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        "The Preincarnate Word"
        John 1:1-5
        Theme:         Jesus Christ is the eternal revelation of the glory of God.

      I. The Existence of the Word Before Creation – 1:1-2

        A. The Condition of the Word as God – v. 1

          1. In this book, John the Apostle (called the "beloved one" by the Lord Jesus) sets forth the account of the life of Christ for the distinct purpose of providing proof of the deity of the Son of God so that men might believe in Him – cp. John 20:30-31
          2. With this purpose in mind, John immediately begins addressing the issue by referring to a new beginning – in words that echo the creation of the world, John states: "In the beginning . . ." – a reference to the time when time was not – eternity past.
          3. This point is driven home by the next term – "was" – an imperfect past tense which emphasizes the continual existence of "the Word"
          4. "The Word" (logo") is a term used in the NT only by John and is used to describe what is that perfect expression or revelation of the Person and character of God.
          5. Hence John declares that from eternity past, "the Word" existed – that is, there never was a time when God did not manifest Himself or express His glory
          6. He goes a step beyond that here – "and the Word was with God" – a statement that demonstrates a reciprocity between the existence of "the Word" and "God" – cp. Proverbs 8:27-30
          7. John then makes the clarifying statement that provides us an awareness of the identity of "the Word" and keeps us from seeing it in the sense of a mere force emanating from God – "and the Word was God"
          8. This statement has to be understood against the backdrop of the tremendously solid conviction of monotheism that characterized the author – there is only one God – not many
          9. John is not merely saying that there is something divine Jesus (who he later identifies as the Word cp. v. 18), but that He is God – as seen in the word order of this phrase (kai Qeo" hn o logo") "God" is first in word order.

        B. The Camaraderie of the Word with God – v. 2

          1. Again, in order to nail it down, he comes back clarifies that he is not talking about the mystical "logos" that is part of the Greek schools of philosophy, but as 2nd Person of the Trinity – "He was (in an eternally continual existence) in the beginning with God"
          2. "The fact that One may be said to be ‘with’ the Other clearly differentiates them. Yet though they are distinct, there is no disharmony. John’s expression points us to the perfect unity in which they are joined." (Morris, p. 79) – cp. Genesis 1:26

      II. The Eminence of the Word in Creation – 1:3

        A. The Emphasis of the Involvement by the Word

          1. Having established that prior to the creation, "the Word" eternally existed in perfect harmony and fellowship "with God," John now transitions to the interaction of "the Word" with creation – "All things came into being through Him."
          2. This marvelous statement sets in contrast the continual existence (imperfect tense) of "the Word" with the inception (aorist tense) of everything that was made.
          3. Here, "the Word" is seen as the agent by which creation occurred – everything that was created, that had a beginning – came through the will and power of "the Word" as directed from the Father.

        B. The Extent of the Involvement by the Word

          1. Again, the extent to which "the Word" was involved is delineated through a restatement of what John said above – only in the negative form: "and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being."
          2. The emphasis is that every incidental "one by one" passed through the agency of "the Word" extending to everything that exists.
          3. What we see around us daily then, is a result of the creative power of "the Word" – that is, everything that not exists can trace its existence back to the past moment when it first entered existence by the hand of "the Word"

      III. The Estrangement from the Word by Creation – 1:4-5

        A. The Fulfillment Offered by the Light – v. 4

          1. Having established that "the Word" created all things, John now indicates that He did not merely set things in motion and let them alone – but remained involved as the fulfillment of life.
          2. "In Him was life," – a reference to the fact that there is more to "life" than mere existence – that the fulfillment of existence is found only in the person of "the Word" who desires to not only establish your existence through creation, but to give you fullness of life through Him.
          3. Later, in the epistle of 1 John, this author will elaborate on this issue when he states "He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life." – 1 John 5:12
          4. This concept of "life" dominates the book as a theme – the term (zwh) being used fifty four times – and denotes the fullest, highest, most blessed life that only God can provide – eternal life.
          5. He mixes metaphors here and attests that "the life was the Light of men." – a reference to the Person previously called "the Word" also serves as a stark contrast to the darkness of men’s sin – cp. Psalm 36:9.

        B. The Failure of Those in Darkness – v. 5

          1. This contrast between "light" and darkness is essentially a comparison between righteousness and depravity – that the life that is in "the Word" is perfectly righteous and sinless.
          2. This contrast is so stark, that John says that "The Light shines in the darkness" – a reference to the fact that there is no harmony between the life that is available in "the Word" and the darkness that consumes the soul of the lost – the subjection to sin and falsehood in which humanity lives.
          3. You would think that the darkness would welcome the light and embrace it warmly, however – "the darkness did not comprehend it." – meaning that it did not lay hold of it.
          4. Once again there is a reference to the continued state of existence of the "Light" that most probably describes the presence of Christ in the affairs of this world from creation to crucifixion – a presence that was rejected in its fullest at the crucifixion – cp. John 3:20.
          5. The darkness could not overcome the light, but the light prevailed - cp. Luke 24:25-27.

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