John 1:1
Viewing the King James Version. Click to switch to 1611 King James Version of John 1:1.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- King James Bible "Authorized Version", Cambridge Edition
Share This Verse:
<< Read the whole chapter of John 1
Other Translations of John 1:1
- King James Version (1611) - View 1611 Bible Scan
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- New American Standard Version (1995)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- American Standard Version (1901)
From the first he was the Word, and the Word was in relation with God and was God.
- Basic English Bible
In [the] beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- Darby Bible
IN the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- Douay Rheims Bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- Webster's Bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- Weymouth Bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- World English Bible
In the bigynnyng was the word, and the word was at God, and God was the word.
- Wycliffe Bible
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God;
- Youngs Literal Bible
View Wesley's Notes for John 1:1
1:1 In the beginning - (Referring to #Gen 1:1|, and Prov 8:23.) When all things began to be made by the Word: in the beginning of heaven and earth, and this whole frame of created beings, the Word existed, without any beginning. He was when all things began to be, whatsoever had a beginning. The Word - So termed #Psa 33:6|, and frequently by the seventy, and in the Chaldee paraphrase. So that St. John did not borrow this expression from Philo, or any heathen writer. He was not yet named Jesus, or Christ. He is the Word whom the Father begat or spoke from eternity; by whom the Father speaking, maketh all things; who speaketh the Father to us. We have, in #John 1:18|, both a real description of the Word, and the reason why he is so called. He is the only begotten Son of the Father, who is in the bosom of the Father, and hath declared him. And the Word was with God - Therefore distinct from God the Father. The word rendered with, denotes a perpetual tendency as it were of the Son to the Father, in unity of essence. He was with God alone; because nothing beside God had then any being. And the Word was God - Supreme, eternal, independent. There was no creature, in respect of which he could be styled God in a relative sense. Therefore he is styled so in the absolute sense. The Godhead of the Messiah being clearly revealed in the Old Testament, (#Jer 23:7|; Hos 1:6; #Psa 23:1|,) the other evangelists aim at this, to prove that Jesus, a true man, was the Messiah. But when, at length, some from hence began to doubt of his Godhead, then St. John expressly asserted it, and wrote in this book as it were a supplement to the Gospels, as in the Revelation to the prophets.
View People's Bible Notes for John 1:1
Joh 1:1-3 The Beginning of Christ's Ministry SUMMARY OF JOHN 1: The Word Made Flesh. The Witness of John. John's Disciples Pointed to Christ. The Lord Calls His First Disciples. An Israelite Indeed. In the beginning was the Word, etc. The first fourteen verses are introductory. In order to set at rest all controversy the Divine nature of Jesus, John glances, in the first three verses, back to the "beginning", recorded in Genesis, and affirms: (1) That he who was afterwards manifest as the Christ existed before creation began; (2) that he was present with God; (3) that he was divine; (4) that he was the Word; (5) that by or through him were all things made that were made (Joh 1:3). The first chapter of Genesis helps us to understand its meaning. God said, "Let there be light" (Ge 1:3), "Let there be a firmament" (Ge 1:6), "Let the earth bring forth" (Ge 1:11), etc., and it was done. God exhibits his creative power through the Word, and manifests his will through the Word. There are mysteries belonging to the divine nature and to the relation between the Son and the Father that we have to wait for eternity to solve. They are too deep for human solution, but this is clear: that God creates and speaks to man through the Word. As we clothe "our" thoughts in words, so God reveals his will by the Word, and when the Word is clothed in flesh, as the Teacher of men, we recognize it as Jesus Christ.
john lebeoa's comment on 2013-05-03 08:30:48:
jesus is the 'word';"before your great ancestor abraham was born,i was there".through jesus(word) the world was created. meaning, he was there before Adam too.the question is; if the son is the 'word',is that mean the father is the 'thought'? (because the 'word' comes out from the 'thought'.)
Tom Thumb's comment on 2013-04-04 21:33:11:
@Kris
Jesus himself stated that "the Father is greater than I am." – John 4:28. This statement is true and I believe Jesus was referring to his form at the time which was in the flesh and before and after his existence he was and is God as he and the Father are the same.
