From Dao De Jing to the Bible Book of John

Lao Zi discovered the Way/Dao and tried his best to explain to us. The Gospel of John explicitly says that the Way/Dao/Logos is God, the creator and came in the form of His Son Jesus Christ to show the Way to us. The mystery of Lao Zi's way is shown in the incarnate Son of God Jesus Christ. You will find many descriptions of the Way in Dao De Jing by Loa Zi are similar to the teaching and behavior of Jesus Christ.

It was generally believed that Dao De Jing (Translated Way Virtue Bible, or The Bible of the Way and Its Virtue, or see  Ancient Chinese Bible of Grace & Truth) was written by Lao Zi sometime around 550 BC.  The first chapter describes the existence of the Way and its mystery and the limitation of our language to fully describe it. Even so,  Uncovering the Mystery of Dao De Jing - The Discovery of Truth, Lao Zi wrote the subsequent chapters to describe the characteristics of the Way.

Dao De Jing begins with:

1. 道可道，非常道，
   The Way that can be described is not the eternal/common/true way.
2. 名可名，非常名。
   The name that can be named is not the common/true name.
3. 无名，天地之始，
   Nameless, is the beginning of heaven and earth.
4. 有名，万物之母。
   Name, is the mother of ten thousand things.

The Gospel of John begins with:

Joh 1:1   太初有道，道与神同在，道就是神。

  In the beginning was the Word(logos), and the Word(logos) was with God, and the Word(logos) was God.

The meaning of 'logos' is 'the rational principle that governs and develops the universe.' It is much more meaningful than using the 'Word' and is similar to the Chinese Word 道 Dao, translated at the Way.

The Way is described by Lao Zi in Dao De Jing and John claimed that the Way is with God and is God. John made His claim because he said he had seen and experienced Him personally.

• Joh 1:14  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
• 1Jn 1:1-3  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life-- (2)  the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us-- (3)  that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

The Son is mentioned in Dao De Jing 4.

• 道冲 而用之，或不盈。
  The Way is void/empty/invisible, yet use it and never need to fill it (It gives life forces endlessly)
• 渊兮似万物之宗；
  It is so deep that it is the origin of all creations
• 挫其锐、解其纷、和其光、同其尘，湛兮似或存。
  All its sharpness is removed, knots untangled, glares soften, dust soothed, it is deep and clear.(meaning: It is a balanced of power and love that give growth to all)
• 吾不知谁之子，象帝之先。I don't know whose SON [is the Way], it is before all the phenomenons or the image of God (i.e. creation).

Now we can compare it with John, 

• Joh 1:2-5  He was in the beginning with God.  (3)  All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  (4)  In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  (5)  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

I think Lao Zi sets the stage for the subsequent need for God to personally come to reveal the ways to us. In Hebrew 1:1-2, we have, 1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... (Hebrew is commonly believed to be written by Paul).

Lim Liat (c) 22 Feb 2014