The Beginning of the Logos-John 1

                                                   The Beginning of the Logos-John 1

 The Beginning of John 1 has been used to support the Doctrine of the Trinity. The Trinitarian view of John 1 describes Jesus as the Logos (The Word) involved in the original Genesis creation of the universe. I call inconsistency on this view because the Logos is used differently in Luke 1’s prologue and many other passages in the Bible. The Greek word Logos  actually means the spoken word of God (it can also refer to Torah/Wisdom because it is a loaded term), not Jesus himself. Jesus would had to be presupposed and read into the text in order to make it work. Logos is used to describe the revelation of the Messiah.  The emphasis on the FLESH was to combat the false doctrine of Docetism in 1 John 4:2. Docetism teaches that Jesus was a spirit, not a physical man (before the resurrection). When the Holy Spirit fell on Jesus during his baptism, this brought THE WORD/PLAN into fruition. Jesus was born from the Holy Spirit and was given the Holy Spirit at baptism. Below, I will share verses on how John’s writings are talking about the BEGINNING OF JESUS’ MINISTRY/The Gospel, NOT THE ORIGINAL CREATION OF GENESIS. We need to allow John to interpret John before even considering the other books of the Bible.

The logos is used over 250 times in the Bible, yet it is capitalized only about seven times in the NIV and the KJV. Even in those two translations there is disagreement on what verses should be capitalized. This is strong evidence of translator bias.

The logos does not equal Jesus. That is begging the question and special pleading. It is begging the question because logos anywhere else in the New Testament does not translate into Jesus. It has a wide semantic range. It can mean spoken word, reason, plan, or even purpose. For example in Luke 1 and First John, logos is NOT capitalized. Both these examples are talking about Jesus too.

It is special pleading because the beginning is used as the beginning of the Gospel everywhere else in the Gospel of John. The burden of proof falls on the person to justify this as the Genesis 1:1 beginning. A Genesis 1:1 interpretation causes even more problems. If Jesus is God, he did not have a beginning. The beginning nowhere means eternity past. The only two characters mentioned in Genesis 1 and 2 are God the Father and the Holy Spirit, nothing about the Son.

The Greek word Theos can refer to Satan (2 Corinthians 4:4), lesser gods (1 Corinthians 8:5) and men with authority (John 10:34- 35; Acts 12:22). It doesn't mean that Jesus is God in the same way as the Father automatically. Translator bias is a problem here.

The last clause in John 1:1 says theos en ho logos. According to the rules of Greek grammar, when two nouns are joined by the verb “to be,” and when both have the definite article, then both subjects are intended to be connected with each other. However, when there is no article, the subject functions more like an adjective than a noun. In this case, it describes the qualities / characteristics to which the subject belongs. 

The Journal of Biblical Literature says that expressions “with an anarthrous [no article] predicate preceding the verb, are primarily qualitative in meaning.” As the Journal states, this indicates that the logos can be likened to a god. It also says of John 1:1: “The qualitative force of the predicate is so prominent that the noun [theos] cannot be regarded as definite.”

The Beginning

Every time John mentions the Greek word Arche (Beginning) in the Gospels and Epistles, it always refer to Jesus' ministry. The only exception is Revelation in which it is referring to God or Jesus' authority or Jesus as the Author of the New Covenant Creation.

John 6:64 English Standard Version 64 But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from THE BEGINNING who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.)

John 8:25 English Standard Version 25 So they said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Just what I have been telling you from THE BEGINNING.

John 15:27 English Standard Version 27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with me from THE BEGINNING.

John 16:4 English Standard Version 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you.  “I did not say these things to you from the THE BEGINNING, because I was with you.

Mark 1:1 English Standard Version 1 THE BEGINNING of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

1 John 1:1 English Standard Version  1 That which was from THE BEGINNING, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—

1 John 2:7 English Standard Version  7 Beloved, I am writing you no new commandment, but an old commandment that you had from THE BEGINNING. The old commandment is the word that you have heard.

