The Gospel of John is a beloved gospel. It has been called “a pool in which a child may wade and an elephant may swim.” In fact, only six hundred words from John's vocabulary were used in this book, equivalent to the reading level of a seven-year-old. But its statements are so profound that no philosopher can fathom them.

With that in mind, the first three verses of the gospel of John are so simple, yet for so many are difficult if not impossible to understand. They have to do with the deity of Jesus Christ. I have struggled to explain these verses simply for years but have failed miserably so for me and others the debate of Jesus Christ’s deity has continued. That is until now…

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

According to the standard Jewish doctrine of that day, God created the universe through his preexistent wisdom/word that existed before the rest of creation but was itself created. Hence, why many don't think that Jesus Christ is God. But what they fail to realize is that the Word was the closest available term John had to describe Jesus Christ. So, it is significant that the John began his gospel with the words: “In the beginning.” He obviously intended that his record should start with the same words as Genesis.

GENESIS
In the beginning God (who existed from all eternity) created the heavens and the earth (with his wisdom/word).

JOHN
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word (wisdom/word) was WITH God (who existed from all eternity), and the Word WAS God.

So, by declaring that the Word was with God; and the Word was God, John went beyond the common Jewish conception of wisdom/word to imply that Jesus Christ was not created but that He is God and is the embodiment of all God's revelation in the Scriptures.

Then to say that He was in the beginning with God in verse 2 is a mere repetition of the Word was with God in verse 1 is a mistake. This verse teaches that Jesus Christ's personality and deity were without beginning just as God’s is in Genesis 1.

And all three Persons of the Godhead were involved in the work of creation:

• Gen. 1:1 says God created the heavens and the earth
• Gen. 1:2 says The Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters
• And has John 1:3 says like in Col. 1:16, All things were created through Him (Jesus Christ) and for Him

Jesus did not become a person for the first time as the Babe of Bethlehem. Nor did He somehow become a god after His resurrection, as some teach today.

He is God from all eternity. He Himself was not a created being; rather He was the Creator of all things. This includes mankind, the animals, the heavenly planets, the angels—all things visible and invisible. Without Him nothing was made that was made.

• So, in the beginning was the Word.
• And the Word was with God.
• And the Word was God.
• And in the beginning, the Word was with God.
• And all things were made through Him.
• And without Him nothing was made that was made.

The Gospel of John is a beloved gospel. It has been called “a pool in which a child may wade and an elephant may swim.” In fact, only six hundred words from John's vocabulary were used in this book, equivalent to the reading level of a seven-year-old. But its statements are so profound that no philosopher can fathom them.

With that in mind, the first three verses of the gospel of John are so simple, yet for so many are difficult if not impossible to understand. They have to do with the deity of Jesus Christ. I have struggled to explain these verses simply for years but have failed miserably so for me and others the debate of Jesus Christ’s deity has continued. That is until now…

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

According to the standard Jewish doctrine of that day, God created the universe through his preexistent wisdom/word that existed before the rest of creation but was itself created. Hence, why many don't think that Jesus Christ is God. But what they fail to realize is that the Word was the closest available term John had to describe Jesus Christ. So, it is significant that the John began his gospel with the words: “In the beginning.” He obviously intended that his record should start with the same words as Genesis.

GENESIS
In the beginning God (who existed from all eternity) created the heavens and the earth (with his wisdom/word).

JOHN
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word (wisdom/word) was WITH God (who existed from all eternity), and the Word WAS God.

So, by declaring that the Word was with God; and the Word was God, John went beyond the common Jewish conception of wisdom/word to imply that Jesus Christ was not created but that He is God and is the embodiment of all God's revelation in the Scriptures.

Then to say that He was in the beginning with God in verse 2 is a mere repetition of the Word was with God in verse 1 is a mistake. This verse teaches that Jesus Christ's personality and deity were without beginning just as God’s is in Genesis 1.

And all three Persons of the Godhead were involved in the work of creation:

• Gen. 1:1 says God created the heavens and the earth
• Gen. 1:2 says The Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters
• And has John 1:3 says like in Col. 1:16, All things were created through Him (Jesus Christ) and for Him

Jesus did not become a person for the first time as the Babe of Bethlehem. Nor did He somehow become a god after His resurrection, as some teach today.

He is God from all eternity. He Himself was not a created being; rather He was the Creator of all things. This includes mankind, the animals, the heavenly planets, the angels—all things visible and invisible. Without Him nothing was made that was made.

• So, in the beginning was the Word.
• And the Word was with God.
• And the Word was God.
• And in the beginning, the Word was with God.
• And all things were made through Him.
• And without Him nothing was made that was made.

