What is "the Word" in John's Gospel?

[Difflugia]

Debate question: What does John mean by "the Word" in the Prologue of his Gospel (John 1:1-18)? What exactly is John claiming "became flesh and dwelt among us?"

[tam]

Peace to you,

First I'd like to know the name of the person who wrote "the word"

Why should I give creedence to an unknown author.?

The author of the book of "John" does not directly name himself. But he does refer to himself as 'the disciple Christ loved", and as one of the twelve apostles (the one who leaned back upon Christ at the last supper). He is the apostle who writes that Christ (Jaheshua) is the Word (who became flesh and dwelled among us for a time). This is corroborated by a second witness: John of Patmos who wrote the revelation that he received, in the book of Revelation.

Rev 19:13

He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God.



Even Luke bears witness to Christ being the Word:

Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word. Luke 1:1-2


I suspect some might not realize that Luke is referring to Christ when he writes 'the word', but these people were eyewitnesses and servants of Christ (the Word).



So now you have at least one (or two) names of those who bore witness to Christ being the Word (of God).



Peace to you,
your servant and a slave of Christ,
tammy

[bjs1]

Why? How does knowing a persons name in this context change anything?

It's not the name, but the person that is of importance. Who they were, what their motivations were, their integrity as human beings. Establishing a provenance is crucial when it comes to accepting authorship of documents of such social significance.

Yes, I understand the distinction and both I and Avoice (I assume) were using name as a short hand for person, character, integrity, motivation, etc.

The question remains unchanged. How does knowing a persons name (in the larger symbolic meaning of name) in this context change anything?

We are discussing the meaning of the Word in Johns Gospel. We can look at the language, significance and philosophical history of that term in its culture. Unless the author wrote extensively about the meaning of the Word in a separate work, which seems incredibly unlikely, how does knowing the authors name change anything?

To go back to my earlier illustration, if you didnt know the name Plato, how would that change your understanding of his works?

[brunumb]

To go back to my earlier illustration, if you didnt know the name Plato, how would that change your understanding of his works?

Would it matter if I never heard of Plato or any of his works? What about John?

[bjs1]

To go back to my earlier illustration, if you didnt know the name Plato, how would that change your understanding of his works?

Would it matter if I never heard of Plato or any of his works? What about John?

I think that would be a tragedy on both accounts, but that it no way addresses the question I asked. If you didnt know the name Plato, how would that change your understanding of his works?

[brunumb]

To go back to my earlier illustration, if you didnt know the name Plato, how would that change your understanding of his works?

Would it matter if I never heard of Plato or any of his works? What about John?

I think that would be a tragedy on both accounts, but that it no way addresses the question I asked. If you didnt know the name Plato, how would that change your understanding of his works?

You brought up Plato. I don't care about Plato. But if someone is producing religious propaganda then I want to know everything I can about that person. The shakier the provenance of the work, the lower is the trust that can be placed in its veracity, particularly when it involves significant social consequences. What the actual passages can be interpreted to mean becomes secondary. With so much fakery and dishonesty associated with religious artifacts, I think it is very important that we know as much as possible about who, what and and why in relation to any such works. As it is, we don't know anywhere near enough. That's where faith rears its ugly head.

[1213]

Debate question: What does John mean by "the Word" in the Prologue of his Gospel (John 1:1-18)? What exactly is John claiming "became flesh and dwelt among us?"

I think it means the word. Gods word came into flesh in Jesus. Meaning, Jesus declared what God had commended him to speak and in that way Gods word came to this world.

For I spoke not from myself, but the Father who sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. I know that his commandment is eternal life. The things therefore which I speak, even as the Father has said to me, so I speak."
John 12:49-50