Because of my study in the Gospel of John, I recently out of curiosity skimmed through a book entitled, Jesus Christ and The World of the New Testament (Salt Lake: Deseret Book, 2006) by Richard Neitzel, Eric Huntsman, and Thomas A. Wayment. In this new hardback family addition, the layout is very attractive and the pictures are magnificent.

I read with interest what the LDS professors stated on page 132 about the prologue in John 1:1-18. “Whether an original composition or a hymn adapted from John’s prophetic predecessor John the Baptist, the prologue connects Jesus closely with God and attributes a role as creator to him in a way reminiscent of the opening lines of Genesis: “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth . . . and God said . . .” (Gen. 1:1, 3; see also D&C 93:6-12). It also echoes the portrayals of Jesus in other early Christian hymns, such as those preserved in Philippians 2:6-11 and especially in Colossians 1:15-17.”

Here is my first question. Isn’t John 1:1 declaring that the individual “Person” of the Word (Logos) has more than just a close connection with God but that He is of the same substance as God (Theos)?

Also, in the book, the LDS authors have a large highlighted section on the great “I Am” titles for Jesus. Concerning Exodus 3;14, they write, “The Greek Septuagint renders ‘I AM that I Am’ as ego eimi ho en, creating a strong verbal echo with John’s ‘I Am’ sayings, each of which begins with ego eimi.” Then they list seven powerful statements by Jesus in the Gospel of John (John 6:35, 51; 8:12; 10:7-9; 10:11-14; 11:25; 14:6; and 15:1-5) and finally conclude with the crescendo of John 8:56-58.

Here is my second question on Jesus’ words in John 8:58, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.” Is Jesus saying here, “Before Abraham came into existence, I came into existence before the creation of the world”? Or is the Lord saying, “Before Abraham came into existence, I have been throughout eternity the self-existent One”?

Thinking of heart issues