John 1:2 Study Bible: He was in the beginning with God.

◄ John 1:2 ►

He was with God in the beginning.

He
The pronoun "He" refers to the "Word" mentioned in John 1:1, which is understood to be Jesus Christ. In the original Greek, the term is "οὗτος" (houtos), emphasizing the identity and personhood of Christ. This highlights the personal nature of the Word, affirming that Jesus is not an abstract concept but a living being with a distinct identity. In the context of the Gospel of John, this sets the stage for understanding Jesus as both fully divine and fully human, a cornerstone of Christian theology.

was
The verb "was" is translated from the Greek "ἦν" (ēn), which is the imperfect tense of "to be." This tense indicates continuous action in the past, suggesting the eternal existence of the Word. It implies that Jesus did not come into being at a point in time but has always existed. This aligns with the Christian doctrine of the pre-existence of Christ, affirming His divine nature and eternal presence with God.

with God
The phrase "with God" is translated from the Greek "πρὸς τὸν Θεόν" (pros ton Theon). The preposition "πρὸς" (pros) suggests a close, intimate relationship, indicating not just proximity but a face-to-face relationship. This underscores the unity and fellowship between Jesus and God the Father, emphasizing the distinct persons within the Godhead while maintaining their oneness. This relational aspect is foundational to understanding the Trinity, where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit exist in perfect communion.

in the beginning
The phrase "in the beginning" is "ἐν ἀρχῇ" (en archē) in Greek, echoing the opening words of Genesis 1:1. This deliberate parallel draws a connection between the creation account and the role of Christ in creation. It signifies that Jesus was present at the very start of all things, participating in the creation of the universe. This affirms His sovereignty and authority over all creation, reinforcing the belief that all things were made through Him and for Him, as further elaborated in Colossians 1:16-17. This eternal perspective invites believers to trust in Christ's unchanging nature and His ultimate plan for creation.

Persons / Places / Events

1. The Word (Logos)
Refers to Jesus Christ, the pre-existent divine Word who was with God from the beginning. The term "Logos" in Greek signifies not only spoken word but also the reason and creative order of the universe.

2. God (Theos)
The one true God, the Creator of all things, with whom the Word was present from the beginning. This highlights the intimate relationship and unity between the Father and the Son.

3. The Beginning (Archi)
This term signifies the starting point of creation, emphasizing the eternal nature of the Word, who existed before time and creation.

Teaching Points

The Eternal Nature of Christ
Jesus is not a created being but has existed eternally with God. This affirms His divinity and the foundational Christian belief in the Trinity.

The Unity of the Trinity
The relationship between the Word and God in the beginning underscores the unity and distinct persons within the Trinity. This is a mystery that calls for reverence and worship.

The Foundation of Creation
Understanding that Christ was with God in the beginning provides a foundation for recognizing His authority over creation and His role in the redemption of the world.

The Importance of Christ in Our Lives
As the eternal Word, Jesus is central to our faith and life. We are called to align our lives with His teachings and recognize His sovereignty.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does understanding that Jesus was with God in the beginning impact your view of His authority and divinity?

2. In what ways does the concept of the Trinity, as seen in John 1:2, influence your understanding of God’s nature?

3. How can the eternal nature of Christ provide comfort and assurance in your daily life?

4. What are some practical ways you can acknowledge and honor Jesus as the foundation of creation in your personal and communal worship?

5. How does the unity and relationship between the Word and God challenge you to seek unity in your relationships with others, especially within the church community?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 1:1
The opening of Genesis parallels John 1:1-2, emphasizing the act of creation and the presence of the Word at the beginning.

Colossians 1:16-17
These verses affirm that all things were created through and for Christ, reinforcing His pre-existence and divine role in creation.

Hebrews 1:2-3
Highlights that God has spoken through His Son, who is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word.

Sermons

Christ and the Creation	D. Thomas, D. D.	John 1:2
The Eternity of Christ an Argument for His Oneness with the Father		John 1:2
The Value of Scripture Repetitions	Arrowsmith.	John 1:2
The Word in His Exaltation Over Time	Lange.	John 1:2
The Word Which was in the Beginning a Testimony	Lange.	John 1:2
With God	H. W. Watkins, D. D.	John 1:2
A Notable Conversion	J. J. Van Oosterzee, D. D.	John 1:1-5
Christ and God	D. Thomas, D. D.	John 1:1-5
Christ is God		John 1:1-5
Christ the True God		John 1:1-5
Christ the Word of God	J. Cumming, D. D.	John 1:1-5
Controversy About Christ	Bp.Ryle.	John 1:1-5
God not Solitary	J. Cynddylan Jones, D. D.	John 1:1-5
On Books	Charles Kingsley, M. A.	John 1:1-5
Practical Reflections	Bp. Ryle.	John 1:1-5
The Deity of Christ an Impossible Invention	Canon Liddon.	John 1:1-5
The Divine Father and Son	Arrowsmith.	John 1:1-5
The Divinity of Christ Revealed in the Gospel of John	Dr. Pentecost.	John 1:1-5
The Heavenly Analogy of the Connection of Speech with Reason	Dean Goulburn.	John 1:1-5
The Nature of Christ Perfectly Similar and Equal to that of the Eternal Father	J. F. Denham.	John 1:1-5
The Origin of the Term Logos, or Word	T. Whitelaw, D. D.	John 1:1-5
The Relation of This Revelation with that of Genesis 1	J. Culross, D. D.	John 1:1-5
The Resemblance Between the Written and the Personal Word	Dean Goulburn.	John 1:1-5
The Term Word Applicable to Christ	G. Steward.	John 1:1-5
The Word	J. Cynddylan Jones, D. D.	John 1:1-5
The Word	W. Denton, M. A., Beaux Amis.	John 1:1-5
The Word Made Flesh	W. Perkins.	John 1:1-5
The Word of Scripture Concerning the Beginning	Lange., Lange.	John 1:1-5
What is Gained by Defending the Eternal Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ	J. Cynddylan Jones, D. D.	John 1:1-5

