The idea
John opens 'In the beginning' like Genesis, then dates events: day one, the Baptist's testimony (1:19); 'the next day,' the baptism (1:29); 'the next day,' Andrew and Peter (1:35); 'the next day,' Philip and Nathanael (1:43); and then Cana 'on the third day' after that (2:1). 'Four days plus three days equals seven days.' Pitre's table sets the week beside Genesis 1, and notes that Protestant and Catholic commentators alike conclude John is modelling Jesus' first week on the week of creation. Jesus is the new Adam whose ministry begins 'a new creation' — with a wedding on the seventh day, as Genesis ends with the union of the first man and woman.
Key verses
- Genesis 1:1 — 'In the beginning' — the words John borrows.
- John 1:1 — 'In the beginning was the Word.'
- John 1:19 — the four counted days (1:19, 29, 35, 43).
- John 2:1 — 'the third day' — day seven, a wedding.
The connection
| Old Testament root | New Testament fulfilment | |
|---|---|---|
| The week of creation, ending with the first man and woman | → | John's week of the new creation, ending with a wedding and the 'Woman' |
The arithmetic is the argument: if Cana is the seventh day of a new creation, then the woman Jesus addresses there as 'Woman' is the woman of the new creation — the New Eve.