1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Interesting Words
beginning
(ἀρχή – Greek) – arché ► the beginning, the origin, properly, from the beginning (temporal sense), i.e. “the initial (starting) point”;
Gen 1:1, 26; 1John 1:1; 1John 3:8; 2Thes 2:13; Heb 1:10;
Word
(λόγος – Greek) – logos ► a word (as embodying an idea), a statement, a speech, divine utterance, analogy, the expression of a thought;
Matt 8:8, 16; Heb 7:28; 2Peter 1:19, 3:5; Matt 7:24, 26; Eph 5:6; Heb 4:12; Rev 19:13; Col 1:15;
life
(ζωή – Greek) – zóé ► life, both of physical (present) and of spiritual (particularly future) existence, it always (only) comes from and is sustained by God’s self-existent life. The Lord intimately shares His gift of life with people, creating each in His image which gives all the capacity to know His eternal life… Life indeed –
John 5:26, 10:10; 1John 1:1, 2, 3; 1Tim 6:17, 18-19; 1Peter 3:10; Luke 12:15; James 4:14; Rom 5:10, 6:23; Deut 30:19; Prov 8:35; John 6:63, John 14:6;
Cross References
• John 1:14
• 1John 1:3
• John 15:15
• John 20:30, 31
• Rev 2:7
• John 5:24
• Matt 7:14; 1John 5:11-12, 1John 5:13;
John 11:25-26; Acts 5:19-20; Rev 21:6;
Rev 22:17;
Discussion Questions
1. What is the significance of John describing God’s initial creative act as being that of communication?
▪ ︎In the beginning God created the world and then had a discussion with the other members of the Trinity (Gen 1:26), expressing Their desire…”let Us make man in Our image (plural)”. This showed several significant points:
► God is self existent, exists from eternity past.
► He is at His essence a relational being.
► He made man (male and female) with that relationship in mind, to have a living relations with each other and with Him/Them.
▪ ︎It was not a cold, hard creation of rock and dirt, but was the creation of a living planet. It had living plants and animals of every type imaginable. It also had a caretaker, man, designed to communicate with that creation and with their Creator, in perfect harmony. It was good.
▪ ︎If God wanted to communicate with you, what would be the most effective way?
▪ ︎How would He initiate that conversation with you?
2. What did the Word accomplish in these first few moments?
▪ ︎The Word created everything, all chemistry, all physics, all mathmatics, the Universe with all its stars, the nano world with it unseen particles and binding forces.
▪ ︎He created light, dark, matter, dark matter, weather patterns, mass transfer, heat flux, quantum theory… everything.
▪ ︎He created life, the light of men, that thing that sets us apart from rocks and minerals, and even other animals.
▪ ︎He also created the true light that calls every one to come and live in the light, in a right relationship with God… 1John 1:2, 3.
3. What does the immediate context tell you about the Word?
▪ He was in the beginning with God.
▪ He was God.
▪ Nothing was made apart from the Word.
▪ He was Life. Life was in Him. He provided life to every man (male and female).
▪ This life was the light that enlightens every man. It gives intellect to every man, giving them the ability to reason.
▪ He initiated the battle between light and darkness, between His Kingdom and the world. His Kingdom will ultimately win (John 1:5).
4. Looking at John 1:14 (under cross references)… How does this verse describe the Word? Who was He?
▪ The Word was Jesus who was made flesh (God incarnate) and lived among us (John 1:14).
▪ The people who lived with Him testify of His glory and power. Their testimony is true, 1John 1:3.
5. What does He offer to people today (note specifics in v.4 and v.5)?
▪ He offers true life to all men. All that is needed is to trust Him and follow Him, John 20:31.
▪ He offers light to see where we need to go instead of our own , less than acceptable intensions.
▪ We all need to turn toward the light and turn away from our own short-sighted plans.
▪ We need to turn around and follow Jesus, the Word of God. He will cause the morning star to arise in our hearts, 2Peter 1:19.
6. Consider also the other cross references… What does Jesus offer to mankind?
▪ Assurance that we will receive life if we simply ask with a sincere heart.
▪ That life will last forever, eternal life with God.
▪ We who believe will be transformed away from judgement and death and will receive eternal life, John 5:24.
7. What was John’s purpose in writing this gospel?
▪ His goal was that those who came after him would have enough information to choose Christ and have eternal life 1John 5:13.
▪ There were many other miracles that Jesus did that John simply did have room to write about. But, he did relate what he could so that we could hear and believe, John 20:30, 31.