In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.
John opens his gospel with the most staggering claim about Jesus.
The episode in a glance.
- 01'In the beginning' — before creation, Jesus already existed.
- 02'The Word' — the communication of God, now personal.
- 03'Was with God' — relationship, not isolation.
- 04'Was God' — full divinity, not a lesser being.
Read along.
John 1:1 — 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.' John opens his gospel by echoing Genesis. But he's not talking about creation in general. He's talking about Jesus.
'In the beginning' — before anything was made, the Word already existed. Jesus isn't a created being. He is eternal. He doesn't have a starting point. He is the starting point.
'The Word' is logos — the communication, the expression, the mind of God made knowable. In the Old Testament, God speaks and things happen. Here, God's speaking becomes a person.
'Was with God' means relationship. The Word is distinct from God the Father. 'Was God' means identity. The Word is fully divine. John packs the Trinity into one verse: distinct, related, one.
If you want to know who Jesus is, start here. Not a prophet. Not a teacher. Not an angel. The eternal Word. With God. Is God. And became flesh to live among us.