What Does John 1:1 Mean By "In The Beginning Was the Word"?
- Clarence L. Haynes Jr. Contributing Writer
- Updated Apr 10, 2024
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” – John 1:1
The Gospel of John opens with the same three words that the book of Genesis opens with. In the beginning. There is so much theology in this one verse so let’s jump right in and start unpacking it.
What Does the ‘In the Beginning Was the Word’ Mean in John 1:1?
John 1:1 is very clear, and it is making a simple comparison. The Word, who we will define in a moment was present at the beginning. This Word was with God or co-equal with God. This Word was God. What John is establishing is the fact that the Word was present from the very beginning. This is making a statement of equivalency that lines up with Genesis 1. Genesis 1:1 says in the beginning God. John 1:1 says in the beginning was the Word. John in making this comparison is simply saying that the Word who was present at the beginning was God. This is what it means that the word was in the beginning.
Who Is the Word?
At this point, all we know is that the Word was present in the beginning and that the Word was God. This leads to an important question. Who is the Word? If you look further in the same chapter you get the answer.
The term "Word" here is traslated from the Greek word"λόγος" or "Logos". In the context of John's Gospel, "logos" is used to describe Jesus, indicating His pre-existence and divinity, His role in creation, and His incarnation as the expression of God's will and communication to humanity. This use of "logos" connects the teachings about Jesus to both Jewish and Hellenistic thought, presenting Him as the ultimate revelation of God's nature and purposes.
"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." – John 1:14
This means, in John 1:1, the Word that became flesh is Jesus Christ. He is God who took on human flesh or human form. He did that as a way to reveal the Father, which John mentions just a few verses later.
"No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known." – John 1:18
What Does it Mean That The Word Was "With God"?
The phrase "The Word was with God" from John 1: provides a profound insight into the nature of the relationship between Jesus (the Word) and God the Father. This relationship is not merely one of association or presence; it's a deep, complex unity characterized by intimacy, distinction, and mutual indwelling, understood through the doctrine of the Trinity. Let's break this down further:
Intimacy and Distinction
The term "with" in the original Greek is πρὸς (pros), which conveys a sense of intimate, face-to-face relationship. It signifies more than mere accompaniment; it suggests a dynamic, living relationship. In the case of Jesus and God the Father, it denotes an eternal communion, highlighting that even though the Word (Jesus) is distinct as a person within the Godhead, He remains in perfect unity and intimate fellowship with the Father.
This distinction does not imply separation or division but rather a relationship within the Godhead that allows for the expression of love and communication. The understanding of God is inherently relational, and this phrase encapsulates the profound mystery that God is both unity and plurality—singular in essence yet plural in persons.
The Trinity
The concept of the Trinity is central to grasping the full depth of "The Word was with God." The Trinity describes the existence of one God in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus), and the Holy Spirit. Each person is fully and equally God, sharing the same divine essence, yet they are eternally distinct from each other. This is not a contradiction but a mystery that transcends human understanding, where divine unity and diversity coexist perfectly.
The relationship between Jesus and the Father, as indicated in this verse, serves as a window into the Trinitarian life. It's a relationship characterized by mutual love, honor, and submission. Jesus speaks often in the Gospels of His obedience to the Father's will and His desire to glorify the Father, revealing the depth of their mutual commitment and love.
Mutual Indwelling
Jesus' statement in John 10:30, "I and the Father are one," further illustrates the concept of mutual indwelling—where each person of the Trinity fully dwells in the others. This mutual indwelling showcases an unparalleled unity and intimacy. It means that while Jesus is with God, He also shares in the very nature and being of God. This concept is further explained in John 14:10-11, where Jesus speaks of being in the Father and the Father being in Him, highlighting an intimate, inseparable union.
Implications for Understanding God
This intimate and eternal relationship between Jesus and the Father, as part of the Trinity, reshapes the human understanding of God. It reveals God as inherently relational, loving, and communicative. The Trinity is not a cold doctrine but a revelation of God's very nature and His desire for relationship with humanity, mirrored in the eternal relationship of love within the Godhead itself.
In summary, "The Word was with God" invites believers into the mystery of the Trinity, where Jesus (the Word) embodies the perfect expression of divine love and communication. It challenges and enriches the Christian understanding of God, portraying Him as a God of relationship, eternally giving and receiving love within Himself, and extending that love to creation.
In summary, John 1:1 teaches that Jesus is fully divine, eternally pre-existent alongside God the Father, and has entered into the world as the fullest revelation of God to humanity. This verse sets the stage for understanding the entire Gospel of John, which portrays Jesus as the one who reveals God's glory, grace, and truth to the world.
