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NASB | John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 1:1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. [Gen 1:1; Is 9:6] |
Bible Question:
John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. Please explain this verse to me in layman's terms. Thanks, Diane |
Bible Answer: dsturges, First, as we read lets keep in mind from verse 14 that this Word is the Word which become flesh and dwelt among us. Or to put it more to the point, this word is the second person of the trinity, the Son Jesus Christ. Now to what the verses in question teaches us. In the beginning was the word. This phrase is meant to tell us that the Word Jesus Christ was eternal in nature. There never was a time when He did not exist and He is uncreated. Note that John is modeling this phrase after Genesis 1:1, which says, "In the beggining God..." John has begun, "In the beginning was the word" He's saying as clearly as he can the eternal nature of Jesus Christ. The Word was with God Next John draws a distinction. Even though the word was eternally uncreated, there was in fact a distinction between the word and the person whom we identify as God the Father. We are not to confuse the two and think they are one person. For if the Word was in fact synonymous with the Father and there had been no distinction, then John could not have said that the word was with God. the Word was God There is a great amount of debate about this phrase, yet since you specifically asked for laymen's terms then I will not go to the greek to explain it and just let you accept or reject the conclusion. This phrase essentially means that what God was, the Word was. It is not confusing the two persons he is discussing, but rather saying that they are identical in essence. So in summary, this passage is clearly teaching the trinity. Or at least the first two persons of the trinity. It teaches that Jesus Christ is eternally uncreated, was eternally present with the Father, and what the Father is in His glorious essence, the Son is also. Hope this helps. In Christ, Beja |