Jacques's comment on 2013-03-20 06:29:43:
The problem was not the Word, as the Word is the truth. The Word clearly teaches us, that My people perish due to lack of knowledge. How do we receive knowledge if we are not lead by Spirit. We can interpret words to an understanding that will suit us and never come to the Truth.
Marceanie Walker's comment on 2013-02-27 20:33:31:
I think that God wanted us to see that he has been here, so he brought John here to teach us in letting us know about his word. Because what John said was true, and came from God. In that God and Jesus are the same. God is spirit and he sent Jesus down to walk in man’s body.
farm nelson's comment on 2013-02-25 20:04:08:
I believe it for exactly what it says. Jesus is the TRUE AND LIVING GOD. There is only one church he, Jesus is coming after and that is the true church of Christ. It’s time to admit who he is and let’s get some people saved to increase this kingdom. To see our families saved let’s stop tearing him apart and get the power back in our church.
Akuro's comment on 2013-02-14 04:59:51:
To understand God (the Invisible) one has to look at His creation (the visible). If you are a student of genetics then the meaning of the Word becoming flesh becomes clearer. In genetics, a new DNA strand is created with the other as a template. Genetically speaking, Jesus (the Word in the beginning) was the template (code) from God through whom He (God) created everything. So in a sense Jesus is like God but he is nothing without God. He came from God and went back to God to 'complete' the Strand from which he was separated (seating at the right hand side of God).
Akuro's comment on 2013-02-13 07:46:55:
What is the difference between “in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” and “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God's”. The second would correspond with Proverbs 8, and denotes two separate and distinct entities. Whether Jesus' beginning was from everlasting does not matter. What matters is that he has a beginning in God terms. Let us create man in our own image does not mean trinity. It simply goes to prove the point that God will not do a new thing without first revealing it to His prophets, angels (remember there was no issue of fallen angels then!). God has asked - who is my equal and to whom can you compare me? John 10:30 is often quoted out of context. One has to read the whole chapter to understand what Jesus meant. Simply put God gave Him the authority to exercise that power on His behalf.
Baltimore's comment on 2013-01-30 17:50:38:
Jesus Christ is God, and is the only God. Unless one has an understanding of the Scripture they will continue to misinterpret the Word of God. It was necessary for Jesus to open the understanding of the disciples before He ascended back into heaven after His resurrection. So it is today a true revelation of God will put to rest a lot of confusion regarding the Godhead and the none Biblical doctrine of the trinity.
Alan's comment on 2013-01-25 21:49:40:
The Word was God, no doubt about it! Consider this in Isaiah 9:6, who is referred to as the everlasting Father? Find out yourself with the Holy's Spirit guidance, also if the New Testament is correct, then does it make Jehovah a liar? Read Isaiah 43:10-11. Jehovah is clearly saying that "before me was no God formed, neither shall there be after me. I even I, am the Lord and beside me there is no saviour"... My question is this, why then did he make (a God) as they say in John 1:1? Did he change his mind? Did he forget that the Word was a God (as they claim), Or was the Word God all along??? You decide. "How long halt ye between two opinions"? To God be the Glory.
Miller rodgers's comment on 2012-10-27 10:33:15:
I do like thy teachings.
edward patterson's comment on 2012-05-22 15:39:18:
What really upsets me is what some "sects" alleging to be "Christian" have done to John 1:1, such as the Watchtower Society which changed John 1:1 in 1960 to "and the Word was a god" from "and the Word was God", even though the official bible of the Jehovah's Witnesses from when they were founded in the late 1870's until their release of their version of the bible called "The New World Translation" in 1960 ! So for their first 80 years they acknowledged the diety of Christ, but then they demoted Him to "a god"! Therefore Jehovah's Witnesses are not really "Christians" as they claim to be because they do not believe in the diety of Christ.
samone's comment on 2012-04-18 00:08:36:
We can pick at the translations and debate the meaning of text or its original intent in Hebrew versus Greek. But in the end, the power of truth is far greater than the limitations imposed upon us by our language. How do we know the correct interpretation of John1:1? By knowing Jesus.
