John 1 - John 1 1-5 The Logos And The Son
TEXT: “1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by 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 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:1-5, KJV).
The Logos Of God
Loved ones, the Gospel begins with a shocking declaration: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1).The "Word" (Gk. Logos) existed before the world, existed with God, and existed as God.
Throughout the Book of John, Jesus states that the Father sent Him down to earth from Heaven (John 3:13, 31; 6:32-40, 51; 7:41-42, 52; 16:27-29; etc.). Yet, even till this day there is mass confusion about where Jesus came from.
The reader knows from the beginning that the Logos (Word) came from being with God – and was God. From the finite mind of man, to say someone was "with God" is quite different than saying someone "was God." How is it possible to be the person you are with? If someone is with you, they cannot be you!
It is understandable that this difficult and frustrating concept will forever remain a source of conflict and tension when it comes to Jesus.
Interestingly, Jesus does nothing to ease the tension. He constantly speaks of God as His Father but then says things that only God can say (John 8:58). He speaks as though the Father is distinct from Him but then says, "I and the Father are one" (John 10:30).
Most characters reject these statements as blasphemy (John 8:59; 10:31), but some, though the journey is long and arduous, begin to see in Jesus something truly divine. When the light finally comes on, some will look upon Jesus and say, "My Lord and My God" (John 20:28).
Seriously, that's almost an impossible thing to believe. We cannot imagine what it must have been like. You and I have been shaped by 2,000+ years of Christian tradition. It doesn't shock us like it should.
Imagine you've never heard of Jesus. You've never heard of the incarnation. You've never heard of the Christian faith. What would it take to convince you some kid who grew up down the street from you, you knew his parents, you saw every awkward stage of his life, was "in the beginning with God and was God?"
Could you ever believe He literally came down out of heaven? It's certainly understandable that the crowds said, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?” (John 6:42).
That is why it is so imperative to pay close attention to His signs. They reveal the impossible. They show you what you'd otherwise never believe.
This prologue (John 1:1-5) frames the Gospel of John and reframes everything we thought we knew about the world and God. God exists, and He also speaks. His "Word" is what He speaks. His "Word" is how He created the world. His "Word" perfectly reflects His mind… His being. His "Word" is Him. The two are linked together as One in fascinating ways.
This idea is not completely unique to the Gospel of John. The supremacy of the Word, the Logos, has deep roots both in Jewish wisdom tradition and Greco-Roman philosophy, particularly Stoicism, which saw logos as the rational force animating the whole cosmos.
Wisdom And New Creation
For John's readers, the Jewish Bible will prove a more reliable backdrop to the prologue. The Old Testament equates God's Wisdom with God Himself and His creative nature. Wisdom is personified in Proverbs chapter 8 as having been with God from creation:
“1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?... 4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man... 6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. 7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. 9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge... 17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me… 22 The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 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 was I brought forth: 26 while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28 when he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29 when he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30 then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 31 rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.”
If you were asked, "Who was with God when He created the world? Who was the 'master workman' with God in creation? Who was 'His delight' before He created the world?" How would you answer? If you say, "Jesus," I think that's probably a good answer (though not exactly what Proverbs has in mind).
In fact, the first century church always read Proverbs 8 to be about Jesus, and it was quite the controversial passage. Most of the early church read the Old Testament in Greek, although it was originally written in Hebrew. This means they were reading a translation, just like we do. And anytime you read a translation there are difficulties that arise.
The Greek Old Testament, called the Septuagint (LXX, is its abbreviation), says God "created" wisdom in Proverbs 8:22. The Hebrew Old Testament says God "possessed" wisdom in that passage. The LXX translators translated the Hebrew word for "possessed" with the Greek word for "created" (ektisen).
If you assume Proverbs 8 is about Jesus, and you're reading the LXX, you have a homerun argument that Jesus is a created being, which was a crucial argument for Arianism, an early church controversy saying Jesus is not co-eternal with God, but was created by God.
If it's about Jesus, and you're reading the Hebrew Bible, you simply have Jesus coexisting with God at the beginning. Early Christians argued about the best way to interpret this passage, but interestingly, no one ever really argued Proverbs 8 wasn't about Jesus.
