A Concise Biblical Examination of John 1:1
and It’s Importance to Our Faith
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
This verse is like a treasure chest full of truth about who Jesus is. It tells us that Jesus, called “the Word,” is God and has always been with God. Let’s break it down into three simple parts, using the original Greek words to help us understand, and see how it shows that Jesus is fully God.
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A Concise Biblical Examination of John 1:1
and It’s Importance to Our Faith
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
This verse is like a treasure chest full of truth about who Jesus is. It tells us that Jesus, called “the Word,” is God and has always been with God. Let’s break it down into three simple parts, using the original Greek words to help us understand, and see how it shows that Jesus is fully God.
Part 1: “In the beginning was the Word”
What it says in Greek: En archē ēn ho Logos
Simple meaning: “When everything started, the Word was already there.”
-“In the beginning”: This is like the very first moment of everything, just like the start of the Bible in Genesis 1:1, where God created the world. The Greek word archē means the start of all things.
It’s saying Jesus was there before anything was made.
-“Was”: This Greek word tells us the Word didn’t start existing—it was already there, always existing, forever. Jesus didn’t have a beginning; He’s eternal God.
-“The Word”: The “Word” is Jesus. In Greek, Logos means God’s way of speaking or showing Himself. Jesus is God’s special way of talking to us and showing who God is. The word ho (the) means He’s the one and only Word, not just any word.
What this tells us: Jesus, the Word, was there before time began. He didn’t get created because He’s eternal, just like God. This shows us Jesus is God because only God has no beginning.
Part 2: “And the Word was with God”
What it says in Greek: kai ho Logos ēn pros ton Theon
Simple meaning: “The Word was close to God.”
-“Was with”: The Greek word pros means being right next to someone, like best friends who are always together. It shows Jesus was with God in close proximity, sharing a special relationship.
-“God”: This is talking about God the Father. The Greek words show it’s a specific person, not just a vague idea of God. Jesus, the Word, is not the Father, but He’s with Him.
What this tells us: Jesus is a distinct person from God the Father, but they’re together as One. This shows Jesus is part of the Godhead, not a creation. It’s a hint that God is more than one person but yet still one God.
Part 3: “And the Word was God”
What it says in Greek: Kai Theos ēn ho Logos
Simple meaning: “The Word was God.”
-“God”: In Greek, Theos means God, but here it doesn’t have the word ho (the) like before. This doesn’t mean Jesus is less than God. It’s a way to say Jesus has all the qualities of God—He is God in His nature, not a different or smaller god.
-“Was”: Again, this word shows Jesus didn’t become God; He always was God, forever.
What this tells us: Jesus, the Word, is fully God. He’s not just like God or partly God—He is God, with all of God’s power, glory, and nature. This is super important because it tells us Jesus isn’t just a great person or a prophet; He’s God Himself.
Kai —— And
Theos — God
ēn ——- was (can also mean “always existed”- thus, “God ‘always existed’ as the Word.”)
ho —— the
Logos — Word
Our translators didn’t get it wrong, it was proper to translate it “…and the Word was God,” in English in 1611. Saying “God was the Word” is like saying God’s essence is perfectly shown in Jesus. It’s two ways of saying the same thing: Jesus is truly, fully, 100% God. Christ came to fully reveal God to humanity, thus the Word was God and God was the Word.
Why This Matters: Jesus is God — Yet there are approximately 10,000 world religions that claim He isn’t. (Source: Google, Accessed 10-8-2025)
John 1:1 is like a big sign shouting that Jesus is God. Here’s what we learn:
1. Jesus is eternal: He was there “in the beginning,” before anything was made. Only God is eternal, so Jesus is God.
2. Jesus is close to God: He’s with God the Father in a special, loving relationship, showing He’s a person in the Godhead, not just a thing or idea.
3. Jesus is fully God: The Word is God, sharing all of God’s qualities. This means Jesus has God’s power, love, and glory.
This verse sets up the whole Gospel of John, where we see Jesus do amazing things only God can do, like creating life (John 1:3) and forgiving sins (John 8:58). Later, in John 1:14 (“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth”), we learn that this Word became a human—Jesus! So, the God who was there forever (always existed) became a person to show us who God is and to save us.
Summary of the Lesson on John 1:1
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
The verse is broken into three parts to show that Jesus, called “the Word” (Greek: ho Logos), is fully God.
- “In the beginning was the Word”: Jesus existed before everything, even before creation (like Genesis 1:1). The Greek word ἦν (was) shows He’s eternal, with no beginning, proving He’s God.
- “And the Word was with God”: Jesus is close to God the Father, like best friends, in a special relationship. The Greek πρὸς (pros) shows they’re distinct but united, hinting at the Trinity.
- “And the Word was God”: Jesus is fully God, sharing all of God’s qualities. The Greek Θεὸς (Theos) without “the” emphasizes His divine nature, not a lesser god.
The phrase “the Word was God and God was the Word” reflects the Greek, emphasizing Jesus’ full deity.
In conclusion, John 1:1 teaches that Jesus is eternal, in close relationship with the Father, and fully God, setting the foundation for His identity as our Savior who became human (John 1:14).
This one verse establishes the most outstanding case for the Deity of Christ, that is, Jesus Christ is God.
