blog




  • Essay / Comparison of the book of John and Genesis

    The similarities between Genesis 1 and John 1 are that they both function as creation stories in the sense that they refer to the origin of life on earth. This similarity is explicitly emphasized since both accounts begin with the words “In the beginning…” (Gen 1:1, John 1:1). Both mention God as the creator of life and light. As creator, he separates these from death and pre-existing darkness (Gen 1:1-5, Jn 1:4-5). Both stories also reference the idea that God's Word is the force of creation. God speaks in Genesis and life is born (Genesis 1:11-13). In John, he speaks by the power of his Word (Jesus) to baptize (that is to say, to make men children of God) (Jn 1:9-14). Finally, God calls man to “witness to the light,” that is, to participate in his work of creation. He commands Adam and Eve to “be fruitful and multiply” in Genesis, but in John, John the Baptist speaks of the saving grace of God which draws men to the light and glory of the communion-love of the Trinity (Gen 1:28, Jn 1). :6-8, 14-18).Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The main difference between these two chapters, however, is that Genesis 1 comes from the Old Testament and John 1 belongs to the New. Therefore, the Genesis account speaks of God's original creation, while John writes of how God redeemed it. Nothing is bad in the original creation, God seeing that “it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). However, God needs to save His fallen creation in John by manifesting Himself in a new creation because His creation is so perverted that it cannot recognize Him as its creator (Jn 1:9-13). Therefore, despite their similarities regarding vocabulary, images, and symbols, Genesis ends up describing the original, perfect work of creation, while John describes God's new, redeemed, and glorified creation. Ultimately, these differences and similarities reveal that the theological message of Genesis speaks of God's power to create man for the purpose of continuing His work of creation. In John, this underlying message refers to God's power to create anew in man when he has failed to respond to his divine calling. Even after the Fall, God sent his Son to redeem and glorify man. Thanks to Christ, man no longer only aims to be a collaborator-slave of God; man's vocation is to create with God and to live in his love as an adopted son. Having now been “born of God”, man can now maintain “the closest relationship with the Father” as is Christ (Jn 1:13, 18).