Ludwe's comment on 2012-03-23 09:20:07:
John gave us the back ground of the Godhead the Thrinity in Chapter 1. God the Father, Son and the Holy spirit in the 1 body. God created heaven and earth using His vioce, John 1:1 told us that before everything the was the word and the word was with God and the last day used the physical ability to creat human being as His image
bob's comment on 2012-02-12 06:17:19:
you can say many interpretations people are taught the trinity is the truth others not until you can interpret the hebrew and greek scripture yourself then you can see the truth until its all guesswork but please note all will find out the truth eventually some will be wrong and some right. my belief is simple in the beginning the word was,andthe word WAS with GOD and the word was a god. ALMIGHTY NO but mighty god yes. end
Edward's comment on 2011-12-27 22:34:45:
Mark 13:32
[ No One Knows the Day or Hour ] “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.
Mark 13:31-33 (in Context) Mark 13
Also notice not even the Holy Spirit ,knows the day or the hour.It say "Only The father" Now why would that be if they are 3 of the same beings?
bible believer's comment on 2011-10-30 10:41:41:
Trinity is a man made word its not in the bible but it means 3 in 1
the bible tells us Jesus is God
the bible tells there is 3 that bear record in heaven the father the son and the holy ghost and these 3 ARE 1
only God can forgive sin the bible tells us that,Jesus forgave sin
only God is to be worshiped the bible tells us that,Jesus was worshiped
come on people read your bible its there in God word in black and white
Joe's comment on 2011-10-15 11:38:00:
The bible does not refer to a trinity. God does speak of himself in the plural. The Godhead includes three aspects of the same intity. God said in Gen 1:26 "Let US make man in OUR own image." So then we are made the same? We have a body, a soul, and a spirit. The body houses all 3 aspects. The soul which includes the mind, or controling aspect. And the spirit which is our divining life force. we are born with a worldly spirit. when we accept the spirit of the lord our worldly spirit dies.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
God speaks to us in a still small voice or with his thoughts. Although he could use thunder or any other loud voice to get his point across he works on our minds through his spirit which is shared equally with all believers.
So Gods mind (or his word) was sent to live, teach, and suffer along with us and become the ultimate blood sacrifice to cover our sins.
John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
It stands to reason if Jesus is the word of God that when you talk to Jesus Christ you are talking to the very mind of God.
gene's comment on 2011-09-20 20:16:40:
Scriptures I like disputing the trinity
John 1 verse 2; John 1:14; John 20: 17; 1 John 1: 1-3; John 5: 26, 36, 37. Just a few.
Why did God’s prophets not teach it?
WHY, for thousands of years, did none of God’s prophets teach his people about the Trinity? At the latest, would Jesus not use his ability as the Great Teacher to make the trinity clear to his followers? Would God inspire hundreds of pages of Scripture and yet not use any of this instruction to teach the Trinity if it were the “central doctrine” of faith?
Are Christians to believe that centuries after Christ and after having inspired the writing of the Bible, God would back the formulation of a doctrine that was unknown to his servants for thousands of years, one that is an “inscrutable mystery” “beyond the grasp of human reason,” one that admittedly had a pagan background and was “largely a matter of church politics”?
The testimony of history is clear: The Trinity teaching is a deviation from the truth, an apostatizing from it.
michael's comment on 2011-09-10 19:07:00:
God is spirit, father of all spirits...Jesus is God in the flesh ,savior of all that call on his name...the spirit is power of god the spirit came out of Gods mouth ...God speeks it is power
Millard's comment on 2011-06-12 16:46:51:
In the beginning was the Word- God the Omnipresence Spirit existed before his creation
(Jn.4:24) God is a Spirit:- and the Word was with
God and the Word was God. God existed before the creation. He was called the Word of God. (Jn.1:14)
and the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us.
God became a man. (Mat.1:23) Behold a virgin shall
be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel being interpreted, is God with us. (Mat.1:21) And she shall bring fort a son and thou shall call his name Jesus. Jesus is the Word. Jesus is the Word that became flesh. Jesus is Emmanuel God with us.
Jesus is the son that was brought forth. Jesus is God. Jesus is his name.
What Do You Think of John 1:1?
Share your own thoughts or commentary here...