The Word is God
John 1:1 (NKJV): "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
Genesis 1:1 (NKJV): "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."
Study and Reflection
John 1:1 opens with the profound statement, "In the beginning," echoing the first words of Scripture in Genesis 1:1. This deliberate parallel draws our attention back to the creation narrative, where God spoke the universe into existence. However, while Genesis focuses on the physical act of creation, John reveals a more profound, eternal truth: the Creator Himself.
In Genesis, we see the power of God's spoken Word—His command bringing light, life, and order out of nothing. John, however, takes us behind the scenes of creation to introduce "the Word" (Greek: logos), the eternal Son of God, who was present with God at the beginning and indeed is God. This "Word" is not just a sound or command but a Person, distinct from the Father yet fully divine. The phrase "was the Word" signifies the eternal existence of the Son, emphasizing that there was never a time when He did not exist. The Son of God, the Word, is co-eternal with the Father, sharing the same divine essence, wisdom, and power.
When John says, "The Word was with God," he highlights the intimate relationship between the Son and the Father, existing in perfect communion from eternity. This distinctiveness does not imply separation but a beautiful unity within the Godhead. Finally, the declaration "the Word was God" affirms the full divinity of the Son, refuting any notion that He is a created being. Some have attempted to distort this truth by translating the phrase as "the Word was a god," suggesting that the Son is a lesser, created being. However, this interpretation is both unsupportable and deceptive, for it undermines the clear teaching of Scripture that the Son is entirely God, co-equal with the Father.
The connection between John 1:1 and Genesis 1:1 invites us to see Christ not only as the agent of creation but also as the One who brings about the new creation. Just as God's Word brought the cosmos into being, so does Christ, the living Word, bring spiritual life and light into the world, offering redemption and renewal to all who believe in Him.
Understanding the Trinity
The relationship between the Father, the Son (the Word), and the Holy Spirit is a profound mystery Christians call the Trinity. The Trinity teaches that there is one God who eternally exists as three distinct Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each fully and equally God, sharing the exact divine nature.
In John 1:1, we see this doctrine hinted at, as the Word is both distinct from God ("with God") and yet is entirely God ("was God"). This helps us understand that while the Father and the Son are distinct persons, they are one in essence, co-eternal, and co-equal, united in love, purpose, and power.
Reflection
As we contemplate these opening verses of John's Gospel, we are all invited to marvel at the mystery of the Incarnation—that the eternal Word, who was with God and who is God, took on human flesh and dwelt among us. In Christ, the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him, we have seen the glory of the Father, full of grace and truth.
This profound truth reminds us that our faith is rooted in God's eternal, unchanging nature. The Word, who spoke the universe into existence, also speaks life into our hearts, drawing us into the infinite love and communion of the Trinity. As we meditate on these Scriptures, may our hearts be filled with awe and wonder at the majesty of our God, who has revealed Himself to us in His Word, both written and incarnate.
Let us rejoice in the knowledge that the Word is God, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer, and let this truth shape our worship, our lives, and our love for one another.
In Christ, love Jared W Campbell
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