John 1:1-5 The Deity of Christ
1 In the beginninga was the Wordb, and the Word was withc God, and the Wordd was God.
2 He [Lit This one] was in the beginning with God.
3 All things came into beinge through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.
4 In Him was lifef, and the life was the Lightg of men.
5 The Lighth shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend [overpower] it.
John’s Gospel highlights the fact that Jesus is the Son of God, so he begins his story in eternity. (Nelson’s KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1297)
The opening statement of John 1:1 mirrors the opening statement of Genesis. The Word already existed when time began. Christ is called the Word (logos) four times in the New Testament (John 1:1,14; 1 John 1:1, Rev. 19:13), all of which are authored by John. Inasmuch as words convey meaning, the implication is that Jesus is the conveyance or revelation of God to man. (Nelson’s KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1297)
“To speak of the Word (logos) in relation to the beginning of creation would make sense to both Jews and Greeks. In some schools of Greek thought, the universe is kosmos, an ordered place, and what lies behind the universe and orders it is reason (logos). For the Jews, creation took place through God’s speech (Gen 1; Ps 33:6). Furthermore, in John’s day “word” was often associated with “wisdom” (for example, Wisdom of Solomon 9:1; cf. Breck 1991:79-98), and John will often use wisdom motifs to speak of Jesus (cf. Willett 1992). For example, like the Word who was with God, Wisdom is said to have been “at his side” at the creation (Prov 8:30). As this passage suggests, God’s word and wisdom were often spoken of as if they were persons (for example, Wisdom of Solomon 18:14-16; Prov 8:1–9:18; Job 28; cf. Hengel 1974:1:153-56). The Jews did not view these personifications as divine personal beings distinct from God, thereby challenging monotheism (Hurtado 1988:41-50). However, a redefinition of monotheism is called for with the coming of Jesus (for example, Jn 1:14, 18; 5:16-18). Thus the use of “word” and “wisdom” within Judaism was of enormous help to the Christians as they tried to understand and express the reality they found in Jesus. Jesus is what the “word” and “wisdom” were, and much more” (https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/John/John-Presents-Revelation)
In verse 1, the original Greek for “with God” (pros ton theon) could be translated “face to face with God,” which implies the personage of The Word, as well as the distinct figure of God, with whom he interacted. However, the clarification that follows gives us more insight into the status of each. Neither is lower than the other. The literal translation is “and God was the Word.” Verse 2 follows to underscore the truths stated in verse 1. (Nelson’s KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1298) “John 1:1 undoubtedly is intended to teach that the Logos is co-eternal with the Father, although He is distinguishable from Him.” (Pictoral Encyclopedia of the Bible Vol. 1 pg. 510).
Verse 3 casts Jesus as a participator in creation, not the object of it. Verse 4 explains that life is not from him or by him, but IN him. The word for life here is zoe; this is not physical life, but spiritual. John references spiritual life 54 times in his gospel and first epistle. (Nelson’s KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1298)
“The description of Wisdom as the master worker at God’s side at creation (Prov 8:22-31) is now echoed in John’s declaration that the Word was the agent of all creation (1:3). As agent he is distinct from the Creator. God the Father is viewed throughout the Gospel as the ultimate source of all, including the Son and the Spirit. But life did not simply come through the Word but was in the Word (1:4). Only God is the source of life, and it is a mark of Jesus’ distinctness and deity that the Father “has granted the Son to have life in himself” (5:26). By stating both positively and negatively that the Word is the agent of all creation (1:3), John emphasizes that there were no exceptions: the existence of absolutely all things came by this Word” (https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/John/John-Presents-Revelation).
