Clear and succinct
My page is blank as I sit down this morning, and how appropriate for the Gospel of John.
It is profound and infinite, like the potential of my page.
This morning I am impressed by how clearly, succinctly, and understandably John reveals to us deep truths. He doesn’t use big words, long sentences, or 20 commas.
He is unlike Paul, and unlike Mr. Writer-of-the Hebrews, whoever that is. He uses short phrases. Builds the breadth of his thoughts one short phrase upon the other.
He also adds clarity by giving us one phrase and then the opposite of it… something like, “The sun is hot, the sun is not cold.” That sounds silly as I type it, but that is how I read John—simple, graspable clarity.
Take for instance, the eternalness of God. If I were to write about that briefly, it would be four pages. John opens his Gospel explaining it in with four phrases:
In the beginning was the Logos
And the Logos was with God
And the Logos was God
He was in the beginning with God
Simple and succinct.