People

Andrew, Cephas, Elias, Elijah, Esaias, Isaiah, Jesus, John, Jona, Jonah, Jonas, Joseph, Levites, Nathanael, Peter, Philip, Simon

Places

Bethany Beyond Jordan, Bethsaida, Galilee, Jordan River, Nazareth

Topics

Beginning, Relation

Dictionary of Bible Themes

John 1:1-2

     2030   Christ, holiness
     4903   time
     9121   eternity, nature of

John 1:1-3

     2018   Christ, divinity
     4026   world, God's creation
     5627   word

John 1:1-9

1436 reality

John 1:1-18

8474 seeing God

Library

Grace
Eversley. 1856. St. John i. 16, 17. "Of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." I wish you to mind particularly this word GRACE. You meet it very often in the Bible. You hear often said, The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Now, what does this word grace mean? It is really worth your while to know; for if a man or a woman has not grace, they will be very unhappy people, and very disagreeable …
Charles Kingsley—All Saints' Day and Other Sermons

June 25 Morning
When he shall appear, we shall be like him; we shall see him as he is.--I JOHN 3:2. As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.--Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these we might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

January 20 Morning
His name shall be called Wonderful.--ISA. 9:6. 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.--Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. They shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.--JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. All men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father.--God . . . hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

September 24 Evening
Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.--II COR. 8:9. 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.--Thou are fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips.--All bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. Ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.--He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself.--We speak that we do know, …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

October 21 Morning
Of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.--JOHN 1:16. This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.--Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. His Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things.--If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. I and my Father are one. The Father is in me, and I in him.--My Father, and your …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

March 12 Morning
The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.--NUM. 6:25,26. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.--The brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.--The god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

November 21 Evening
His dear Son.--COL. 1:13. Lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.--Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth.--The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

February 23 Morning
The blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.--HEB. 12:24. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.--The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.--It is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

April 28 Morning
Behold the Lamb of God.--JOHN 1:29. It is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: in burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me) to do thy will, O God.--He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he is brought as a lamb to …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

May 29 Morning
The life of the flesh is in the blood: and I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls: for it is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.--LEV. 17:11. Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.--The blood of the Lamb.--The precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.--Without shedding of blood is no remission.--The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. By his own blood he entered in once into …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

January 16 Evening
Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter.--REV. 1:19. Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.--That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

May 19 Evening
Fellowship in the gospel.--PHI. 1:5. As the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.--That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

November 15 Morning
God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.--I COR. 1:9. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for he is faithful that promised.--God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.--Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.--Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

March 8 Morning
Thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.--ISA. 38:17. Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger forever, because he delighteth in mercy. He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

March 20 Morning
The entrance of thy words giveth light.--PSA. 119:130. This . . . is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.--God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.--The Word was God. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.--If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

October 11 Evening
Hallowed be thy name.--MATT. 6:9. Thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?--Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.--I saw . . . the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

February 26 Morning
Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord.--LAM. 3:40. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.--Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.--I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. I made haste and delayed not to keep thy commandments.--Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

May 24 Evening
I will go and return to my place, till they acknowledge their offence, and seek my face.--HOS. 5:15. Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, your sins have hid his face from you.--My beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone: . . . I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.--I hid me, and was wroth, and he went on forwardly in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, and will heal him.--Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

November 12 Morning
Godly sorrow worketh repentance not to be repented of.--II COR. 7:10. Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly.--If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.--The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of my …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

December 23 Morning
Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with me.--ISA. 27:5. I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil.--There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked. In Christ Jesus ye who sometime were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace. It pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell: and having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself.--Christ Jesus: …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

June 24 Evening
Master, where dwellest thou? He saith unto them, Come and see.--JOHN 1:38,39. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.--To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne. Thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

February 15 Morning
Who can say, I have made my heart clean?--PROV. 20:9. The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God. They are all gone aside, they are all together become filthy: there is none that doeth good, no, not one.--They that are in the flesh cannot please God. To will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.--We are all as an …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

The Son of Thunder
ST. JOHN i. 1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. We read this morning the first chapter of the Gospel according to St. John. Some of you, I am sure, must have felt, as you heard it, how grand was the very sound of the words. Some one once compared the sound of St. John's Gospel to a great church bell: simple, slow, and awful; and awful just because it is so simple and slow. The words are very short,--most of them of one syllable,--so that even a child …
Charles Kingsley—Discipline and Other Sermons

'Three Tabernacles'
'The Word ... dwelt among us.'--JOHN i. 14. '... He that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell among them.'--REV. vii. 15. '... Behold, the Tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them.'--REV. xxi. 3. The word rendered 'dwelt' in these three passages, is a peculiar one. It is only found in the New Testament--in this Gospel and in the Book of Revelation. That fact constitutes one of the many subtle threads of connection between these two books, which at first sight seem so extremely unlike …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Links

John 1:2 NIV
John 1:2 NLT
John 1:2 ESV
John 1:2 NASB
John 1:2 KJV

John 1:2 Commentaries

Bible Hub