John 1:1 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

NIV: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

NASB: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

CSB: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

NLT: In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

KJV: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

NKJV: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The first verse of John establishes several important facts, and introduces an important term. Jesus is referred to as "The Word," from the Greek word logos. Christ is the Logos, the definition, the meaning, the "Word" of God. This is the first of John's seven names for Jesus: "The Word." The rest of the gospel is John's attempt to prove this through various forms of evidence, in particular Jesus' miracles. The first eighteen verses of John counter many false beliefs about God. Verse 1 establishes that the universe had a beginning, contrary to the idea that it is eternal. It also states that God has existed (at least) from that beginning. Later verses will show that God, in fact, created all that exists. This verse also makes it very clear that this Logos, Jesus, is identical to the Creator: the Word was God. This begins to establish the concept of the Trinity, where God is one being in three distinct persons.

John 1:1–18 is a poetic introduction of Jesus Christ. Jesus is referred to using the Greek word Logos, meaning “The Word.” This passage clearly describes Jesus as identical to God, and co-creator with God. These verses summarize Jesus’ ministry and mission on Earth. The passage also explains how John the Baptist (a different John from the author of this gospel) was sent ahead of Christ to prepare for His arrival.

The first chapter of John introduces Jesus as “the Word,” from the Greek Logos. This chapter clearly describes Jesus as identical to God. After this prologue, the chapter describes Jesus recruiting the first of His disciples, as well as a conversation between John the Baptist and the Pharisees. There are seven names for Christ in this chapter, including “The Son of God,” “The Word,” and “The King of Israel.”

The first chapter of the gospel of John equates Christ with God, and introduces John the Baptist. The Baptist specifically points to Jesus as the Promised One. Jesus collects the first five of His disciples. In this chapter, Jesus is given seven descriptive names, including “The Word,” “The Son of God,” and “The King of Israel.” This chapter sets the stage for the rest of the gospel, by giving the reader a sense of who Jesus truly is, and why He has come. The rest of the gospel is an exploration of the claims made in this initial passage.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 5/5/2024 3:16:14 AM