The gospel writer looks back to what actually happened in the ministry of Jesus. The word 'world' is used in two senses in 1: 10, to mean the physical world which God created and also, sinful mankind enslaved by evil. Although the incarnate Word of God came into the physical world which was created through him, the sinful men of the world did not recognize him. Those amongst whom he lived rejected him (1:11), but there were some who knew him and believed in him; they became the spiritual children of God (1 :12). John understands salvation as beginning in spiritual rebirth which is an act of God (l: 13). In this, his thinking is close to that of Paul (Galatians 3:26-27). 1:12-13 may be understood in connection with Christian baptism.