1 John 2:13-14 English Standard Version 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know him who is from THE BEGINNING. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I write to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you know him who is from THE BEGINNING. I write to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.

1 John 2:24 English Standard Version 24 Let what you heard from THE BEGINNING abide in you. If what you heard from THE BEGINNING abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father.

1 John 3:11 English Standard Version 11 For this is the message that you have heard from THE BEGINNING that we should love one another.

2 John 1:5-6 English Standard Version 5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from THE BEGINNING—that we love one another. 6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from THE BEGINNING, so that you should walk in it.

Revelation 3:14 English Standard Version To the Church in Laodicea 14 “And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.

NOTE: Jesus is the Author of the New Covenant Creation.

Matthew 1:1 English Standard Version 1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

NOTE: Genealogy’s Greek word is genesis, which means origin.

Luke 1:1-2 English Standard Version 1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things that have been accomplished among us, 2 just as those who from THE BEGINNING were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word have delivered them to us

NOTE: This is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

Philippians 4:15 English Standard Version 15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in THE BEGINNING of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.

NOTE: This is the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.

Acts 11:15 English Standard Version 15 As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on us at THE BEGINNING.

NOTE: This Beginning is the Pentecost here.

John 8:44 English Standard Version 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from THE BEGINNING, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

NOTE: The Beginning here is Jesus’ first encounter with Satan in the wilderness. Not eternity/before creation. Satan is a liar and a murderer because he twisted Psalm 91:11-12 and try to tell Jesus to jump from the pinnacle of the Temple. This includes Satan tempting King Herod. See Revelation 12:3-5.

1 John 3:8 English Standard Version 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from THE BEGINNING The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.

NOTE: The Beginning here is Jesus’ first encounter with Satan in the wilderness. Not eternity/before creation. Satan is a liar and a murderer because he twisted Psalm 91:11-12 and try to tell Jesus to jump from the pinnacle of the Temple. This includes Satan tempting King Herod. See Revelation 12:3-5.

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John 1

John 1:1 English Standard Version 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was WITH God, and the Word was God (divine).

NOTE: The Word is not a person because it was “WITH GOD” as a possession. We can see that the word WITH can be used in several other contexts. The beginning is Jesus’ ministry/gospel. After 400 years of prophetic silence, God’s spoken word is heard once again through Jesus the Messiah.  God's Wisdom cries once again in the public squares through Jesus. God’s spoken word is divine unlike the false prophets of tradition at that time. See below on two translations. 

Moreover, there is no longer anymore regular prophets, but the Son of God-Hebrews 1:1-2. John 1 can alternatively be translated as "The Word was divine", "The Word was godlike”, or “ The Word was of God.” See translations below. Divine means belonging to God, not God itself.

 John 1:1 Moffatt Translation 1 THE Logos existed in the very beginning, the Logos was with God, the Logos was divine. 

John 1:1 The New English Bible 1 In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and what God was the word was.

John 1:1 Goodspeed New Testament Translation In the beginning the Word existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was divine.

John 1:1 The Authentic New Testament (Schonfield)- In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God. So the Word was divine.

"WITH" USAGE

Job 10:13 New King James Version 13 ‘And these things You have hidden in Your heart; I know that this was WITH You.

Job 23:14 New King James Version 14 For He performs what is appointed for me, And many such things are WITH Him.

1 Samuel 25:25 English Standard Version 25 Let not my lord regard this worthless fellow, Nabal, for as his name is, so is he. Nabal is his name, and folly is WITH him. But I your servant did not see the young men of my lord, whom you sent.

Job 31:5 English Standard Version 5 “If I have walked WITH falsehood and my foot has hastened to deceit;

Job 12:16 English Standard Version 16 WITH him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are his.

Job 12:13 English Standard Version 13 “WITH God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.

Wisdom 9:9 Good News Translation 9 Wisdom is WITH you and knows your actions; she was present when you made the world. She knows what pleases you, what is right and in accordance with your commands.

Sirach 1:1 Good News Translation 1 All wisdom comes from the Lord, and Wisdom is WITH him forever.

