IS THE WORD JESUS IN JOHN 1:1?

Translations by English Standard Version, unless otherwise stated.  

In the beginning was the (Word),

 and the (Word) was with God,

 and the (Word) was God. 

John 1:1.

A Study of the "Word" (Logos)

Research by Simon Brown

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." — John 1:1

Introduction

Few passages in the Bible have generated more discussion than John 1:1–5. For centuries, many Christians have understood "the Word" (Greek: Logos) to refer to the pre-existent Son, Jesus Christ. This interpretation forms an important part of Trinitarian theology and is also accepted, in different ways, by several other Christian groups.

In this study, however, I present a different understanding. My conclusion is that the "Word" in John 1:1 is not a second divine person, but God's own Word—His spoken expression, purpose, wisdom, command, and will. Only later, in John 1:14, does that Word become embodied in the man Jesus Christ.

My purpose is not to attack sincere believers, but to encourage every reader to examine the Scriptures carefully, just as the Bereans did (Acts 17:11). The question is not what tradition teaches, but what the biblical text itself actually says.

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Quick Facts

• John 1:1 says "the Word was God."
• Psalm 33:6 teaches that creation came by Yahweh's spoken word and the breath of His mouth.
• Throughout the Old Testament, God's "word" is consistently His spoken message, command, purpose, or promise—not another person.
• John begins his Gospel by deliberately echoing Genesis 1:1.
• In John 1:14, God does not become flesh, or is Jesus God who becomes flesh, rather, God's Word becomes flesh in the promised Messiah.

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John 1 Begins Where Genesis Begins

John intentionally opens his Gospel with the same words found in Genesis:

"In the beginning..."

His readers are immediately taken back to the creation account.

Genesis records:

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth... And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." (Genesis 1:1–3)

Notice that God creates by speaking.

God speaks.

His word goes forth.

Creation comes into existence.

Psalm 33:6 explains this beautifully:

"By Yahweh's word the heavens were made, and all their army by the breath of His mouth."

This verse describes no second divine person. It speaks of Yahweh Himself speaking creation into existence.

For this reason, I understand John 1 to be referring back to Genesis. The "Word" is God's own self-expression—His command, purpose, and creative power.

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"The Word Was God"

John writes:

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

Notice carefully what John does not say.

He does not write:

"In the beginning was the Son."

Nor does he say:

"In the beginning was Jesus."

Instead, he speaks of the Word.

If John had intended his readers to understand that a pre-existent Son personally existed alongside God, one might reasonably expect him to identify the Son directly.

Instead, John uses the term Logos—"Word."

In my understanding, this fits perfectly with the Old Testament, where God's word is repeatedly His own speech, revelation, promise, command, and purpose.

Just as our spoken words come from us without becoming or being separate persons, God's Word comes from God without becoming another God or person.

Therefore, when John says "the Word was God," I understand him to mean that God's Word belongs to God Himself. It expresses His own nature, character, wisdom, and will.

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The Word Comes From God's Mouth

Jesus Himself taught:

"Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)

Notice that Jesus identifies the source of God's Word.

It proceeds from the mouth of God.

Likewise, Psalm 33:6 says:

"By Yahweh's word the heavens were made... by the breath of His mouth."

Both passages present God's Word as God's own utterance—not another divine being.

This understanding is consistent throughout the Old Testament.

God speaks.

His Word goes forth.

His Word accomplishes His purpose.

His Word returns to Him having fulfilled what He intended (Isaiah 55:11).

Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, God's Word is never introduced as a second person existing alongside Yahweh.

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John 1:14 — "The Word Became Flesh"

John later writes:

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us..."

This verse does not say that God or a second divine person changed into flesh.

Rather, I understand John to be teaching that God's eternal purpose, promise, revelation, and saving Word became fully expressed in the life of Jesus Christ.

Jesus became the living embodiment of God's Word.

This explains why Revelation 19:13 calls Jesus:

"The Word of God."

Notice the expression:

The Word of God.

Jesus is called God's Word because He perfectly reveals His Father.

As Jesus Himself said:

"The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own authority, but the Father who dwells in Me does His works." (John 14:10)

Again Jesus says:

"The word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me." (John 14:24)

These statements emphasize that Jesus faithfully speaks God's Word rather than presenting Himself as the source of that Word.

