John 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
– English KJV
“Εν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος, καὶ ὁ Λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, καὶ Θεὸς ἦν ὁ Λόγος.”
– Greek Text
“en archē eimi ho logos kai ho logos eimi pros to theov kai theos eimi ho logos”
– Greek Pronunciation
“In the beginning”
In the beginning of all time and created existence. At first glance, this seems to refer to Gen 1:1 (and it does), however, this is also taking us to “before” the creation, since all creation was brought into existence through this Word (John 1:3). This passage is taking us back to before time was created…
“was the Word”
This Word is the same to God as our words are to us. The Word is the expression and manifestation of God. Did you know that whatever we are filled with (our natures, morals and what we believe in) will be evident in our words and in the way that we speak? In the same way Jesus, being God’s Word, clearly expresses what God is filled with. We can find great insight into God’s character by looking at His Word and the way He lived His life on earth, just like you can learn many things about a person’s character by listening to what they say and how they say it.
This verse takes us back to the Old Testament, where He was not yet called Jesus or Christ. He is the Word whom the Father spoke from eternity.
This verse takes us back to the Old Testament, where He was not yet called Jesus or Christ. He is the Word whom the Father spoke from eternity.
“and the Word was with God”
The Word had a conscious and personal existence distinct from God, yet inseparable from and associated with Him.
“and the Word was God.”
This Word, in substance and essence, was God; possessing proper divinity. The Word was not some sort of Archangel as some sects try to suggest, since this Word created the Heavens and the host that in them is (Psalm 33:6). This Word created the angels, therefore it could not be an angel or you would sit with a problem called circular reasoning (It would be a “which came first, the chicken or the egg” situation).
Let’s look at some interesting words within the Greek Scripture:
1) “The Word”
“The Word” is more than just “to speak”. One of the root words comes from “to gather” (logos -> logov -> leg -> legw). “The Word” in root forms would mean to “To Gather” and “To Speak”. For a more accurate translation it means “To Think” and “To Speak”. Logos is a collection of both things in the mind and the words by which they are expressed… The Word therefore signifies the outward form by which the inward thought is expressed. Jesus is clearly indicated as the physical expression of God.
2) “Theov” and “Theos”
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God (Theos - θεος), and the Word was God (Theov - θεον).”
This is where the Jehovah Witnesses went completely off-track. Theos (θεος) means God. Theov (θεον) is a slightly different form (accusative singular masculine compared the Theos which is nominative singular masculine - Those who understand can give themselves a nice pat on the back…).
This is where the Jehovah Witnesses went completely off-track. Theos (θεος) means God. Theov (θεον) is a slightly different form (accusative singular masculine compared the Theos which is nominative singular masculine - Those who understand can give themselves a nice pat on the back…).
In more simple terms: Theov can mean “a god” IF the rest of the context allows for it, however, in John 1:1 it does not, the Jehovah’s Witness Bible interpreted it wrong. If, in this context we change “Theov” to “a God” we move into polytheism, which Scripture is strictly against and there cannot be contradictions in God’s Word. There are no other gods, there is only one God. The more accurate meaning of Theov is roughly translated as “part of God”. In the context of John 1:1, there is no other option than the latter. The Word is as part of God as our words are part of us.
The Word IS God, but only part of Him (Jesus is only one part of the Trinity). For example: our mind IS us, but it is only part of us, we have a body and a spirit as well.
This verse, taken in context, clearly indicates that there is no possible conclusion other than that Jesus is part of God and that there is more to God than Jesus. Therefore, John 1:1 shows that the Trinity doctrine is indisputable.
This first verse of John sets the tone for the rest of his book. In this verse, we find that John is not trying to tell us who God is (even though he gives us amazing insight), but rather, trying to tell us who the Word is. John wants to let the reader know who it was that in the fullness of time "was made flesh". We cannot understand what Jesus did for us on the cross, if we do not understand who He is!
This verse, taken in context, clearly indicates that there is no possible conclusion other than that Jesus is part of God and that there is more to God than Jesus. Therefore, John 1:1 shows that the Trinity doctrine is indisputable.
This first verse of John sets the tone for the rest of his book. In this verse, we find that John is not trying to tell us who God is (even though he gives us amazing insight), but rather, trying to tell us who the Word is. John wants to let the reader know who it was that in the fullness of time "was made flesh". We cannot understand what Jesus did for us on the cross, if we do not understand who He is!
When we look at how Jesus lived His life we see the character of God.
Now the question is… if people look at how we live our lives, do they see the character of Jesus?
Now the question is… if people look at how we live our lives, do they see the character of Jesus?