The Word of God/Jesus can be Wisdom Personified

Proverbs 1:20-21 English Standard Version 20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

NOTE: After 400 years of silence, Jesus is personified wisdom shouting to repent for the Kingdom is near.

Proverbs 3:13, 19 English Standard Version 13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens.

NOTE: Jesus is the beginning and author of the New Covenant Creation. Revelation 3:14.

Proverbs 8:1, 4, 6-8 English Standard Version 8 Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?   4"To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. 6 Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, 7 for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

Proverbs 8:23 English Standard Version 23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.

Proverbs 8:27 English Standard Version 27 When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep

Proverbs 8:30 English Standard Version 30  then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,

Proverbs 9:1-3 English Standard Version 9 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. 2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town,

Psalm 104:24 English Standard Version 24 O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

Psalm 33:6 English Standard Version 6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and by the breath of his mouth all their host.

Psalm 136:5 English Standard Version 5 to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever;

Wisdom 9:10 Revised Standard Version 10 Send her forth from the holy heavens, and from the throne of thy glory send her, that she may be with me and toil, and that I may learn what is pleasing to thee.

Sirach 24:8 Revised Standard Version 8 “Then the Creator of all things gave me a commandment, and the one who created me assigned a place for MY TENT. And he said, ‘MAKE YOUR DWELLING IN JACOB and in Israel receive your inheritance.’

John 1:14 English Standard Version 14 And the Word became flesh and DWELT AMONG US, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

NOTE: Compare this to John 1:14. Personified Wisdom is dwelling among humanity just like Jesus who is the embodiment of God's wisdom did. The Proverbs 31 wife is personifed wisdom and Simon the High Priest in Sirach 50. Also, the Holy Spirit is feminine in the Old Testament.

Matthew 11:19 English Standard Version 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

NOTE: See also Luke 7:35. Some translations have children instead of deeds. It should be translated as fruit (actions). Jesus is described as personified wisdom.

Mark 6:2 English Standard Version 2 And on the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things? What is the wisdom given to him? How are such mighty works done by his hands?

Luke 2:40, 52 English Standard Version 40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor WITH GOD and man.

Luke 11:49 English Standard Version 49 Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and persecute,’

John 7:15 English Standard Version 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning,when he has never studied?”

1 Corinthians 1:24, 30 English Standard Version 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God...30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who BECAME to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption

NOTE: Jesus BECAME wisdom from God, not that He was initally. The Holy Spirit resting in him made this possible.

Colossians 2:3 English Standard Version 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

1 Kings 3:12 English Standard Version 12 behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you.

Matthew 12:42 English Standard Version 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

NOTE: Jesus is the Greater Solomon and Expression of Wisdom.

John 1:1-14,18 Young's Literal Translation 1 In the beginning was the Word (WISDOM), and the Word (WISDOM) was with God, and the Word (WISDOM) was God (DIVINE); 2 THIS ONE (Jesus) was in the beginning WITH GOD (John 7:29); 3 all things through him (Jesus) did happen, and without him (Jesus) happened not even one thing that hath happened. 4 In him (Jesus) was life (God the Father), and the life (The Father) was the light of men (1 John 1:5), 5 and the light in the darkness did shine, and the darkness did not perceive it. 6 There came a man -- having been sent from God -- whose name [is] John

7 THIS ONE (John the Baptist) came for testimony, that he might testify about the Light (The Father), that all might believe through him (John); 8 that one was not the Light, but -- that he might testify about the Light. 9 He was the true Light (The Father), which doth enlighten every man, coming to the world; 10 in the world he (The Father) was, and the world through him (The Father)  was made, and the world did not know him (John 15:21, 16:3, 17:25) 11 to his (The Father) own things he came, and his own people did not receive him; 12 but as many as did receive him  (Matthew 11:27; John 15:15, 17:3) to them he gave authority to become sons of God -- to those believing in his name, 13 who -- not of blood nor of a will of flesh, nor of a will of man but -- of God were begotten. 14 And the Word became (manifested in/revealed in) flesh (Jesus) (John 1:26, 31-33; 17:6, 21:1, 14, 14:22, 18:4; 1 John 1:2), and did tabernacle among us, and we beheld his glory (John 2:11), glory as of an only begotten of a father, full of grace and truth.....18 God no one hath ever seen; the only begotten Son, who is on the bosom of the Father ( 2 Samuel 12:3; John 13:23)  he did declare (Matthew 3:16, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:21, John 1:32, Ezekiel 1:1, Acts 7:56, Acts 10:11, Revelation 4:1).

