εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθεν, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον.12 ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, 13 οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτων οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος σαρκὸς οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος ἀνδρὸς ἀλλ' ἐκ θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν. 14 Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας. 15 Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ κέκραγεν λέγων, Οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, Ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν. 16 ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς πάντες ἐλάβομεν, καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος· 17 ὅτι ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο. 18 θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο
My Translation:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was towards God, and God was the Word: 2  this Word that was towards God in the beginning, 3 the Word through whom all things came to be and without whom nothing came to be. 
What came to be 4 in him, in that Word, was life, and this life was the light of all human kind. 5 That light still shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not snuff out the light.
6 It came about that there was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, in order to bear witness concerning that light, so that through him everyone might believe. 8 He himself was not the light itself; he came as a witness to the light.
9 There was the true light, the light that enlightens every person. That light was coming into the world. 10 The light was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to what belonged to him, but they did not receive him. 12 And yet, to as many of those who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are not children related by blood. They are not conceived by natural human desire. They are not conceived as a result of a husband’s will. They are children begotten by God.
14 The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory of one who is unique, one of a kind, from the Father, whose nature was full of grace, fully worthy of trust.
15 John bore witness about the Word made flesh. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I meant when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me, who has come to be prior to me, because he was before me.’” 
16 It is from his fullness that we have all received, grace in return for grace. 17 Because the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only God, who leans into the Father’s bosom, that one has brought out into the open and made known…
#sacredtexts #gospelofjohn #humannature #kevincaldwell #compassion #soulcialism

Episode 4 Life is Everywhere #gospelofjohn #divinelife #grace

Life. First we take it for granted. Then we make plans for it. . Later still we may well be forced to decide between the length or the quality of it. Here and there we might ask about the meaning of it. But at the end of the day, what is this thing we call life?
John 1:1-18: Greek Text and My Translation:
The Greek Text1 Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος. 2 οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν. 3 πάντα δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν. ὃ γέγονεν 4 ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων· 5 καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν. 6 Ἐγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ θεοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ἰωάννης· 7 οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν, ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν δι' αὐτοῦ. 8 οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ' ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός. 9 Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. 10 ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω. 11 εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθεν, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον.12 ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, 13 οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτων οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος σαρκὸς οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος ἀνδρὸς ἀλλ' ἐκ θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν. 14 Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας. 15 Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ κέκραγεν λέγων, Οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, Ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν. 16 ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς πάντες ἐλάβομεν, καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος· 17 ὅτι ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο. 18 θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο
My Translation:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was towards God, and God was the Word: 2  this Word that was towards God in the beginning, 3 the Word through whom all things came to be and without whom nothing came to be. 
What came to be 4 in him, in that Word, was life, and this life was the light of all human kind. 5 That light still shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not snuff out the light.
6 It came about that there was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, in order to bear witness concerning that light, so that through him everyone might believe. 8 He himself was not the light itself; he came as a witness to the light.
9 There was the true light, the light that enlightens every person. That light was coming into the world. 10 The light was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to what belonged to him, but they did not receive him. 12 And yet, to as many of those who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are not children related by blood. They are not conceived by natural human desire. They are not conceived as a result of a husband’s will. They are children begotten by God.
14 The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory of one who is unique, one of a kind, from the Father, whose nature was full of grace, fully worthy of trust.
15 John bore witness about the Word made flesh. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I meant when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me, who has come to be prior to me, because he was before me.’” 
16 It is from his fullness that we have all received, grace in return for grace. 17 Because the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only God, who leans into the Father’s bosom, that one has brought out into the open and made known…
#soulcialism #kevincaldwell #divine #religion #spirituality 

