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Top-down Gospel message: John 1
1. Top-down Gospel message: John 1
The bottom-up, forward chaining is used by most people. But not by John. He uses top-down, backward-chaining reasoning. The beginning of the Gospel of John is written in a top-down backward chaining way.
2. Top-down vs. bottom-up
The use of top-down backward-chaining thinking and logic in problem solving is essential to computer science thinking.
C if B if A (top-down backward chaining)
A then B then C (bottom-up, forward chaining)
Most other people use bottom-up forward-chaining thinking and logic and problem solving which is, in most cases, not the best way. The most common problems with this way of thinking is that the goal may not be clear, one may not get to the goal, one may deviate from the goal, and one may do extra work in trying to get to the goal.
3. Gospel message: bottom-up
Believe in Jesus to get to God! (forward-chaining, bottom-up reasoning)
Why should we believe Jesus?
How do we know that the message, the Bible, is true?
How do we know that Jesus is the correct, and only, path to God?
How do we know we will get there?
How do we avoid a lot of extra work to get there?
... and so on ...
4. Backward chaining method
How about using the backward chaining method? (top-down reasoning)
There is a creator God.
God created time and space and everything in it, including us.
God can send us a true message which can be authenticated.
God can enter the creation and interact with us.
God can tell us how to have fellowship with him and other believers.
5. Gospel message
If the top-down, backward chaining, deductive method of thinking about problem solving is so good, why does the Bible not use this method in presenting the Gospel message?
How does the Bible present the Gospel message?
6. Synoptic Gospels
Synoptic means "
same" and "
view" where the "
same" is not an analogy but, rather, "
together". Matthew, Mark, and Luke are the "
synoptic" gospels.
The synoptic gospels are Matthew, Mark and Luke.
Matthew: bottom-up (chronologically, traditionally to the Jews)
Mark: bottom-up (chronologically, from Peter)
Luke: bottom-up (chronologically, historically, by Luke, traditionally to the Gentiles)
John: organized very differently. Why?
7. John
The bottom-up, forward chaining is used by most people.
But not by John. He uses top-down, backward-chaining reasoning.
The beginning of the Gospel of John is written in a top-down backward chaining way.
8. John 1:1
There is a God.
KJV: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Greek: εν αρχη ην ο λογος και ο λογος ην προς τον θεον και θεος ην ο λογος
9. John 1:2
KJV: The same was in the beginning with God.
Greek: ουτος ην εν αρχη προς τον θεον
10. John 1:3
God created time and space and everything in it, including us.
KJV: All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Greek: παντα δι αυτου εγενετο και χωρις αυτου εγενετο ουδε εν ο γεγονεν
11. John 1:4
KJV: In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
Greek: εν αυτω ζωη ην και η ζωη ην το φως των ανθρωπων
12. John 1:6
God can send us a true message which can be authenticated.
KJV: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
Greek: εγενετο ανθρωπος απεσταλμενος παρα θεου ονομα αυτω ιωαννης
13. John 1:12
KJV: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
Greek: οσοι δε ελαβον αυτον εδωκεν αυτοις εξουσιαν τεκνα θεου γενεσθαι τοις πιστευουσιν εις το ονομα αυτου
14. John 1:14
God can enter the creation and interact with us.
KJV: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, ) full of grace and truth.
Greek: και ο λογος σαρξ εγενετο και εσκηνωσεν εν ημιν και εθεασαμεθα την δοξαν αυτου δοξαν ως μονογενους παρα πατρος πληρης χαριτος και αληθειας
15. John 1:16
God can tell us how to have fellowship with him and other believers.
KJV: And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
Greek: και οτι εκ του πληρωματος αυτου ημεις παντες ελαβομεν και χαριν αντι χαριτος
16. How John writes
It becomes clear that John writes in a top-down backward-chaining problem solving style as used in modern computer/information science (informatics).
Other important writings of John are organized in the same way.
17. Continuing
To continue, one should determine the true purpose of life which John presents in a top-down backward chaining manner at the start of the letter of 1 John.
18. End of page