NOTE: The phrase “THIS ONE” is comparing and contrasting Jesus’ ministry with John the Baptist’s ministry. God was with Jesus at the beginning of the gospel through the Holy Spirit. All of the events of the New Covenant came to be through Jesus and without the Son nothing would have happened. God was with Jesus at His Baptism and in the wilderness temptation. John the Baptist then gets arrested and Jesus starts proclaiming the gospel. This is the beginning of John 1:2- See also Matthew 4:12,17; Mark 1:14-15, Luke 4:14-15. 

The other “THIS ONE” is in verse 1:7. It is referring to John the Baptist. The Father’s power (The Holy Spirit) dwells in Jesus. The Father is the True Light inside of Jesus coming into Israel/Greco-Roman world. Jesus has manifested/revealed himself as the Messiah (John 1:31). Being at the bosom of the Father doesn’t mean pre-existence. It means to be in a position of closeness ( 2 Samuel 12:3, 8; Luke 6:38 KJV; John 13:23). At his baptism, the secrets of heaven were opened to Jesus-the man from heaven (with Heavenly Knowledge)- Matthew 13:11, Matthew 19:11; Luke 8:10; John 1:51. To be born again is to be “from Heaven”-Ephesians 5:6, 1 John 4:6, John 3:2-3, 8, Psalm 87:1-7.

Manifest -The Greek word for manifest is phaneroō. It doesn't mean transformation. It means to be appear or to reveal one's self. It is a common idiom similar " To arrive on the scene, burst upon the scene, or in the flesh."  So when we read the Word was made in flesh,  we should be thinking that Jesus manifested (revealed) the works of the Father unto the People of Israel. That's it. 

1 Timothy 3:16 English Standard Version 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was MANIFESTED IN THE FLESH, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. 

1 John 1:2 King James Version 2 (For THE LIFE WAS MANIFESTED, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 

John 17:6 King James Version 6 I have MANIFESTED THY NAME unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. 

NOTE: Jesus manifested the Father's authority. It doesn't make him God the Father or a God of some sorts. 

John 21:1 Legacy Standard Bible After these things Jesus MANIFESTED Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He MANIFESTED Himself in this way. 

NOTE: Jesus revealed himself again at Sea. It's not a special Greek word for pre-existence. 

1 John 2:19 King James Version 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made MANIFEST that they were not all of us. 

NOTE: Those who left the assembly were revealed to be unfaithful. 

John 1:31 King James Version 31 And I knew him not: but that he should be MADE MANIFEST to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. 

NOTE: Jesus revealed the Father unto the People of Israel. 

John 9:3 King James Version 3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be MADE MANIFEST in him. 

NOTE: The works of God were made manifested in the blind man's flesh. Does that make him God? So why do we do that with Jesus? 

2 Corinthians 4:10-11 King James Version 10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be MADE MANIFEST in our body.11 For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be MADE MANIFEST in our mortal flesh. 

NOTE: The works of Jesus are made manifest in our mortal flesh. Does that make us exactly like Jesus? No!!!! Jesus manifested the Father in his flesh. It does not make him the Father. We manifest Jesus in our flesh. It does not make us Jesus. 

Ginomai- to be made, to appear, came to be, or be brought forth. It is not a fancy word used for pre-existence. 

John 1:14 King James Version 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. 

See Matthew 13:21, 13:32, 14:23,  18:3, 18:31, 21:42; Mark 4:17.