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What Does Logos Mean?

The Greek word translated "Word" in John 1 is λόγος (logos).

The word logos has a wide range of meanings. It can refer to a spoken word, message, statement, teaching, reason, purpose, account, or plan. It does not, by itself, mean "a person."

According to Strong's Concordance, logos can mean:

• A spoken word
• A saying
• A message
• A report
• A command
• A matter or subject
• A declaration

Throughout the New Testament, logos is translated "word" hundreds of times, and in almost every case it refers to God's message or spoken word—not to a person.

For example, Jesus said:

"The word (logos) which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me." (John 14:24)

Again He said:

"Sanctify them in the truth; Your word (logos) is truth." (John 17:17)

In neither passage does logos refer to another divine person. It refers to God's message, truth, and revelation.

This consistent biblical usage should be kept in mind when reading John 1.

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John 1:2

Most modern translations read:

"He was in the beginning with God."

Because the pronoun is translated "He," many readers naturally assume John is referring to Jesus as a pre-existent person.

However, some scholars point out that the Greek text allows this sentence to refer back to the Word rather than introducing a new person. Historically, several English translations reflected this by using expressions such as "the same" or, in some places, treating the Word as "it" rather than "he."

For this reason, I understand John 1:2 as continuing to describe God's Word, purpose, and self-expression that existed with God in the beginning, rather than introducing a second divine person.

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John 1:3

Most modern Bibles read:

"All things were made through Him."

This wording has led many Christians to conclude that Jesus personally created the universe before His birth.

However, a number of earlier English translations rendered the verse differently.

For example:

William Tyndale (1534):

"All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that was made."

Likewise, the Geneva Bible, the Bishops' Bible, and several other early English translations also used "it" rather than "him."

These translations understood John to be speaking about God's Word—His creative command—rather than another person.

This harmonizes naturally with Psalm 33:6:

"By Yahweh's word the heavens were made, and all their army by the breath of His mouth."

Creation came into existence because God spoke.

God commanded.

His Word accomplished His will.

Psalm 33:9 summarizes it simply:

"For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm."

The emphasis throughout Scripture is on God's spoken command, not on another divine being carrying out creation independently of Him.

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The Old Testament Never Presents God's Word as a Separate Or Second Person

One of the strongest reasons for my understanding is the consistent teaching of the Old Testament.

Hundreds of times we read expressions such as:

• "The word of Yahweh came..."
• "Thus says Yahweh..."
• "The word of the Lord..."

In every case, God's Word is His communication.

It is His command.

It is His promise.

It is His revelation.

It is His judgment.

It is His purpose.

Nowhere does the Old Testament introduce God's Word as another person existing alongside Yahweh.

Therefore, when John opens his Gospel by speaking of "the Word," I believe his Jewish readers would naturally have understood him to be referring to God's own self-expression, just as the Old Testament repeatedly does.

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Why Didn't John Simply Say "The Son"?

This raises an important question.

If John intended to teach that Jesus literally existed beside God before creation, why did he not simply write:

"In the beginning was the Son."

Or:

"In the beginning was Jesus."

Instead, John chose the word Logos.

I believe this choice was intentional.

John first introduces God's eternal Word—His purpose, wisdom, revelation, and creative command.

Only later, in John 1:14, does he identify how that Word became visible in history through the birth of Jesus Christ.

In other words, the story moves from God's eternal purpose to its fulfilment in His Messiah.

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Jesus Always Pointed Back to His Father

Throughout His ministry, Jesus consistently directed attention to His Father.

He said:

"I do nothing on My own authority, but speak just as the Father taught Me." (John 8:28)

Again:

"The Father who sent Me has Himself given Me a command—what I should say and what I should speak." (John 12:49)

And again:

"The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority." (John 14:10)

These statements fit naturally with the understanding that Jesus is God's perfect spokesman.

He speaks God's Word because God's Word dwells fully in Him.

He perfectly reveals the Father to the world.

For this reason, John can later describe Jesus as "the Word of God" (Revelation 19:13), because He perfectly embodies and reveals God's message, character, authority, and saving purpose.

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Related articles. 

