1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Note: the studies in the first verse are more technical than usual for Verse-by-Verse Commentary because of their importance in indicating the deity of Christ. However, I have attempted to make the concepts as simple as possible. God purposed that the entire book of John should be read in the light of this verse. Verse 1 is the basis for the entire gospel. This verse is exceedingly important to understand the nature of Christianity.
Verses 1-18 are the prologue to the gospel of John. The prologue is a preview of the entire gospel and sets forth the deity of Christ and the entire theme of the gospel. The deity of Christ sounds the keynote of the gospel. The Son is co-equal with the Father and Holy Spirit.
John states the purpose of the gospel in 20:31. It is to believe in Christ as the Son of God.
There are three statements in verse 1 that bring out the nature of the “Word.” All three declarations use the absolute state-of-being verb “was.”
His existence is beyond time—“In the beginning was the Word.”
His personal communion with the Father—“The Word was with God.”
His nature is God in essence—“The Word was God.”
Verse 1 argues that the Word (the Son) superseded creation in both time and space. He was part of the unity of God. He was God Himself.
In the beginning [origin]
The “beginning” here was not at the act of creation; it refers to the existence of the Word when creation came into being. It was at the unbegun beginning. God is not a time Being; He stands outside time in eternity. The Word was in existence at the origin of all things
The Word preexisted all beginning or eternity past. There can be no incarnation (Christ becoming human) without His preexistence. The Word created the world (1:3); He had to exist before the world to do that. His existence as the Creator makes Him superior to all created beings. This puts the pagan concept of deities in proper place.
Note other passages that indicate the preexistence of Christ: Jn 1:15, 18, 30; 3:13, 16, 17, 31; 6:38; 8:58; 17:5, 24; Eph 1:3-5; 1 Pet 1:18-20. Jesus existed in timeless eternity prior to all beginning. He eternally transcends all time. He was involved in the act of creation itself (Jn 1:3; Co 1:16-17). If He created the world, He obviously is superior to creation. This is far different from the pagan deities of the first century that were enmeshed in creation itself.
PRINCIPLE:
The Word (the Son) existed from all eternity.
APPLICATION:
Jesus was in existence prior to the creation of the universe. The Word did not begin at creation for He was not a created being. Only God Himself is eternal.
Since the Word existed before creation of the universe, He existed in eternity. He was never created as heretics claim. He existed from all eternity. He predated time and creation.
Before Jesus became man He was God Himself, the second person of the Trinity. He was equal with the Father (Php 2:6). This was His preexistent state in eternity. Since He was preexistent to creation, He created the universe. He is therefore superior to all creation.
There can be no incarnation (Christ becoming man) unless there is preexistence. If people try to build Christianity on the humanity of Christ, they will fail.
Hi dr grant it is been privilege to learn from you in gospel of john.i was wondering if you can post or email me John chapter 11 draft or finished study.i would really appreciat.many blessings.
Jo, I have not done anything on chapter 11 that I can publish. The last of chapter three was uploaded a couple days ago. None of John is edited yet. My editor is working on chapter one now.
excellent job @ breaking scripture down to simple people like me, to be able to share it with others fulfilling God’s command to make disciples. Prayers on your behalf!
Pablo, you could not have said more encouraging words. Thank you.
Pastor Grant – Dallas Williams your former congregant – I still put on Sports Camps for kids. This year when I have spoken to the kids – I highlight these very verses. I want the kids to recognize the Ultimate Power of Christ through the verses. To help the kids with it – we have also arranged through the Gideon’s to get the Gospel of John. Can you imagine creating the Entire Universe? It would be interesting to send a link to the kids so they could check out what you have to say. Are you interested in that??
Dallas, good to hear from you. You were a blessing to me at Grant Memorial.
Feel free to use this material in any way you wish. The only thing I ask is that if you charge for the material to get permission for that first. You may charge for production of materials without permission. In the case of a hyperlink, there is no problem whatsoever.
