John 1:1 Explained

I have tried to set this out very carefully so that even those who don't know Greek will understand.

John 1:1 (Greek):

1. Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος,

2. καὶ ὁ Λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν,

3. καὶ Θεὸς ἦν ὁ Λόγος.

Let’s break it down slowly, line by line.

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1. Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος
En archē ēn ho Logos
Literal: In beginning was the Word

• Ἐν (En) means “in.” Simple, right? But here, it’s not just a location or time—it points to being within something. The Word was in the beginning, inside the foundational moment.

• ἀρχῇ (archē) is usually translated as “beginning,” but it is much richer than a mere point on a timeline. It means the source, the origin, the foundation, the chief place from which everything flows. So, it’s not just when time started ticking, but the very root of everything.

• ἦν (ēn) is the verb “was,” but it’s imperfect tense, meaning continuous, ongoing existence. The Word wasn’t just there at the start and then appeared—He was already existing, without interruption or change, stretching backward before the beginning.

• ὁ Λόγος (ho Logos) is “the Word.” But Logos isn’t just any word, like chit-chat or a sound. Logos means reason, divine logic, expression, the one who speaks the truth and creates reality by speaking. The article ὁ makes it “the” — the one and only Word, unique and singular.

Putting it all together: The Word was in the very foundation of existence, not just popping up at the start of time, but eternally present, expressing God’s eternal reason and purpose.

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2. καὶ ὁ Λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν
kai ho Logos ēn pros ton Theon
Literal: and the Word was toward the God

• καὶ (kai) is just “and,” connecting the thought.

• ὁ Λόγος (ho Logos) again, “the Word.”

• ἦν (ēn) “was” again, continuous state.

• πρὸς (pros) is crucial here. It’s not a casual “with” but a face-to-face orientation, an intimate relationship toward someone. Imagine standing opposite someone, locked eyes, fully present with them. This word captures that closeness and intention.

• τὸν Θεόν (ton Theon) is “the God.” The article here (τὸν) marks it as the specific, personal God, the One we worship. It’s in the accusative case, showing the Word’s direction toward Him, in relationship.

So this line tells us the Word wasn’t distant or disconnected. The Word stood face-to-face, in eternal intimate relationship with the God — not the abstract idea of deity, but the living, personal God.

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3. καὶ Θεὸς ἦν ὁ Λόγος
kai Theos ēn ho Logos
Literal: and God was the Word

• καὶ (kai) again means “and.”

• Θεὸς (Theos) means “God.” But note: there is no article here. No “the.” In Greek, that’s a big deal. Without the article, Theos here doesn’t mean “the God” as a specific person but speaks of nature or essence. It means the Word is divine in essence, fully God in quality and being.

• ἦν (ēn) “was,” ongoing state again.

• ὁ Λόγος (ho Logos) “the Word.”

This isn’t saying the Word and “the God” from verse 2 are the exact same person — they are distinct in relationship — but it affirms the Word is fully and truly God by nature. The Word shares the same divine essence.

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Putting all three verses together in faithful clarity:

In the source and foundation of all things, the Word was already there — not created, not beginning, but eternally existing. The Word stood face-to-face with the personal God, in intimate, unbroken relationship. And the Word was fully divine, possessing the very nature and essence of God.

He wasn’t a created being. He wasn’t distant. He wasn’t just a “god” among many. He was God — eternal, alive, and intimately connected to the Father before anything was made.

Beloved of God, this is Yeshua haMeshiach, the Word who became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). But right here, in verse 1, we are not yet at His incarnation. We’re staring back through eternity into the infinite relationship between the Father and the Word — a relationship that has always existed, beyond time and space.

This is the profound, eternal reality of who Yeshua is: the eternal, divine Word, face-to-face with God, the very essence of God, before all creation.

Amen and shalom.

 

image done by chatgpt at my direction 

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