Also read:  John 1:1 – But what about John 1:1? By biblicalunitarian.com.  

Also watch: John 1:1-18 John’s Prologue - Reconsidered.   

Also watch: John 1:1-18 Explained (Pt 1) In the beginning was the word?? - Anthony Buzzard & J. Dan Gill.

   Sir Anthony Farquhar Buzzard, 3rd Baronet, ARCM (b. 28 June 1935), is a biblical scholar, unitarian Christian theologian, author and professor on the faculty of Atlanta Bible College.

  

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5 

Part 6

Part 7

Part 8

The Trinity:  

The Trinity faith believe The Father and The Son and The Holy Spirit are THREE separate beings, yet the same ONE TRUE GOD.  

Oneness Pentecostal:  

For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. John 12:49. 

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers. And I will put my words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. Deuteronomy 18:18.

Notice how GOD says: I will put my words in his mouth? 
Notice what God tells us here in Deuteronomy 18:18 is identical to John 1:1:   
In the beginning was the (Word),  and the (Word) was with God,  and the (Word) was God.  John 1:1.  

So we read in Deuteronomy 18:18 and John 1:1 how GOD’s word was WITH GOD and from GOD from the beginning, and that His (word) goes forth.

Notice in John 17:14 how Jesus says the (word logon λόγον) is GODS word, and says nothing about Himself being the word:

So Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me. John 8:28  

Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. John 14:10  

For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. John 17:8  

(He) was in the beginning with God.

And in the very next verse of John 1;2 we read another false translation, by the fact the translators have added in the word saying (HE) was in the beginning with God.

The correct word (THIS) has been changed for the wrong word (HE). 

 

But as we see, on close examination, the correct word is (THIS) and NOT (HE).  
We now move to John 1:3, where we read: All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.  

Again, because John 1:3 goes on to say: All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made, MOST therefore believe GOD created: All things through (him), Jesus.  

However, again on close examination, we find there are many other translations of John 1:3, that do not have the word (HIM) but instead say (IT).  

Example: Mr Anthony Buzzard has made me aware of many other translations of John 1: like:
"In the beginning was the word, and the worde was with God, and that worde was God. The same was in the begynnyng with God. Althinges were made by it, and without it was made nothing that was made. In it was lyfe, and the lyfe was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkeness, and the darknes comprehended it not” (William Whittingham, The Newe Testament of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Conferred Diligently with the Greke, and Best Approved Translation, Geneva: Conrad Badius, 1557).

“In the beginning was the Worde, and the Worde was with God and that Worde was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that was made. In it was lif, and the lif was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkenes, and the darkenes comprehended it not” (Geneva Bible, The Bible and Holy Scriptures conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament, Geneva: Rouland Hall, 1560).

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was that Word. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by it, and without it, was made nothing that was made. In it was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darknesse, and the darknesse comprehendeth it not” (Bishops’ Bible, The Holie Bible, London: Richard Jugge, 1568).

“In the beginning was that Word, and that Word was with God, and that Word was God. This same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that was made. In it was life, and that life was the light of men. And that light shineth in the darknes, and the darknesse comprehended it not” (Lawrence Tomson, The New Testament of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Translated out of Greeke by Theod. Beza, London: Robert Barker, 1607). 

In the beginning there was God’s Grand Design, the declaration of His Intention and Purpose, and that declaration was with God as His project, and it was fully expressive of God Himself. This was with God in the beginning. Everything came into being through it, and without it nothing of what came into being existed. In it there was life and that life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overwhelm it. A Translation of John’s Gospel from the Greek by Anthony Buzzard  

Please go to the link: John 1 in 50+ English Translations. Sir Anthony Buzzard, and there you will see there are many Translations that have the word (IT) and not (HIM) used in John 1:3.  

So what is the truth?  

What did John say and mean in John 1:1, 2 and 3?

Is the word in John 1:1 Jesus?

The simple answer to John 1:1, 2 and 3, is in Psalm 33:6:
World English Bible:
 By Yahweh’s word, the heavens were made; all their army by the breath of his mouth.

We clearly see in Psalm 33:6 that the word comes: By Yahweh’s word, by the breath of (Yahweh’s) mouth.  

There is NO second PERSON here, but ‘ Yahweh'' GOD the FATHER alone.  

