by Judith C Evans

Created on: December 27, 2009   Last Updated: December 28, 2009

The first five verses of the Gospel of John set the stage for a major theme of this book: the deity of Jesus Christ.  The first verse states, “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1, NKJV).”  This verse echoes Genesis 1:1, which reads, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (NKJV).” 

John refers to Jesus Christ as “the Word,” which originates from the Greek “logos,” meaning an expression or utterance embodying a concept or idea.  Here, John equates Christ with the Word of God which spoke the universe into creation.  The phrase “in the beginning” refers to Christ’s eternal nature: He was present with God before the heavens and the earth were created. The phrase “was with God” implies a personal relationship between God and Christ, as well as equal status.  “The Word was God” states that Christ was and is God. 

John 1:2 reads, “He was in the beginning with God (NKJV).”  Christ’s eternal existence is emphasized here by the repetition of the words “in the beginning.”  John repeats this theme throughout this book.  In John 8:58, Jesus states, “Most assuredly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I AM (NKJV),” in reference to Genesis 3:14, in which God commands Moses to refer to Him as “I AM."  Jesus asserts His divine nature in a series of “I am” statements in the book of John, such as “I am the bread of life (6:35),” and “I am the good shepherd (10:11).”  John 1:2, therefore, provides a prologue to the book of John’s proclamation of Christ’s deity.

Christ’s eternal existence is explored further in John 1:3:  “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made (NKJV).”  We understand from this statement that as God, Jesus Christ existed before all created things, and is the only uncreated being.  All creation was created through Christ, and cannot exist without Him.  Colossians 1:16 further develops this idea: “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 (NKJV).”  John 1:3 and Colossians 1:16 combine to tell us

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