Episode 5 Divine Humility? #divine #gospelofjohn #kevincaldwell #sacredtexts

Humility, and God? I used to think that went in one direction: that we humans need to have humility before an all powerful divine being. But what if there is something divine about humility, and something humble about divinity?
The Greek Text (My translation is below)
1 Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος. 2 οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν. 3 πάντα δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν. ὃ γέγονεν 4 ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων· 5 καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν. 6 Ἐγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ θεοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ἰωάννης· 7 οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν, ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν δι' αὐτοῦ. 8 οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ' ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός. 9 Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. 10 ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω. 11 εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθεν, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον.12 ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, 13 οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτων οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος σαρκὸς οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος ἀνδρὸς ἀλλ' ἐκ θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν. 14 Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας. 15 Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ κέκραγεν λέγων, Οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, Ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν. 16 ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς πάντες ἐλάβομεν, καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος· 17 ὅτι ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο. 18 θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο
My Translation:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was towards God, and God was the Word: 2  this Word that was towards God in the beginning, 3 the Word through whom all things came to be and without whom nothing came to be. 
What came to be 4 in him, in that Word, was life, and this life was the light of all human kind. 5 That light still shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not snuff out the light.
6 It came about that there was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, in order to bear witness concerning that light, so that through him everyone might believe. 8 He himself was not the light itself; he came as a witness to the light.
9 There was the true light, the light that enlightens every person. That light was coming into the world. 10 The light was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to what belonged to him, but they did not receive him. 12 And yet, to as many of those who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are not children related by blood. They are not conceived by natural human desire. They are not conceived as a result of a husband’s will. They are children begotten by God.
14 The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory of one who is unique, one of a kind, from the Father, whose nature was full of grace, fully worthy of trust.
15 John bore witness about the Word made flesh. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I meant when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me, who has come to be prior to me, because he was before me.’” 
16 It is from his fullness that we have all received, grace in return for grace. 17 Because the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only God, who leans into the Father’s bosom, that one has brought out into the open and made known…

Episode 6 Wounded Heart Part 1 #gospelofjohn #bible #sacredtexts #spirituality #divine #mystery

God and a wounded heart? I don’t presume to know how to speak of the emotions of God…but it seems like one of the threads of John’s narrative tapestry is a very sad love story, a love story that turns out to be as old as time itself.
John 1:1-18
The Greek Text and Translation
1 Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος. 2 οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν. 3 πάντα δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν. ὃ γέγονεν 4 ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων· 5 καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν. 6 Ἐγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ θεοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ἰωάννης· 7 οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν, ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν δι' αὐτοῦ. 8 οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ' ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός. 9 Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. 10 ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω. 11 εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθεν, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον.12 ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, 13 οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτων οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος σαρκὸς οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος ἀνδρὸς ἀλλ' ἐκ θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν. 14 Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας. 15 Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ κέκραγεν λέγων, Οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, Ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν. 16 ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς πάντες ἐλάβομεν, καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος· 17 ὅτι ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο. 18 θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο
My Translation:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was towards God, and God was the Word: 2  this Word that was towards God in the beginning, 3 the Word through whom all things came to be and without whom nothing came to be. 
What came to be 4 in him, in that Word, was life, and this life was the light of all human kind. 5 That light still shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not snuff out the light.
6 It came about that there was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, in order to bear witness concerning that light, so that through him everyone might believe. 8 He himself was not the light itself; he came as a witness to the light.
9 There was the true light, the light that enlightens every person. That light was coming into the world. 10 The light was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to what belonged to him, but they did not receive him. 12 And yet, to as many of those who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are not children related by blood. They are not conceived by natural human desire. They are not conceived as a result of a husband’s will. They are children begotten by God.
14 The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory of one who is unique, one of a kind, from the Father, whose nature was full of grace, fully worthy of trust.
15 John bore witness about the Word made flesh. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I meant when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me, who has come to be prior to me, because he was before me.’” 
16 It is from his fullness that we have all received, grace in return for grace. 17 Because the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only God, who leans into the Father’s bosom, that one has brought out into the open and made known…

Episode 7: Seeing in First Person Plurals #divine #cosmos #jesus #bible #sacredtexts #sacred #John

Do you see what I see…or maybe, do we see what we see…or, heck, did I see what I saw…And what are we looking at anyway? For John, it's the heart of the divine…the divine in the cosmos/nature, present everywhere, and the divine in a particular time and place and person. 
John 1:1-18
The Greek Text 
1 Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος. 2 οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν. 3 πάντα δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν. ὃ γέγονεν 4 ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων· 5 καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν. 6 Ἐγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ θεοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ἰωάννης· 7 οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν, ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν δι' αὐτοῦ. 8 οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ' ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός. 9 Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. 10 ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω. 11 εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθεν, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον.12 ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, 13 οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτων οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος σαρκὸς οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος ἀνδρὸς ἀλλ' ἐκ θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν. 14 Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας. 15 Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ κέκραγεν λέγων, Οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, Ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν. 16 ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς πάντες ἐλάβομεν, καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος· 17 ὅτι ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο. 18 θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο My 
Translation: 
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was towards God, and God was the Word: 2 this Word that was towards God in the beginning, 3 the Word through whom all things came to be and without whom nothing came to be. What came to be 4 in him, in that Word, was life, and this life was the light of all human kind. 5 That light still shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not snuff out the light. 6 It came about that there was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, in order to bear witness concerning that light, so that through him everyone might believe. 8 He himself was not the light itself; he came as a witness to the light. 9 There was the true light, the light that enlightens every person. That light was coming into the world. 10 The light was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to what belonged to him, but they did not receive him. 12 And yet, to as many of those who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are not children related by blood. They are not conceived by natural human desire. They are not conceived as a result of a husband’s will. They are children begotten by God. 14 The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory of one who is unique, one of a kind, from the Father, whose nature was full of grace, fully worthy of trust. 15 John bore witness about the Word made flesh. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I meant when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me, who has come to be prior to me, because he was before me.’” 16 It is from his fullness that we have all received, grace in return for grace. 17 Because the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only God, who leans into the Father’s bosom, that one has brought out into the open and made known…

