What was this “Word” that was with God and which is God in John 1:1?
Let’s read John 1:1-4 to help us identify this one called the “Word”. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”
John 1:1 begins that same way that Genesis 1:1 begins. That says, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 is speaking of the creation of heaven and earth, while John 1:1 is speaking of a time before the creation of the world. It speaks of a time before the creation of anything that was ever created. It also speaks of a glorious person who existed at that time. One who is called the WORD. This WORD was “with God” and He “was God.” The WORD is the creator, He possesses life within Himself, and this life was the “light of men.”
Who is this person? Let’s read John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” The WORD is the Lord Jesus Christ, Himself. We read of Him in Matthew 1:23, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, GOD WITH US.” He was “in the beginning.” Going back as far as we can humanly conceive, the Word “was”. He was “with God”, which speaks of his PERSONAL EXISTENCE. The word “was God”, which speaks of His ETERNAL EXISTENCE.
The Apostle Paul spoke of this in 1 Timothy 3:16, “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” “God was manifest in the flesh” is in reference to the birth of the Lord Jesus, who came into the world to redeem lost mankind. He became one of us! Hebrews 2:14 tells us, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.” God, came in the flesh so that He might destroy the one who had dominion over us because of our sins. He came to gain victory over the devil and set us from the power and penalty of sin.
What does it mean that Jesus is the Word? The Greek word for Word is ‘logos’, and John uses that word to describe Jesus “in the beginning,” or before creation and time began. Logos means word, but specifically it means a spoken word or a statement. Jesus is God’s spoken word. He is the manifestation or expression of God, His Father. The Lord Jesus is the “Living Word” while the Bible is the “Written Word.” In reference to the Lord Jesus being the Word, John wrote in Revelation 19:11-13, “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called THE WORD OF GOD.” (246.2)