John 1:1–5 is one of the most discussed passages in the New Testament. This study examines the opening verses of John's Gospel by comparing the original Greek text, the meaning of the word Logos ("Word"), the creation account in Genesis, and the testimony of the Old Testament. Rather than reading later theological ideas into the passage, this article encourages readers to let Scripture interpret Scripture and carefully examine what John actually wrote about God's Word and Jesus Christ.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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John 1:1
Related articles.
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.
Quick Facts: Testing Traditional Teachings Against the Biblical Evidence!
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