The Eternal Word

(John 1:1-3)

Mike Johnson

John 1:1-3 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.”

This article will examine four significant facts about Jesus in verses 1-3 of chapter one.  Being found within the prologue of the book of John (1:1-18), these statements have even more significance, as they serve as a foundation for the rest of the book.  Consider them now.

He Was in the Beginning 

He starts by saying the Word was “In the beginning.”  In the beginning of what?  The exact phrase occurs at the start of the book of Genesis, referring to the beginning of creation.  Besides using the same words, the context clarifies that the writer speaks of creation.  But, who is the Word spoken of in verse 1?  This term refers to Christ.  Again, we learn this from the context, specifically verse 14.

An important conclusion from the text is that Christ was “in the beginning.” Thus, He was not created then, nor did He come to be then.  Instead, He had an existence before creation.  Many other passages in John also speak of His existence in heaven before His birth (3:13; 6:46, 62; 8:14, 58; 16:28; 17:5).  Further, in Galatians 4:4, we learn that in the “fullness of time,” God “sent forth” His Son to be “born of a woman” to redeem humanity.  How can you “send forth” someone who does not exist?  Philippians 2:6-11 teaches that Christ was exalted in heaven; then He came to earth to live as a man and die the death of the cross and was resurrected to return to an exalted state in heaven.  Yes, Christ existed in the beginning before creation and is, in fact, eternal.

He Was With God 

Next (1b), we learn that the Word was “with God.”  This statement indicates that  Christ was separate and distinct from God.  The distinctiveness of Jesus from God, along with the Holy Spirit, is also seen at His baptism.  (Mt. 3:13-17).  When Jesus came up from the water, the Holy Spirit descended as a dove upon Him, and then God spoke: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

He Was God 

Next, we see (1c) that the Word (Christ) was God, which expresses His divinity.  (Of the four gospels, John’s account seems to emphasize the deity of Christ the most.) Besides John 1:1, many other Bible verses speak of His divinity (Is.  9:6; Mt. 1:23; Phil. 2:5-7; Col. 1:15; 2:9-10; Titus 2:13-14).

Additionally, verse 2 adds, “He was in the beginning with God.”  This verse combines the first two points in verse 1 and is possibly a repetition for emphasis.  However, the verse does provide additional information.  The first verse says the Word was in the beginning, and then it says the Word was with God, but it does not say He was in the beginning with God.  If there is any doubt about this, verse two provides clarity and emphasis.

He Is the Creator of All Things 

John states a fourth fact about the Word in verse 3, which informs us that Christ is the creator of all things.  The verse says, “All things were made through Him,” and that “without Him nothing was made that was made.”  Again, this verse shows that Christ was not a part of creation, as we learn that “He created all things.”  This verse excludes Jesus from being created.

Verse 3 makes it clear that Christ is the creator.  Yet, other passages tell us that God is the creator.  For example, Genesis 1:1 tells us, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  Further, Genesis 2:7 says, “And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” Hebrews 11:3 says, “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Many other passages speak simply of God as the creator (Rev. 4:11; Jer. 32:17; Ps. 33:6).

Why do some passages identify God as the creator while others speak of Christ in this role?  Several passages answer this question.  Colossians 1:16, speaking of Christ, says, “For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers.  All things were created through Him and for Him.”  In Hebrews 1:2, we learn that God “has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds.”  In our text, verse 3  and 10 says all things were made “through Him.” (Note also Hebrews 11:3 and Rev. 3:14.)  Although God is the creator, Christ was His agent in creation.  Thus, God is the ultimate source of creation; He is the creator of all things, but it is through Jesus that all things were created (1 Cor. 8:6).

Thus, at the beginning of this important book, John tells us of Jesus’ eternal existence, His distinction from God, His divinity, and that He is the creator of all things.  Also significant is that His forerunner, John the Baptist, introduces Him as the provider of “light” for humanity (4) and as the lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world (29).