John 1:1

Commentary on John 1:1

Text

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1, NKJV)

Exegesis

1. “In the beginning”

• John deliberately echoes Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
• This signals that the Word (Greek: Logos) is eternal, existing before creation itself.
• The phrase affirms Christ’s pre-existence and divinity. He is not part of creation but the One through whom creation came into being (John 1:3).

2. “Was the Word”

• The Word (Logos) is not merely speech or reason but the eternal Son of God.
• In Christiantheology, the Word is understood as the second Person of the Trinity, fully divine and distinct from the Father.
• The verb “was” (Greek: ēn) indicates continuous existence, not a point of origin. Christ always was.

3. “The Word was with God”

• This phrase highlights relationship. The Word is distinct from the Father yet in perfect fellowship.
• It affirms the personal nature of the Son, not an impersonal force.
• The preposition “with” (pros) conveys intimacy and face-to-face communion.

4. “The Word was God”

• This is the climactic declaration. The Word is not merely divine-like but fully God.
• John avoids ambiguity: the Word shares the same essence as the Father.
• This guards against heresies such as Arianism, which denied Christ’s full divinity.
• The Word is both distinct in person and identical in essence with God.

Theological Teaching

• Christ’s Eternity: Jesus Christ is eternal, not created. He is the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13).
• Christ’s Divinity: The Word is fully God, sharing in the divine nature. This underpins the doctrine of the Trinity.
• Christ’s Role in Creation: All things were made through Him (John 1:3). Creation is not autonomous but dependent on Christ.
• Christ’s Revelation: As the Word, Christ reveals God perfectly. He is the ultimate communication of God’s nature and will (Hebrews 1:1–2).
• Christ’s Incarnation: Later in John 1:14, the Word becomes flesh. This shows God’s grace in entering human history to redeem sinners.

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Meditation Guide

Reflective Questions

1. What does it mean for my faith that Jesus Christ is eternal and uncreated?
2. How does Christ’s divinity shape my worship and prayer life?
3. In what ways do I see Christ as the Word revealing God to me personally?
4. How does the truth that “the Word became flesh” (John 1:14) encourage me in times of weakness?

Practical Application

• Worship: Recognise Christ as fully God and worship Him with reverence.
• Trust: Because Christ is eternal, believers can trust Him in every circumstance.
• Witness: Share the truth of Christ’s divinity with clarity, especially in a culture that often reduces Him to a moral teacher.
• Discipleship: Meditate on Christ as the Word who reveals God. Let Scripture shape daily living.
• Hope: The eternal Word who became flesh assures us of God’s presence and salvation.