The Word
“1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5
As we continue to look at this text, we must approach it with an understanding of the foundations of the Gospel message. As explained in the previous article, the Gospel begins with an understanding of the Holiness and Supremacy of the One True God. We recognize the greatness of God and His plan of redemption, which was established before the foundations of the world. This is an essential part of the Gospel because it demonstrates that Yahweh is from everlasting to everlasting (Psalm 90:2).
“In the beginning…”
As John begins this Gospel message, he intends to bring the reader’s mind back to the foundations of the universe. We see the exact same language in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth.” We must acknowledge that this supreme Being was the Creator and is the sustainer of all of the universe. And it has been this way since the beginning of the universe… and before.
“In the beginning was the Word…”
There are two words that are key right here: “Was” and “Word.” In regards to the word “was,” we can understand its importance to show the eternal preexistence of God. Before the universe was formed, the Second Person of the Trinity was in existence. Note that John does not include a human genealogy like Matthew and Luke. His point from the beginning of this Gospel is to show that Jesus Christ does not have a divine genealogy. “The Word” has been in existence for all of eternity past. There never was a point in time where God began. He has just always been. John chose to define Jesus Christ as “The Word” (or in the Greek “Logos”) because it was used as a philosophical word in the Greek language. Throughout the Gospel, he is able to minister to the Jews and the Greeks.
“…and the Word was with God…”
Note that now John connects “The Word” with “God” and gives them an association. These are two separate beings who existed together, independently. This is an important fact to show the First and Second Persons of the Godhead (God the Father and God the Son). Jesus Christ (the Son) enjoyed eternal, intimate fellowship with the Father, and yet, chose to give up His Heavenly status, submitting Himself to death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).
“…and the Word was God.”
Jesus, the Messiah, was 100% God. Jesus had all of the essence and attributes of His deity at all times. Even when He chose to empty Himself, He never ceased to be God. Colossians 1:15-20 says, “15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
“He was in the beginning with God.”
The conclusive, clarifying statement to end this mind-blowing idea allows for the believer to understand the Almighty, Triune God. It is a factual statement to declare that, “Jesus was in the beginning. God was in the beginning. They were individually both in the beginning. And they are One being together, along with the Holy Spirit.”
The complexity of the way the Gospel of John begins is nothing short of extraordinarily complex, and yet divinely simple. The writer of Hebrews encourages us in this way, “1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (Hebrews 11).
“In the beginning…”
As John begins this Gospel message, he intends to bring the reader’s mind back to the foundations of the universe. We see the exact same language in Genesis 1:1, “In the beginning God created the Heavens and the earth.” We must acknowledge that this supreme Being was the Creator and is the sustainer of all of the universe. And it has been this way since the beginning of the universe… and before.
“In the beginning was the Word…”
There are two words that are key right here: “Was” and “Word.” In regards to the word “was,” we can understand its importance to show the eternal preexistence of God. Before the universe was formed, the Second Person of the Trinity was in existence. Note that John does not include a human genealogy like Matthew and Luke. His point from the beginning of this Gospel is to show that Jesus Christ does not have a divine genealogy. “The Word” has been in existence for all of eternity past. There never was a point in time where God began. He has just always been. John chose to define Jesus Christ as “The Word” (or in the Greek “Logos”) because it was used as a philosophical word in the Greek language. Throughout the Gospel, he is able to minister to the Jews and the Greeks.
“…and the Word was with God…”
Note that now John connects “The Word” with “God” and gives them an association. These are two separate beings who existed together, independently. This is an important fact to show the First and Second Persons of the Godhead (God the Father and God the Son). Jesus Christ (the Son) enjoyed eternal, intimate fellowship with the Father, and yet, chose to give up His Heavenly status, submitting Himself to death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2:8).
“…and the Word was God.”
Jesus, the Messiah, was 100% God. Jesus had all of the essence and attributes of His deity at all times. Even when He chose to empty Himself, He never ceased to be God. Colossians 1:15-20 says, “15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.”
“He was in the beginning with God.”
The conclusive, clarifying statement to end this mind-blowing idea allows for the believer to understand the Almighty, Triune God. It is a factual statement to declare that, “Jesus was in the beginning. God was in the beginning. They were individually both in the beginning. And they are One being together, along with the Holy Spirit.”
The complexity of the way the Gospel of John begins is nothing short of extraordinarily complex, and yet divinely simple. The writer of Hebrews encourages us in this way, “1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible” (Hebrews 11).
As a helpful aid, attached is the 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith Chapter 2, which outlines an understanding of why we believe what we believe in regards to The Trinity.