The Gospel of John is a beloved gospel. It has been called “a pool in which a child may wade and an elephant may swim.” In fact, only six hundred words from John's vocabulary were used in this book, equivalent to the reading level of a seven-year-old. But its statements are so profound that no philosopher can fathom them.

With that in mind, the first three verses of the gospel of John are so simple, yet for so many are difficult if not impossible to understand. They have to do with the deity of Jesus Christ. I have struggled to explain these verses simply for years but have failed miserably so for me and others the debate of Jesus Christ’s deity has continued. That is until now…
Very enlightening. The Jews need us ad we need them to properly interpret some of the Bible. Maybe a number of the Jews for Jesus should join us. We need each other. It seems important to me.

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

According to the standard Jewish doctrine of that day, God created the universe through his preexistent wisdom/word that existed before the rest of creation but was itself created. Hence, why many don't think that Jesus Christ is God. But what they fail to realize is that the Word was the closest available term John had to describe Jesus Christ. So, it is significant that the John began his gospel with the words: “In the beginning.” He obviously intended that his record should start with the same words as Genesis.

GENESIS
In the beginning God (who existed from all eternity) created the heavens and the earth (with his wisdom/word).

JOHN
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word (wisdom/word) was WITH God (who existed from all eternity), and the Word WAS God.

So, by declaring that the Word was with God; and the Word was God, John went beyond the common Jewish conception of wisdom/word to imply that Jesus Christ was not created but that He is God and is the embodiment of all God's revelation in the Scriptures.

Then to say that He was in the beginning with God in verse 2 is a mere repetition of the Word was with God in verse 1 is a mistake. This verse teaches that Jesus Christ's personality and deity were without beginning just as God’s is in Genesis 1.

And all three Persons of the Godhead were involved in the work of creation:

• Gen. 1:1 says God created the heavens and the earth
• Gen. 1:2 says The Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters
• And has John 1:3 says like in Col. 1:16, All things were created through Him (Jesus Christ) and for Him

Jesus did not become a person for the first time as the Babe of Bethlehem. Nor did He somehow become a god after His resurrection, as some teach today.

He is God from all eternity. He Himself was not a created being; rather He was the Creator of all things. This includes mankind, the animals, the heavenly planets, the angels—all things visible and invisible. Without Him nothing was made that was made.

• So, in the beginning was the Word.
• And the Word was with God.
• And the Word was God.
• And in the beginning, the Word was with God.
• And all things were made through Him.
• And without Him nothing was made that was made.

The Gospel of John is a beloved gospel. It has been called “a pool in which a child may wade and an elephant may swim.” In fact, only six hundred words from John's vocabulary were used in this book, equivalent to the reading level of a seven-year-old. But its statements are so profound that no philosopher can fathom them.

With that in mind, the first three verses of the gospel of John are so simple, yet for so many are difficult if not impossible to understand. They have to do with the deity of Jesus Christ. I have struggled to explain these verses simply for years but have failed miserably so for me and others the debate of Jesus Christ’s deity has continued. That is until now…

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

According to the standard Jewish doctrine of that day, God created the universe through his preexistent wisdom/word that existed before the rest of creation but was itself created. Hence, why many don't think that Jesus Christ is God. But what they fail to realize is that the Word was the closest available term John had to describe Jesus Christ. So, it is significant that the John began his gospel with the words: “In the beginning.” He obviously intended that his record should start with the same words as Genesis.

GENESIS
In the beginning God (who existed from all eternity) created the heavens and the earth (with his wisdom/word).

JOHN
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word (wisdom/word) was WITH God (who existed from all eternity), and the Word WAS God.

So, by declaring that the Word was with God; and the Word was God, John went beyond the common Jewish conception of wisdom/word to imply that Jesus Christ was not created but that He is God and is the embodiment of all God's revelation in the Scriptures.

Then to say that He was in the beginning with God in verse 2 is a mere repetition of the Word was with God in verse 1 is a mistake. This verse teaches that Jesus Christ's personality and deity were without beginning just as God’s is in Genesis 1.

And all three Persons of the Godhead were involved in the work of creation:

• Gen. 1:1 says God created the heavens and the earth
• Gen. 1:2 says The Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters
• And has John 1:3 says like in Col. 1:16, All things were created through Him (Jesus Christ) and for Him

Jesus did not become a person for the first time as the Babe of Bethlehem. Nor did He somehow become a god after His resurrection, as some teach today.

He is God from all eternity. He Himself was not a created being; rather He was the Creator of all things. This includes mankind, the animals, the heavenly planets, the angels—all things visible and invisible. Without Him nothing was made that was made.

• So, in the beginning was the Word.
• And the Word was with God.
• And the Word was God.
• And in the beginning, the Word was with God.
• And all things were made through Him.
• And without Him nothing was made that was made.