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FAQ # 127

QUESTION  127 :  Does John 1:1 show one God, or separate persons within the Godhead?

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). The key to understanding this verse is substituting the names for the titles that have been outlined above. For example-

1. In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God the Father, and Jesus was God
    the Father
!

“Trinitarian” may say that God in John 1:1 refers to the trinity (although the scriptures plainly tell us that- "there is but one God, the Father -1 Cor. 8:6). So let us see what happens if the trinity is inserted in place of God-

2. In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with the trinity, and Jesus was the trinity!

No conclusive separation of persons is found in John 1:1. No wonder Colossians 2:8-10 says-

"...In (Christ) dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all..."

{Source: Tom R.}

Part 2

I have also heard it claimed that the Greek word pros (with) means "in a face to face relationship" in this passage. Now pros can mean "in a face to face relationship," but this would only hold true in our passage if it is first demonstrated that the word is another person than theos (God). If, however, the word does not refer to a person in this phrase then it would still mean "with" but not "in a face to face relationship." That it does not refer to a person can be seen in the parallel account by the same author in 1 John. In a very similar statement, John says "What was from the beginning . . . concerning the Word of Life . . . which was with (pros) the Father and was manifested to us" (1 John1:1,2). God’s life was with him, but not "in a face to face relationship" with him. God’s life is not a separate person from himself and neither is his word.

I believe that the word of God is simply a reference to the expression of God. In Revelation 19:13 (John writing again), Jesus is called "the Word of God." The book of Hebrews tells us that, "God . . . has spoken to us in his Son" (Heb. 1:1,2). Jesus is himself the content of what God has spoken. He is the visible "image of the invisible God" (Col. 1:15), "the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person" (Heb. 1:3, KJV). "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him" (John 1:18, KJV). The word translated "declared" in this last verse is exegeomai, from which we get the word exegete. Jesus has "made known," "explained," "described" or "revealed" God. To use colloquial terminology, he’s the splittin’ image of his daddy. No one can see God, but you can see his glory. Jesus is "the brightness of his glory" (Heb. 1:3).

{Source: William Arnold III}

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