In the Beginning: The Book of John

(John 1:1-5[HCSB])

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 He was with God in the beginning.

3 All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.

4 Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men.

5 That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.

In the Beginning

While we generally consider Genesis 1:1 to be the first verse in the Bible, the “chronological” version* uses John 1:1 as the first verse, since its wording and context precede Genesis accounts.

Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, all the earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.”

So God created man in His own image; He created him in the image of God; He created them male and female.

Supporting John’s writings as more than coincidental texts, we consider the following in which Jesus makes no apologies as He takes on the mandate and language which God Himself uses to announce Himself to Moses:

Exodus 3:14 God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”

John 8:56-58 Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see My day; he saw it and rejoiced.”

The Jews replied, “You aren’t 50 years old yet, and You’ve seen Abraham?”

Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am.”

Jesus isn’t just pre-existing with God, He is God! As such Jesus is worthy of all honor, glory and praise as the pre-existent Light that shone in the darkness before lights were formed. All things were created by Him, for Him, through Him and with Him. Jesus is the author of life itself which He gives and takes at His pleasure. On the cross He gave up His life; at the resurrection He took up His life and takes up all believers with Him.

* Reese Chronological Bible: This edition is probably the most finely-detailed effort to present the Scriptures in chronological order, according to both the historical position of the narrative (it starts with John 1:1) and the chronological authorship of its books.

In the Fourth Gospel Jesus is at the center of a deep and mysterious theology: the incarnate Son defeats that which separates God the Father and His children: sin. John’s sole purpose throughout is to present Jesus as the eternal Word made flesh, and to express the nature of a Triune Godhead.

Note: As “the Word” Jesus is the only face of God that humanity has ever gazed upon.