Who is "the word" that was in the beginning in John 1?
John 1:1 - 5
ESV - 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.
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Asked November 13 2016
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Leelan Patrick
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Singapore Moses
Greek: logos (G3056) (Jn 1:1; Acts 1:1). The Word refers to Christ (Jn. 1:14; Rev. 19:13) and proves His pre-existence (Mic. 5:1-2 Rev. 1:8,11; 2:8; 22:13-16). Christ is an eternal Being as are also the Father and the Holy Spirit (Ps. 90:1-2 Heb. 9:14). They make the Divine Trinity (1Jn. 5:7). Logos (G3056) has to do with a concept, an idea; the Greek: rhema (G4487) has to do with the expression of that idea in proper, intelligent, and grammatical form in words and sentences. Logos is translated "word" 225 times; "saying" 50 times; "account" 8 times; "speech" 8 times; and in other ways, 39 times. Greek: logos (G3056), used 330 times with 3 main ideas of expression: ❶ In respect to speech: a word (Jas. 3:2); saying (Mt. 19:22); discourse (2Cor. 10:10); doctrine (1Tim. 6:3; 2Tim. 1:13); narrative (Acts 1:1); report (Jn. 21:23); and discussion by which the inward thought is expressed (Heb. 4:2) ❷ In respect to the mind alone: the reasoning powers (Heb. 4:12) ❸ In respect to a person: the essential living Word of God (Jn. 1:1,14; 1Jn. 1:1; 5:7; Rev. 19:13); the embodiment of and expression of all wisdom and prudence (Eph. 1:8; 1Cor. 1:30; Col. 2:3) Not only was the Word with God, but He was God and always will be as much divine as the other two members of the Trinity (Ps. 45:6-7 Isa. 9:6-7 Jn. 1:1; Heb. 1:8-12 Rev. 1:8,11; 22:13-16). God created all things by Jesus Christ (Eph. 3:9; Col. 1:15-18 Heb. 1:1-2). Not only were all things created by him, but redemption of creation is by him (Jn. 17:2; Col. 1:20). As all creation came by the Son, through the Holy Spirit, so all redemption comes the same way. It was what Christ did on the cross that made it possible for God to redeem through the power of the Holy Spirit (Jn. 3:3-5 Tit. 3:5). The satanic powers of darkness (Eph. 6:12) did not overcome the Word, but that the Word spoiled them on the cross (Col. 2:14-17).
Tim Maas
"The Word" spoken of in the verse cited was the pre-incarnate Christ, the Son of God, and the Second Person of the eternal Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) that is the One God. As John says, "All things were made through Him (that is, the Word), and without Him was not anything made that was made." When God made the repeated "Let there be..." statements in Genesis 1 during the creation of the universe, those statements were the Word expressing God's desires, and also the Word carrying out those desires by performing the actions that God intended. As John also indicates in the passage cited in the question, this Word subsequently became flesh in the incarnation of Jesus, who provides us with the fullest and clearest manifestation of God and of His will and teachings. More than that, He also was born in order to provide salvation to humanity in a way that our own imperfect works could not, through living a sinless life that was completely in accordance with God's will, dying a sacrificial death to pay the penalty required by God for humanity's sin from eternity past to eternity future (which only He as God incarnate could do), and then rising from the dead to live eternally as proof that His payment of that penalty had been sufficient in God's sight, so that all who would place their faith in Him (rather than in their own works) to make them acceptable to God could also have eternal life in God's presence.
Galen Smith
John 1:1-2 introduces us to “the Word” who was in the beginning, and was with God and was God. John 1:3-4 tells us that the Word created all things, and gave life to living things. John 1:10-11 tells us that the Word was in the world he created, but the people he created did not recognize him or receive him. John 1:14 informs us that the Word took the form of human flesh, and dwelled among us. John 1:15-16 tells how John the Baptist spoke of this incarnate Word, describing him as one who comes after him, yet has surpassed him because he existed before him. His existence was from “the beginning” (verse 1), so he was before John the Baptist, even though his conception and birth came after John’s. John 1:17 finally identifies the Word by name. “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:18 declares that although no one has ever seen God directly, God the Son, who as the Word was with the Father’s side in the beginning (verse 1), has made him known. He is thus the living Word or Message which reveals the nature and character of his Father, whom is not seen by men.
Marvin Reynolds
In this scripture it is a statement pointing out the fact by example that Jesus is the the Word of God meaning for which he has said again and again in so many ways. This Jesus, his Son, was the one noted in Genesis Chapter 3 concerning the sin of Adam and Eve that was to cause all who followed God's original creation to face being confused with Evil. Now we know that Jesus was the WORD pointing to redemption of all by faith in his payment of Sin by the original Adam (Note that Jesus is called the Second Adam). By his death and resurrection bearing the sin of the world and consequences of death. Read this section, John 1, in the original Hebrew text and it will point out that the Word is Jesus by context.
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