John 1:1 clarified as of the original Koine Greek:
Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν,
In a beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the God,
καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.
and a god was the Word (V20b Vat Ms 1209 – one of the oldest in existence)
N.B. Notice the difference in θεόν with the large θ for the God and the small θ for a god.
This is an exact word for word translation in Quoine Greek penned by the Apostle John long before the inferior KJV!
Well you cannot get it any plainer than that. The use of the capital Theta θ for ‘the’ God and a small Theta θ for ‘a’ god confirms the correctness of this translation. Two different Gods each with a different status, one superior θ ‘the’ God; and one inferior θ ‘a’ god which is also confirmed in two other scriptures; Exodus 6:3 whereby Jehovah states that he has always been known as “Almighty God” while Daniel 9:6 states that Jesus the Prince of Peace is a “Mighty God”. Psalm 83:18 also confirms that Jehovah is the Most High over all the earth; which he could not be if anyone else was his equal!
Incidentally, THEOS means God while LOGOS means Word; you need to ditch your KJV because it is leading you up the garden path! This is precisely why the Young’s Analytical Concordance was published; so that teachers, researchers and students can obtain an accurate knowledge of the Holy Scriptures as opposed to the KJV.
Alexander,
It is appalling that people with no or little knowledge of Greek reveal their ignorance on the internet! “Vat Ms 1209” is Codex Vaticanus, a fourth or fifth century manuscript located in the Vatican library. Codex Vanticanus or Codex B, as it is called, was written in uncials—ALL CAPITALS with no spaces. It would look something like this in the English: CODEXVATICANUSWASNOTWRITTENINSMALLLETTERS
Note this article:
“The Cod. Vaticanus has no punctuation or accents by the first hand, no separation of words, no enlarged initials, no projection of letters into the margin to denote a new paragraph.” A Dictionary of the Bible: Dealing with Its Language, Literature, and Contents Including the Biblical Theology, Volumes I–V
Also, evidently you are not aware that the Greek anarthrous noun is NOT indefinite but attributes a quality to the noun. There is no indefinite article in Koine Greek. To translate the anarthrous noun “God” as “a god” violates New Testament grammar.
P.S. The translation you see is not the KJV but the New King James Version. And, I did not use the NKJV to interpret but I study from the Greek New Testament (I have years of formal Greek study).
Dr. Grant would you give me the meaning of Isiah 6:9-10
Randall, go here: https://versebyversecommentary.com/articles/sermons/christmas/the_greatest_gift/part_3/
Dr. Grant I have a friend who has recently become a biblical Unitarian denying the preexistence and deity of Christ. He claims that the word the logos was not Christ but was God’s word that went into Christ when he was born. They have a website biblicalunitarian.com
Can you make comments on biblical Unitarianism thank you and God bless you
Ken, the interpretation that the “Word” was merely a communication from God does not make sense. Although the idea of “Word” is communication, the context indicates that it is more than simple communication. For example, in verse 14 the text says that the “Word became flesh and pitched the tent of His flesh among us,” John 1:14. The point is that the Word became a human being (v.14) as well as being God (v.1). Also, in verse 1 the phrase καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος is emphatic, “God was the Word.” In other words, this makes the Word a person, and in this case God Himself. The grammar is a predicate nominative making both God and the Word the same person. It is a superficiality to interpret Scripture based on the lemma or basic meaning of the term. Interpretation of words must always be taken in context to give their full usage of meaning.
WAS JESUS THE TRUE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD JOHN 3:16 IN THE TRUE SENSE OF THE WORD, EQUAL WITH AND THE SAME NATURE AS HIS FATHER OR WAS HE JUST TAKING THAT TITLE OF SON OF GOD IN A PRETEND WAY?
Bruce, that term is used of Christ in a number of places including John 3:16. Note my commentary there. Jesus set aside the voluntary use of His incommunicable attributes (such as everywhere present, all-power, etc) when He became a man. He was both perfect humanity and true deity simultaneously.