Episode 8: Divine Children #gospelofjohn #divine #divinenature #sacredtexts #wisdom #human #humanity

You and I are the whole point! The pearl at the center of John’s Prologue reveals an astounding reality, that the divine life, the divine DNA, is meant to be shared…with you and I. This is part 1 of unpacking that…
John 1:1-18
The Greek Text
1 Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος. 2 οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν. 3 πάντα δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν. ὃ γέγονεν 4 ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων· 5 καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν. 6 Ἐγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ θεοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ἰωάννης· 7 οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν, ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν δι' αὐτοῦ. 8 οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ' ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός. 9 Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. 10 ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω. 11 εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθεν, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον.12 ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, 13 οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτων οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος σαρκὸς οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος ἀνδρὸς ἀλλ' ἐκ θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν. 14 Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας. 15 Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ κέκραγεν λέγων, Οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, Ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν. 16 ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς πάντες ἐλάβομεν, καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος· 17 ὅτι ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο. 18 θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατο
My Translation:
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was towards God, and God was the Word: 2  this Word that was towards God in the beginning, 3 the Word through whom all things came to be and without whom nothing came to be. 
What came to be 4 in him, in that Word, was life, and this life was the light of all human kind. 5 That light still shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not snuff out the light.
6 It came about that there was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, in order to bear witness concerning that light, so that through him everyone might believe. 8 He himself was not the light itself; he came as a witness to the light.
9 There was the true light, the light that enlightens every person. That light was coming into the world. 10 The light was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to what belonged to him, but they did not receive him. 12 And yet, to as many of those who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are not children related by blood. They are not conceived by natural human desire. They are not conceived as a result of a husband’s will. They are children begotten by God.
14 The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory of one who is unique, one of a kind, from the Father, whose nature was full of grace, fully worthy of trust.
15 John bore witness about the Word made flesh. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I meant when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me, who has come to be prior to me, because he was before me.’” 
16 It is from his fullness that we have all received, grace in return for grace. 17 Because the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only God, who leans into the Father’s bosom, that one has brought out into the open and made known…

Episode 9 Divine Children Pt. 2 #sacredtexts #divine #gospelofjohn #divinelife #spirituality #god

You and I are the whole point! This is part 2 of exploring the pearl at the center of John’s Prologue, and the astounding reality that the divine life is meant to be shared…we…you and I, are invited to share the divine DNA. John 1:1-18The Greek Text1 Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος. 2 οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν. 3 πάντα δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν. ὃ γέγονεν 4 ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων· 5 καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν. 6 Ἐγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ θεοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ἰωάννης· 7 οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν, ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν δι' αὐτοῦ. 8 οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ' ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός. 9 Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. 10 ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω. 11 εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθεν, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον.12 ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, 13 οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτων οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος σαρκὸς οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος ἀνδρὸς ἀλλ' ἐκ θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν. 14 Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας. 15 Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ κέκραγεν λέγων, Οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, Ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν. 16 ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς πάντες ἐλάβομεν, καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος· 17 ὅτι ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο. 18 θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατοMy Translation:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was towards God, and God was the Word: 2 this Word that was towards God in the beginning, 3 the Word through whom all things came to be and without whom nothing came to be. What came to be 4 in him, in that Word, was life, and this life was the light of all human kind. 5 That light still shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not snuff out the light.6 It came about that there was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, in order to bear witness concerning that light, so that through him everyone might believe. 8 He himself was not the light itself; he came as a witness to the light.9 There was the true light, the light that enlightens every person. That light was coming into the world. 10 The light was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to what belonged to him, but they did not receive him. 12 And yet, to as many of those who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are not children related by blood. They are not conceived by natural human desire. They are not conceived as a result of a husband’s will. They are children begotten by God.14 The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory of one who is unique, one of a kind, from the Father, whose nature was full of grace, fully worthy of trust.15 John bore witness about the Word made flesh. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I meant when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me, who has come to be prior to me, because he was before me.’” 16 It is from his fullness that we have all received, grace in return for grace. 17 Because the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only God, who leans into the Father’s bosom, that one has brought out into the open and made known…