Hence, this is why we read John saying:  and the (Word) was God. John 1:1c, Yahweh’s word, and the breath of (Yahweh’s) mouth.  

There is only ONE person who is called Yahweh, and He is GOD the FATHER.

John is telling us the (word) was GOD because the (word) is FROM GOD, so the words GOD speaks are GOD the Fathers.

The WORD is GOD’s divine utterance, expressing His thoughts, plan, message, purpose and will.

Notice in the Strong’s Concordance: logos: a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a speech.   

And there is nothing by John saying the word is a SEPARATE SECOND PERSON.    

Also notice in just some scriptures coming shortly how GOD said He ALONE is the creator, and says there is NO ONE WITH HIM, or that He worked THROUGH Jesus before His Son Jesus was BORN.    

This is so simple. 

IF GOD created the world THROUGH Jesus, then the Hebrews writer would have simply said: Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by (HIS SON) and would NOT say by the prophets.    

In fact there is not a single word by GOD the Father saying he created all things by and through his son, which is odd if Jesus was with GOD at creation.    

All we read and see in many verses is GOD saying countless times He created all things on his own with NO ONE next to Him or with Him. 

So my question is WHERE IS JESUS WHEN GOD SAID: Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone, stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth, by myself. ISAIAH  44:24.?

Join me Simon Brown again in my NEW REVISED Video: Trinitarian Confusion and Deception: John 8:58 (I am).

Please click here:  JOHN 8:58 THE QUICK FACTS!

SEEK AND YOU WILL FIND SAID JESUS, Mathew 7:7.  

Until next time, I will leave you with 2 emails I received from Mr Dudley, and Mr Buzzard.

Simon my friend, what you have to remember is that the word “word” is not a person in anyone’s language, it is a THING.     It is the chararistic of the language which confuses people.    The word “word” is similar to words like wine and bread which are in the Greek language referred to as a “he or him” (αὐτοῦ) but the Greek know they are not persons.  And therefore because the word “word” IS NOT a person but “a thing” in anyone’s language, it should be referred to as an IT in English, just as you would with bread and wine in English. In Greek bread and wine would be referred to as a he or a him (αὐτοῦ) but NO ONE would think they are real persons.   Most nouns in the Greek have a male or female gender assigned to them even though they are not persons. Like the word “beginning”, it has a female gender assigned to it, but you know “beginning” is NOT a female person.   Now, the sense of the word in John 1 encompasses a great variety of things that have to do with God’s plan of salvation which you seem to understand.    The power and authority of God’s word is embodied into Jesus flesh giving him the power and authority of God to fulfil God’s divine will and purpose. Col 2:9,   By the power and authority of God’s word the heavens were made (Ps33:6) ( Ps 33:9), (Acts 10:38) LOOK IT UP.   May you have peace my friend. Dudley. 

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Simon, The very top scholarly sources Theologicla Dictionary of the NT is very insistent on IT not Him. “It was with God”  It was God or divine. All things were made through IT. In IT was life. It was the light of Men. Alll these sayings of John are sayings about the Torah., (Vol 4, p. 135). Anthony  Buzzard. 

Most translations get this wrong since they want you to believe “in the beginning was the SON” A false Jesus, not really human  Yes, Isa is absolutely clear. God was totally alone at creation The word “word” is hundreds of times not another person! It is only because of the false creeds of Christendom that people imagine a second God.

The text says the word was GOD Himself, ie not another person. Error has driven people insane and our task is to try to help them as we have been helped. Jews and  Moslems, millions of them, are right offended at a Triple God, in hope, Anthony  www.restorationfellowship.org

Also read: 

John 1:1 – But what about John 1:1? By biblicalunitarian.com.

Also watch: John 1:1-18 John’s Prologue - Reconsidered.

Also watch: John 1:1-18 Explained (Pt 1) In the beginning was the word?? - Anthony Buzzard & J. Dan Gill

 Sir Anthony Farquhar Buzzard, 3rd Baronet, ARCM (b. 28 June 1935), is a biblical scholar, unitarian Christian theologian, author and professor on the faculty of Atlanta Bible College.

Click here John 1 in 50+ English Translations By Sir Anthony  Buzzard.