Proverbs 8, in its original context, however, isn't so much talking about Jesus but wisdom personified. God's wisdom has always been with Him. It is part of Him. Wisdom was active when God created. The same is true for His Word: "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made" (Psalm 33:6). In fact, in Jewish writings, the word and wisdom of God are often linked together, especially in creation!
The Wisdom of Solomon (a non-inspired early Jewish book that is not part of the Bible), but a beautiful collection of Jewish poetry, begins a special prayer for wisdom with these words: "God of our ancestors, Lord of mercy, who by your word have made all things, and in your wisdom you have formed man to rule the creatures that have come from you, to govern the world in holiness and justice, and in honesty of soul to wield authority ..." (Wisdom 9:1-2, a non-inspired early Jewish book).
God created the world and formed man by His “logos” and “sophia,” that is, His word and wisdom. There are many ways one can describe the divinity of Jesus, but we think John has picked up on this idea and is bringing them together in his introduction to Jesus.
The word and wisdom of God are eternal and coexistent with God. There was never a time God was without His wisdom or His word (Or Spirit for that matter). They are inexorably linked to each other because God's word without exception contains His wisdom. God has no words without wisdom.
Together, God and His Spirit, His wisdom, and His word created the world. In joining all of these together in the person of Jesus, the Christ : “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9), John begins to retell the creation story of Genesis 1.
"In the beginning" is not some accidental throwaway phrase. It is meant to call us back to creation itself. John reads and retells Genesis 1 with the word of God personified: "All things were made (came into being) by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John 1:3).
If you open your Bible to Genesis 1, you'll see the phrases "And God said..." or "God called..." repeated over and over again (Genesis 1:3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 11, 14, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 29). Just think about how much God speaks in Genesis 1. There are so many words, and each one is dripping with wisdom.
By taking God's creative word and wisdom and joining them in Christ, John is beginning His gospel with a call to radically rethink everything you thought you knew about the cosmos and everything God created. Jesus' fingerprint is everywhere.
The Word has become a character in John's creation story. God's Word exists with and as the Creator, from whom also comes the light which shines in the darkness. When all was darkness upon the face of the deep primordial waters of the earth, God said, "Let there be light" (Genesis1:2-3).
In John's retelling of the creation story, Jesus is the Light of the World (John 9:5), which shines in the darkness (John 1:5; Genesis1:2-5). God's wisdom and word, in Jesus, illuminate the world through new creation. In John 1:1-5, God's new creative work to transform the world through Jesus is being introduced.
God In The Flesh
The most shocking part of this text, which separates it from Genesis, Jewish wisdom tradition, and Greek philosophy, is when, “…the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
The Logos, which produces new creation became part of old creation. God became flesh. The word "dwelt" (eskenosen) in verse 14 literally means "He tabernacled" among us (see Revelation 21:3). The Word became the new tabernacle on earth, which housed the glory of God.
Remember the Exodus story? Moses prays, "I beseech thee, shew me thy glory" (Exodus 33:18). The glory of the Lord passed by Moses briefly in the cleft of the rock (Exodus 33:22). The glory of God was seen in the tabernacle, a cloud by day and fire by night (Exodus 13:21-22; 40:35). The glory of God is now seen in His new tabernacle.
As John continues, we will see Jesus is not only the life-giving force of new creation, He is the new tabernacle, temple, and presence of God on earth. The glory of God is seen in Him, "full of grace and truth."
If you want to see God, look to Jesus. If you want to see God's grace, truth, and glory, look to Jesus. "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" (John 1:18).
Jesus "has made Him known" or literally exegeted God (exegesato). He has embodied God and shown Him to the world; who He is, what He says, and how He lives. Jesus, the Logos of God, is everything we need to know about God. He has come. He is transforming the world. Come and see how.
Through the free gift of God’s grace by Jesus’ blood (Ephesians 2:8; Revelation 1:5) and your obedient faith (Romans 1:5; 10:17; 16:26), salvation is offered.
If you have questions or wish to comment, please do so. Lord willing, a Bible answer will be provided for every Bible question. The God of Heaven and Earth is good, and His love reaches all. We love you with the love of the Lord (John 13:34-35). Samuel