The idea that Jesus was the agent of creation is very interesting to me. There are pre-incarnate appearances (or theophanies) of Jesus throughout the Old Testament, and it started to occur to me that maybe every time there’s something physical to be done – creating by hand, appearing to man, that it would be Jesus, who is the physical being of the trinity. I don’t think this is a major point of theology to present this idea, but I want to emphasize that these are just my musings. I noticed different words used for God when He was creating vs. when he was in the Garden of Eden, and I started to think about the creation story when God walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. Could that have been Jesus? The Bible says Adam heard the sound of Him walking in the Garden, so it was some type of physical being, the image of which man bears. This makes a lot of sense to me that the Lord would present himself to humans in a tangible way at the beginning, since abstracts might have been a challenge for a human freshly made from dirt. It says God brought the animals to Adam, for him to name them. I suddenly just imagined the two of them there chatting it over as Adam decided what to call things. The more I thought about this, the more I started reading farther into the Old Testament with this in mind. When Cain and Abel brought sacrifices to God, were they bringing presents to an actual physical being? In the story of the Tower of Babel, when it says the Lord came down to see what they were doing, was that one of Jesus’ common visits to the Earth? In the Zondervan Pictoral Encyclopedia of the Bible, it says when God told Moses that His name was “I will be” in Exodus, the Israelite people began referring to God as YHWH, which means, “The God who will be with us.” In keeping with the Jewish tradition of never speaking this name aloud, they rather used Adonai in its place when speaking the scriptures aloud. In English, this was then translated as Lord, in small caps. When I started to see how frequently Lord was used in the Old and New Testaments, indicating a God who was with them, it definitely turned my Bible story visualization on its ear, but I digress.
The next clause in verse 3 compliments the first clause in verse 4. In the timeline, this next concept would follow the fall after creation. The life WAS the light of men, and the light SHINES in the darkness. The verb tense changes to demonstrate that he was and continues to be Light in the darkness. The darkness, which could not comprehend the light, is a hostile force, evidenced by the use of the word katalambano, which is translated ‘grasp, comprehend, put out, seize, with hostile intent.’ (Nelson’s KJV Bible Commentary pg. 1298) The notation in the New American Standard Bible notates ‘comprehend’ with ‘or overpower’ (NAS Bible pg. 1073). This may represent the condition of the spiritually unenlightened, who are blinded by the power of Satan (Acts 26:18) (Pictoral Encyclopedia of the Bible Vol.2 pg. 30).
“Because the earliest manuscripts had no verse numbers, nor even spaces between words and sentences, it is sometimes hard to know where one sentence ends and another begins. Such is the case with verses 3 and 4. Many commentators, ancient and modern, divide the text as in the NIV, but many others think the final words of verse 3 belong with verse 4: “What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people” (NRSV). Either option would fit John’s style and thought, but the NRSV option reflects how all the earliest commentators took the text, suggesting this was the more natural reading for native speakers. At a later date the orthodox began taking it as in the NIV because of misuses by false teachers who took ho gegonen (“what was made in him”) to include the Holy Spirit, thus making the Spirit a creature (cf. Chrysostom In John 5.1)” (https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/John/John-Presents-Revelation).
Is it contradictory to this notion that The Word in Life Study Bible says all three persons of the Trinity worked together to bring the world into existence – Father (Gen. 1:1, John 5:17), Son (John 1:10, Col. 1:16), and Holy Spirit (Gen. 1:2, Job 33:4)? They are continuing to create and prepare eternal dwelling places for believers (John 14:2-3, Rev. 21:1-2,5). (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1857)
“His life, manifest in the incarnation, is our light (Jn 1:4). In this Gospel light always refers to the revelation and salvation that Jesus is and offers (cf. 8:12; 11:9 is the one exception). In order to have life we need to know God, and Jesus is our source of such knowledge. As our light, his life is our guide. He is our wisdom, that which reveals all else to us and enables us to see. In Jewish thought it is the law that plays this role (for example, Wisdom of Solomon 18:4; cf. Hengel 1974:1:171; 2:112; Kittel 1967:134-36), but for John it is the incarnation of the Word that makes sense of all of life.
Thus, here at the outset we have the two most fundamental affirmations about Jesus in this Gospel, namely that he himself is the presence of God’s own life and light and that he makes this life and light available to human beings. In one profound sentence we have the central assertion of this Gospel concerning the revelation of the Son and the salvation he offers” (https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/commentaries/IVP-NT/John/John-Presents-Revelation).
For some interesting data related to the world God created, see this sermon by Steven Davey https://www.colonial.org/default.aspx?page=3580&item=200. It doesn’t talk about Jesus’ role in creation, but has some compelling points for creationism, if you’re feeling as though these philosophical discussions about deity are straining your faith muscles. The sermon made me feel like a Who in Whoville, on a speck of dust, but it reinforces the awe I have for God and what He made.
