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

The opening verse of the Gospel of John sets the stage for one of the most profound declarations in all of Scripture. It does not merely begin with a historical event or a scene from Jesus’ life. Instead, it begins outside of time, in the eternal past, with a declaration about existence itself. "In the beginning" echoes the very first words of Genesis, but instead of focusing on the creation of the heavens and the earth, John directs the reader to the presence of the Word. The Word existed before anything else. This is not the beginning of Jesus’ ministry or even of his earthly life. This is a declaration of his eternal preexistence. Jesus did not come into being at Bethlehem; He always was.

The Word, translated from the Greek logos, carries layers of meaning. In ancient Greek philosophy, logos represented reason, order, and the principle that governed the universe. In Jewish thought, the Word of God was His powerful, creative force. John draws from both traditions and reveals that the Logos is not just a force or principle, but a person. The Word was with God. This shows relationship, not separation. There was intimate fellowship between the Word and God. And yet, the Word was God. Not a lesser god, not a created being, not merely divine in nature. The Word was God Himself. This verse establishes the foundational Christian truth that Jesus, the Word, is both distinct from the Father and yet fully divine.

This beginning points to a reality that predates time and space. It affirms that God has always existed, and so has the Word. This refutes the notion that the universe is eternal or that God is a created being. Everything that begins to exist has a cause. The Word, however, never began. He simply was. This eternal existence is not static or impersonal. It is rich with identity and relationship. The Word was with God, which suggests face-to-face communion, a closeness that speaks of love and unity. The nature of God is not solitary. From eternity, there has been fellowship within the Godhead.

This verse also sets the groundwork for the doctrine of the Trinity. Though the term "Trinity" is not used here, the truth of it is unmistakable. The Word is distinct from God, yet the Word is God. This mystery becomes clearer as the Gospel progresses, especially when the Holy Spirit is introduced later. But right here, in the first sentence, we are invited to see the eternal complexity of God's being. The Word, who was with God and who was God, will later be revealed as the one who became flesh. That movement from eternal glory into human experience is the heart of the Christian faith.

The rest of John's Gospel seeks to unfold this truth. The miracles, the teachings, the signs, and the resurrection are all meant to show that this Word, this Jesus, is truly who John claims Him to be. John is not writing from hearsay. He was a firsthand witness. He walked with Jesus, leaned on Him, watched Him suffer, and saw Him rise again. This testimony is not poetic exaggeration but the conviction of someone who knew the Word made flesh.

False beliefs about God abounded in the first century, just as they do today. Some believed that matter was evil and that God could not possibly take on flesh. Others believed in multiple gods, or that Jesus was a good teacher but not divine. Still others thought the universe itself was eternal. But John speaks directly into those confusions. The universe had a beginning. God was already there. And the Word, Jesus, was not just present at creation. He was the agent through whom all things were made. Nothing exists that He did not create. This includes galaxies, planets, people, and every law of nature. The Logos is not a passive observer. He is the Creator.

Understanding that the Word was with God and was God shapes how we see everything else in Scripture. It helps us read the Old Testament with new eyes. When God speaks, it is the Word in action. When God reveals Himself, it is through the Word. The burning bush, the voice on Sinai, the cloud in the tabernacle—all point to the eternal Word now made visible in Jesus. This is not speculative theology. It is the heartbeat of Christian belief. Jesus is not merely a messenger from God. He is God in human form.

The implications of this verse are enormous. It means that when we read the teachings of Jesus, we are hearing the voice of the Creator. When He forgives sins, it is not presumption—it is authority. When He calms storms, heals diseases, or raises the dead, He is not working magic. He is exercising the same power that spoke the universe into existence. And when He dies on the cross, it is not just a martyr’s death. It is the self-giving act of the eternal Word, laying down His life to redeem the creation He made.

The phrase "the Word was God" is short but inescapable in its meaning. Some have tried to soften it, to say that Jesus was a god, or divine like an angel or a prophet. But the Greek grammar and the flow of John's entire Gospel make it clear. Jesus is not a lesser deity. He is God in fullness. This truth would become a cornerstone of Christian confession, defended in councils, written in creeds, and held by believers across centuries.

What John writes is not easy to comprehend, but it is not meant to be mystical for the sake of mystery. It is meant to draw us into worship, into awe, and into relationship with the One who is both near and far, both eternal and incarnate. This verse, in a single sentence, opens a door to the infinite and invites us to step inside.

The eternal Word, existing before all creation, being both with God and being God, is a declaration that changes everything about how we view history, reality, and our own identity. This Word is not an abstract force or a poetic metaphor. He is the person of Jesus Christ, present before the foundation of the world. Through Him, all things were made. Without Him, nothing was made that has been made. When we begin to grasp the scale of this statement, we realize that the universe is not random or accidental. It is personal, purposeful, and relational because it was spoken into being by the Word. The same Word who walked among us, full of grace and truth. That the Creator of the universe would choose to enter His own creation is not something we can easily comprehend, but it is a truth that carries profound implications. It means that God is not distant. He is not abstract. He is personal, involved, and deeply committed to the story of humanity. When Jesus came into the world, He did not come as an outsider. He came as the One who had always been at its center. Every sunrise, every mountain, every breath bears the imprint of His voice. The creative force behind all existence chose to become flesh, to experience hunger, sorrow, and joy, and to dwell among His people.

And yet, as John will later write, the world did not recognize Him. Even though He made the world, the world did not know Him. This rejection, though tragic, does not diminish the reality of who He is. Instead, it highlights the depth of human blindness and the lengths to which God will go to bring light into the darkness. The Word becoming flesh was not merely a rescue mission. It was a revelation. It was the unveiling of God's heart, His nature, and His eternal purpose. Through Jesus, we see what God is like. We see love that heals, truth that confronts, grace that embraces, and justice that restores. Every miracle, every parable, every act of compassion is the Word speaking again, not from a burning bush or a cloud, but through human eyes and hands. In Jesus, the unknowable became knowable, the invisible became visible, and the eternal stepped into time.

To say the Word was God is to say that God is not silent. He is not passive. He is not a distant deity watching from afar. He is a speaking God, a revealing God, a God who longs to be known. And He has made Himself known through the Word. From Genesis to Revelation, the consistent theme is that God speaks. He creates by speaking. He relates by speaking. He redeems by speaking. And in the Gospel of John, we see the climax of that speech. The Word does not just speak words. He is the Word. Every sentence He utters is the voice of eternity. Every step He takes is the movement of the divine. Every heartbeat is a rhythm that has echoed since before the beginning.

This is why the identity of Jesus matters so deeply. If He were merely a prophet, His words would carry weight. If He were an angel, His presence would be awe-inspiring. But because He is God, His life changes everything. It means that we are not alone. We are not forgotten. We are not accidents in a cold universe. We are known, loved, and pursued by the One who made it all. The Gospel of John begins with this breathtaking statement not to confuse us, but to anchor us. It is a foundation upon which the rest of the message is built. It invites us to look deeper, to ask bigger questions, and to trust more fully. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. It is a sentence that holds the weight of glory, the depth of mystery, and the promise of redemption. And it invites every reader, every seeker, every heart to come and see the One who was, and is, and is to come.