Question of voice in relation to Logos in John 1:23

[Patroclus]

"He said,
'I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
"Make straight the way of the Lord,"'
as the prophet Isaiah said."
John 1:23 (NRSV)

I am no luniguistic scholar, nor a biblical scholar. However, I am curious about John's description of himself. This follows two denials of substantive classification in the preceeding verses (Messiah or prophet). Rather, he calls himself the voice of one--something more etheral. Rather than being "one," he is an effective aspect of one, presumably Christ.

The structure is two-tiered. First, it is a declarative (I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness). Second, it is an imperative (make straight the way of the Lord). The connection (at least in English) between the two is that the the source of the imperative is in the declarative.

So, my questions are:

1) What theological theme may the gospel writer be supporting by putting an abstract description in the mouth of John the Baptist.

2) What is the connection between "voice" and the Logos of the preceeding verses?

3) Is this an allusion to the Exodus--considerring the path and the desert imagery?

4) What is your favorite color?

I am just curious. I really do not have anything to debate; I just wanted to throw this question out there and see what you all had to say. If you decide to debate amongst yourselves, that is great.

[Jaltus]

1) The theological theme is that of exile and how the church is to become the people of God.

2) None. The connection is that the content of the proclamation of John is vv. 1-18 (a large chiasm, note what v. 19 says).

3) No. I recommend looking up the Isaiah passage in context.

4) Blue, more of a darker shade than the lighter shades, preferably a deep, rich royal blue.

[Patroclus]

Thanks Jaltus.

[Sheepdog]

03-24-2003 @ 01:15 AM post located here (http://www.theologyweb.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&postid=43472#post43472)
Patroclus:

"He said,
'I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
"Make straight the way of the Lord,"'
as the prophet Isaiah said."
John 1:23 (NRSV)

my apologies for being off topic: when we read Isaiah 40:3, we read, A voice is calling, "Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God."

As a messiahic(sp?) propehcy, this is a great passage to use as evidence of Jesus' deity, since John D Baptist was preparing the way for Jesus.