About the Gospel of John
In the Jewish tradition, the number seven signified completion or perfection. John’s gospel focuses on seven miracles, to signify the completion of prophecy in Jesus. Each of the seven is the fulfillment of specific Old Testament understanding of the Messiah. (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1855)
The authorship of this Gospel is attributed to John because of its literary similarities to the letters written by John (1 John – 3 John), as well as the author’s self-identification as an eye-witness to Jesus’ ministry. It is believed that John wrote the Gospel very late in his life, after he returned from the island of Patmos back to his home in Ephesus, sometime in the 90s. (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1856)
“The first fourteen verses of John 1 were probably a hymn for the early church. They remind us that Jesus is God’s Word (John 1:1), ‘word’ being a Greek term that means a thought expressed. Jesus is the human expression of God. He is light and flesh, to use John’s metaphors (1:4-5,14). To see Jesus is to see God, and to know Jesus is to experience God’s grace and truth.” (The Word in Life Study Bible pg. 1857)
See the next post here https://onthepath.online/2018/12/19/the-genealogy-of-christ/
Scripture References
Gen 1:1 In the beginninga God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters.
Job 28:23 For God understands its [wisdom’s] way, and He knows its place
Job 33:4 The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Ps 33:6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host.
Prov 8:1 Does not wisdom cry out, And understanding lift up her voice? 2 She takes her stand on the top of the high hill, Beside the way, where the paths meet. 3 She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city, At the entrance of the doors: 4 “To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men. 5 O you simple ones, understand prudence, And you fools, be of an understanding heart. 6 Listen, for I will speak of excellent things, And from the opening of my lips will come right things; 7 For my mouth will speak truth; Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are with righteousness; Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. 9 They are all plain to him who understands, And right to those who find knowledge. 10 Receive my instruction, and not silver, And knowledge rather than choice gold; 11 For wisdom is better than rubies, And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her. 12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And find out knowledge and discretion. 13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And the perverse mouth I hate. 14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom; I am understanding, I have strength. 15 By me kings reign, And rulers decree justice. 16 By me princes rule, and nobles, All the judges of the earth. 17 I love those who love me, And those who seek me diligently will find me. 18 Riches and honor are with me, Enduring riches and righteousness. 19 My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, And my revenue than choice silver. 20 I traverse the way of righteousness, In the midst of the paths of justice, 21 That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, That I may fill their treasuries. 22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. 23 I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; 26 While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world. 27 When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, 29 When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, 30 Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, 31 Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men. 32 “Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. 34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the Lord; 36 But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.” 9 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars; 2 She has slaughtered her meat, She has mixed her wine, She has also furnished her table. 3 She has sent out her maidens, She cries out from the highest places of the city, 4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, 5 “Come, eat of my bread And drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding. 7 “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. 8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you. 12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.” 13 A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing. 14 For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city, 15 To call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way: 16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, 17 “Stolen water is sweet, And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” 18 But he does not know that the dead are there, That her guests are in the depths of hell.
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was madee through Him, and the world did not know Him.
John 1:14 And the Wordb became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 3:19 “This is the judgment, that the Lighth has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.”
John 5:17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”
John 5:26 For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life inf Himself;
John 8:12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Lightg of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”
John 9:5 “While I am in the world, I am the Lightg of the world.”
John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the lifef; he who believes in me will live even if he dies,
John 12:46 “I have come as Lightg into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness.”
John 14:2 “In my Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the lifef; no one comes to the Father but through me.”
John 17:5 Now, Father, glorify Me togetherc with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was.
Acts 26:18 To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.
1 Cor 8:6 yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whome are all things, and we exist through Him.
Php 2:6 who, although He existed in the form of Godd, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,
Col. 1:16 For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities – all things have been createde through Him and for Him. 17 He is beforea all things, and in Him all things hold together.
Heb 1:2 in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whome also He made the world.
1 John 1:1 What was from the beginninga, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life- 2 and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was withc the Father and was manifested to us-
Rev 19:13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Wordb of God.
Rev. 21:1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and there is no longer any sea. 2 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband.
Rev 21:5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
Apocryphal References
Wisdom of Solomon 9:1 O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy, who have made all things by your word, 2 and by your wisdom have formed humankind to have dominion over the creatures you have made
Wisdom of Solomon 18:4 For their enemies deserved to be deprived of light and imprisoned in darkness, those who had kept your children imprisoned, through whom the imperishable light of the law was to be given to the world.
Wisdom of Solomon 18:14 For while gentle silence enveloped all things, and night in its swift course was now half gone, 15 your all-powerful word leaped from heaven, from the royal throne, into the midst of the land that was doomed, a stern warrior 16 carrying the sharp sword of your authentic command, and stood and filled all things with death, and touched heaven while standing on the earth.
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