John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.John 1:1
What does John 1:1 mean?
John opens his Gospel by identifying 'the Word' as existing before all creation, being with God, and being God. This sets up John's larger argument, developed through the rest of the chapter, that this eternal Word became flesh in the person of Jesus (John 1:14).
Context
John's opening deliberately echoes the opening of Genesis ('In the beginning...'), signaling that this Gospel is telling a story of new creation centered on Jesus. Unlike Matthew and Luke, which open with genealogies or birth narratives, John begins before time itself, establishing Jesus' eternal, divine identity before narrating His earthly life.
Key themes
Related Bible verses
In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Bible study
- Why do you think John opens his Gospel with language that echoes Genesis 1:1?
- What does it mean that 'the Word was with God, and the Word was God' — both distinct from and identified as God?
- How does this opening shape the way you read the rest of John's Gospel?
Prayer
A short devotional prayer inspired by this verse — not scripture
Lord Jesus, You are the eternal Word, present before all creation. Help me to see You rightly — not just as a teacher, but as God with us. Amen.
Memorize this verse
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Share this verse
Frequently asked questions
Who is 'the Word' in John 1:1?
John identifies 'the Word' as Jesus, made explicit later in the chapter: 'the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us' (John 1:14).
Why does John's Gospel start so differently from Matthew and Luke?
Rather than beginning with genealogy or birth narratives, John starts before time itself, establishing Jesus' eternal, divine identity as the foundation for everything that follows.