1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith
Of God & the Holy Trinity
Paragraph 1
The Lord our God is but one only living and true God;1 whose subsistence is in and of Himself,2 infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but Himself;3 a most pure spirit,4 invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto;5 who is immutable,6 immense,7 eternal,8 incomprehensible, almighty,9 every way infinite, most holy,10 most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will,11 for His own glory;12 most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him,13 and withal most just and terrible in His judgments,14 hating all sin,15 and who will by no means clear the guilty.161
1 Cor. 8:4,6; Deut. 6:4
2 Jer. 10:10; Isa. 48:12
3 Exod. 3:14
4 John 4:24
5 1 Tim. 1:17; Deut. 4:15–16
6 Mal. 3:6
7 1 Kings 8:27; Jer. 23:23
8 Ps. 90:2
9 Gen. 17:1
10 Isa. 6:3
11 Ps. 115:3; Isa. 46:10
12 Prov. 16:4; Rom. 11:36
13 Exod. 34:6–7; Heb. 11:6
14 Neh. 9:32–33
15 Ps. 5:5–6
16 Exod. 34:7; Nahum 1:2–3
The Lord our God is but one only living and true God;1 whose subsistence is in and of Himself,2 infinite in being and perfection; whose essence cannot be comprehended by any but Himself;3 a most pure spirit,4 invisible, without body, parts, or passions, who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto;5 who is immutable,6 immense,7 eternal,8 incomprehensible, almighty,9 every way infinite, most holy,10 most wise, most free, most absolute; working all things according to the counsel of His own immutable and most righteous will,11 for His own glory;12 most loving, gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin; the rewarder of them that diligently seek Him,13 and withal most just and terrible in His judgments,14 hating all sin,15 and who will by no means clear the guilty.161
1 Cor. 8:4,6; Deut. 6:4
2 Jer. 10:10; Isa. 48:12
3 Exod. 3:14
4 John 4:24
5 1 Tim. 1:17; Deut. 4:15–16
6 Mal. 3:6
7 1 Kings 8:27; Jer. 23:23
8 Ps. 90:2
9 Gen. 17:1
10 Isa. 6:3
11 Ps. 115:3; Isa. 46:10
12 Prov. 16:4; Rom. 11:36
13 Exod. 34:6–7; Heb. 11:6
14 Neh. 9:32–33
15 Ps. 5:5–6
16 Exod. 34:7; Nahum 1:2–3
Paragraph 2
God, having all life,17 glory,18 goodness,19 blessedness, in and of Himself, is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which He hath made, nor deriving any glory from them,20 but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things,21 and He hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever Himself pleases;22 in His sight all things are open and manifest,23 His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to Him contingent or uncertain;24 He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works,25 and in all His commands; to Him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship,26 service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever He is further pleased to require of them.
17 John 5:26
18 Ps. 148:13
19 Ps. 119:68
20 Job 22:2–3
21 Rom. 11:34-36
22 Dan. 4:25,34–35
23 Heb. 4:13
24 Ezek. 11:5; Acts 15:18
25 Ps. 145:17
26 Rev. 5:12-14
God, having all life,17 glory,18 goodness,19 blessedness, in and of Himself, is alone in and unto Himself all-sufficient, not standing in need of any creature which He hath made, nor deriving any glory from them,20 but only manifesting His own glory in, by, unto, and upon them; He is the alone fountain of all being, of whom, through whom, and to whom are all things,21 and He hath most sovereign dominion over all creatures, to do by them, for them, or upon them, whatsoever Himself pleases;22 in His sight all things are open and manifest,23 His knowledge is infinite, infallible, and independent upon the creature, so as nothing is to Him contingent or uncertain;24 He is most holy in all His counsels, in all His works,25 and in all His commands; to Him is due from angels and men, whatsoever worship,26 service, or obedience, as creatures they owe unto the Creator, and whatever He is further pleased to require of them.
17 John 5:26
18 Ps. 148:13
19 Ps. 119:68
20 Job 22:2–3
21 Rom. 11:34-36
22 Dan. 4:25,34–35
23 Heb. 4:13
24 Ezek. 11:5; Acts 15:18
25 Ps. 145:17
26 Rev. 5:12-14
Paragraph 3
In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit,27 of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided:28 the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father;29 the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son;30 all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on Him.
27 1 John 5:7; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14
28 Exod. 3:14; John 14:11; I Cor. 8:6
29 John 1:14,18
30 John 15:26; Gal. 4:6
In this divine and infinite Being there are three subsistences, the Father, the Word or Son, and Holy Spirit,27 of one substance, power, and eternity, each having the whole divine essence, yet the essence undivided:28 the Father is of none, neither begotten nor proceeding; the Son is eternally begotten of the Father;29 the Holy Spirit proceeding from the Father and the Son;30 all infinite, without beginning, therefore but one God, who is not to be divided in nature and being, but distinguished by several peculiar relative properties and personal relations; which doctrine of the Trinity is the foundation of all our communion with God, and comfortable dependence on Him.
27 1 John 5:7; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14
28 Exod. 3:14; John 14:11; I Cor. 8:6
29 John 1:14,18
30 John 15:26; Gal. 4:6
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