Episode 10 John on Religion Art & Jesus #gospelofjohn #religion #art #Jesus #sacred #divine

I have personal questions for John: what is religion? Though John doesn’t mention this, what would he say about art and artists? And then there’s all the Jesus stuff. What does John really think… Implications…Everything has implications. Almost every explicit statement also implies more than it says directly. There are implications intended by a communicator but there are sometimes implications they are not even aware of, implications their intended message is sparking within the mental frameworks of their audience. This is especially true when the audience is separated by time and distance from an ancient text like John. Picking up on all the implicit layers of an ancient text is especially difficult, nigh impossible. And from our side we can’t help but ask questions the original authors and creators did not ask and could not ask. Which means sometimes we will see implications and trajectories in their thinking they did not and could not foresee.John 1:1-18: Greek Text and My Translation:The Greek Text1 Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος. 2 οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν. 3 πάντα δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν. ὃ γέγονεν 4 ἐν αὐτῷ ζωὴ ἦν, καὶ ἡ ζωὴ ἦν τὸ φῶς τῶν ἀνθρώπων· 5 καὶ τὸ φῶς ἐν τῇ σκοτίᾳ φαίνει, καὶ ἡ σκοτία αὐτὸ οὐ κατέλαβεν. 6 Ἐγένετο ἄνθρωπος ἀπεσταλμένος παρὰ θεοῦ, ὄνομα αὐτῷ Ἰωάννης· 7 οὗτος ἦλθεν εἰς μαρτυρίαν, ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός, ἵνα πάντες πιστεύσωσιν δι' αὐτοῦ. 8 οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ' ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός. 9 Ἦν τὸ φῶς τὸ ἀληθινόν, ὃ φωτίζει πάντα ἄνθρωπον, ἐρχόμενον εἰς τὸν κόσμον. 10 ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ ἦν, καὶ ὁ κόσμος δι' αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ ὁ κόσμος αὐτὸν οὐκ ἔγνω. 11 εἰς τὰ ἴδια ἦλθεν, καὶ οἱ ἴδιοι αὐτὸν οὐ παρέλαβον.12 ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ, 13 οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτων οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος σαρκὸς οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος ἀνδρὸς ἀλλ' ἐκ θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν. 14 Καὶ ὁ λόγος σὰρξ ἐγένετο καὶ ἐσκήνωσεν ἐν ἡμῖν, καὶ ἐθεασάμεθα τὴν δόξαν αὐτοῦ, δόξαν ὡς μονογενοῦς παρὰ πατρός, πλήρης χάριτος καὶ ἀληθείας. 15 Ἰωάννης μαρτυρεῖ περὶ αὐτοῦ καὶ κέκραγεν λέγων, Οὗτος ἦν ὃν εἶπον, Ὁ ὀπίσω μου ἐρχόμενος ἔμπροσθέν μου γέγονεν, ὅτι πρῶτός μου ἦν. 16 ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ πληρώματος αὐτοῦ ἡμεῖς πάντες ἐλάβομεν, καὶ χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος· 17 ὅτι ὁ νόμος διὰ Μωϋσέως ἐδόθη, ἡ χάρις καὶ ἡ ἀλήθεια διὰ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐγένετο. 18 θεὸν οὐδεὶς ἑώρακεν πώποτε· μονογενὴς θεὸς ὁ ὢν εἰς τὸν κόλπον τοῦ πατρὸς ἐκεῖνος ἐξηγήσατοMy Translation:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was towards God, and God was the Word: 2 this Word that was towards God in the beginning, 3 the Word through whom all things came to be and without whom nothing came to be. What came to be 4 in him, in that Word, was life, and this life was the light of all human kind. 5 That light still shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not snuff out the light.6 It came about that there was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, in order to bear witness concerning that light, so that through him everyone might believe. 8 He himself was not the light itself; he came as a witness to the light.9 There was the true light, the light that enlightens every person. That light was coming into the world. 10 The light was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to what belonged to him, but they did not receive him. 12 And yet, to as many of those who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are not children related by blood. They are not conceived by natural human desire. They are not conceived as a result of a husband’s will. They are children begotten by God.14 The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory of one who is unique, one of a kind, from the Father, whose nature was full of grace, fully worthy of trust.15 John bore witness about the Word made flesh. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I meant when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me, who has come to be prior to me, because he was before me.’” 16 It is from his fullness that we have all received, grace in return for grace. 17 Because the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only God, who leans into the Father’s bosom, that one has brought out into the open and made known…