Understanding "The Word Was God"
As you can see John 1:1 is a short verse that packs a lot of punch. It means a lot that the Word was in the beginning. Jesus is God, co-equal yet distinct. He is the Creator who willingly took on human flesh to become like those he created so he could redeem those who were lost. He is the one who stepped out of eternity into time to rescue those bound by time and destined to be separated from him for all eternity. He is the Word who was there at the beginning. He is the Word, who is God who will be there when at the end. I leave you with this portion of Scripture from Hebrews.
"But about the Son he says,
'Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.'
He also says,
'In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.'” – Hebrews 1:8-12
3 Important Reasons the Word Was in the Beginning
There is a significant importance to the Word being present in the beginning. There are some very important characteristics related to who Jesus Christ really is. Let’s mark three of them.
1. Christ as Creator
Because the Word was in the beginning, this establishes Jesus as Creator. In the very next two verses, John proceeds to say this.
"He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made." – John 1:2-3
Jesus was not only present at creation, but he was also responsible for creation. This also points to the triune nature of God which we see from the opening pages of Scripture. Let me take you back to Genesis for a moment.
"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." – Genesis 1:1-2
When you put together Genesis 1 and John 1 notice who was present at creation. God the Father was present. God the Son, Jesus, was present. Also present was God the Holy Spirit. This is all presented in the very first two verses of Scripture. God reveals who he is from the very beginning. What John says in John 1 confirms what is present and happening in Genesis 1. Jesus is responsible for creation. Paul later confirms this again in Colossians.
"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him." – Colossians 1:15-16
Many people have a difficult time understanding this triune nature of God and because they don’t understand it they choose to reject it. However, when you return to the Scriptures this truth becomes evident and it was there in the beginning.
2. Christ as Eternal
The second thing we learn from the Word being present in the beginning is Jesus’ eternal nature. Jesus did not begin when he was born of the virgin Mary. He had existed eternally before that. How else could be called Creator if he did not exist before the creation of the world? The Bible further points to Jesus’ eternal nature. One example is found in the book of Revelation. I want you to pay attention to the declaration made at the beginning and the end of the book.
"I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty." – Revelation 1:8
"Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." – Revelation 22:12-13
These two verses are not only statements of equivalency, but they point to the eternal nature of Jesus. He was there in eternity past and he will be there in eternity future. This is why in John 8:58, Jesus can refer to himself as I Am. Before the world was created, he was I Am. After the world was created, he was I Am. In this very moment, he is I Am. For all eternity he will be I Am. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He has been and always will be because he is eternal in nature.
3. Christ as God: Equal but Distinct
The last thing that John establishes in John 1:1 was that the Word was in the beginning, and the Word was God. This clearly points to the divine nature of Jesus. Again this is revealing the triune nature of God. It is further evidenced because in John 1:1 he says that the Word was with God in the beginning. The Word was God, meaning co-equal and at the same time, the Word was with God, meaning distinct. If you haven’t figured it out yet this is why it is sometimes referred to as the mystery of the Godhead. God is revealed in three distinct persons yet there is one God. It is a mystery, yet it is a truth revealed in Scripture. Christ is the Word, which is God, that became flesh and in him dwelt all the fullness of God, which is what Paul attests to.
"For in Him all the fullness of Deity (the Godhead) dwells in bodily form [completely expressing the divine essence of God]." – Colossians 2:9 (AMP)
Indeed, this is how God has chosen to reveal Himself in Scripture: as the Word who was with God and is God. This revelation invites us into a relationship with a God who is both knowable and beyond comprehension, a God who exists in a community of love and invites us to participate in that love. I will admit this is challenging for many to figure out but this is how God has revealed himself in Scripture. I don’t know if we will figure it all out in our limited capacity on this side of eternity but be careful of making the mistake of thinking that since you can’t figure it out it must not be true.
As we ponder the mysteries of God's nature and the reality of Jesus as the Word made flesh, it's vital to approach with humility, recognizing that our inability to fully comprehend does not diminish the truth of God's revelation. The mystery of God's nature as revealed in Scripture is not a puzzle to be solved but a reality to be lived. Our journey of faith is not about achieving perfect understanding but about growing in relationship with a God who transcends our understanding yet has made Himself known in Jesus Christ.
So, as we close this exploration of John 1:1 and the profound mysteries it presents, let us hold fast to the truth that not being able to understand a truth does not cancel out that truth. Instead, let these mysteries deepen our awe and enhance our faith, leading us into a more profound relationship with the God who is beyond all comprehension yet has drawn near to us in Jesus Christ. In this, we find our hope, our peace, and our greatest joy—not in fully comprehending the mysteries of God but in being fully known and loved by Him, now and into eternity.
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This article is part of our larger resource library of popular Bible verse phrases and quotes. We want to provide easy to read articles that answer your questions about the meaning, origin, and history of specific verses within Scripture's context. It is our hope that these will help you better understand the meaning and purpose of God's Word in relation to your life today.
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"Fearfully and Wonderfully Made"
"All Things Work Together for Good"
"Do Not Fear"
