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

The opening words of the Fourth Gospel clearly allude to the creation account. Echoed in the words “In the beginning was the Word” are the marvelous words of Genesis. “In the beginning God created… ” (Genesis 1:1). Genesis depicts the creation as taking place through God’s spoken word; John’s Gospel picks up on this. However, it moves ahead and shows that the new creation is sustained by the Word. The death and darkness hanging over the fallen and lost creation of God can be dispelled only by the Life and the Light.

Verse 1 of the prologue presents three “was” declarations about the Word:

(1) In the beginning “was,” not “became,” the Word. He was already, He was preexistent.

(2) The Word was with God. He is an independent, divine Person in fellowship with the Father. He is “God with God.”

(3) The Word was God; He is not simply “divine,” He is God (“God of God,” cf. John 20:28, “My Lord and my God!”). Verse 1 gives the main theme of this Gospel”the proclamation of the deity of Jesus Christ.

The old testament confirming this:

1In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.