Language
οὗτος (This )αὐτός , the standard Greek word for “he.” Therefore, what John literally meant is “this” or “this one.”- John 1:34, “And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
- Matthew 3:17b, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
ἦν (was )εἰμί (to be). Although it’s past tense in English, the Greek imperfect tense signifies a continuous or ongoing state of being in the past, showing that the Word continuously or eternally existed with God, highlighting a pre-existent and enduring relationship.- Revelation 1:8, “‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, ‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.'”
ἐν ἀρχῇ (in [the] beginning )ἐν (in) and the dative case nounἀρχῇ (beginning), adding the definite article “the” because it refers to a specific beginning, the beginning of creation. He was there! The doctrine of pre-existence is foundational to understanding the divine nature of Jesus Christ.- Proverbs 8:23, “Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.”
πρὸς τὸν Θεόν (with God )πρὸς (with) suggests not merely being with or beside, but “face-to-face with,” indicating an active, engaged presence. This phrase implies both intimacy and distinctness between the Word (Son) and God (Father).- 1 John 1:1-2, “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. The life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us.”
Insights
- Essence and Substance: The Word is distinct as a person for He was with God, yet identical in substance, for He was God (Hebrews 1:3).
- Complacency and Felicity: Christ had a glory and happiness with God before the world was created (John 17:5), the Son infinitely happy in the enjoyment of his Father’s bosom, and the Father finding His delight in the Son of His love (Proverbs 8:30).
- Counsel and Design: The mystery of human redemption by this Word incarnate was hid in God before the creation of world (Ephesians 3:9). The one who came to reconcile us to God (1 Peter 3:18) has been with God since eternity. This crucial plan for reconciling humanity to God was devised by the Father and the Son from the beginning, with perfect understanding between them, as noted in Zechariah 6:13 and Matthew 11:27. The Son was with the Father as one brought up with Him for this service (Proverbs 8:30); therefore is said to come forth from the Father.
Why Repeat?Albert Barnes: This seems to be a repetition of what was said in the first verse; but it is stated over again to guard the doctrine, and to prevent the possibility of a mistake. John had said that he existed before the creation, and that he was with God; but he had not said in the first verse that the union with God existed in the beginning. He now expresses that idea, and assures us that that union was not one which was commenced in time, and which might be, therefore, a mere union of feeling, or a compact, like that between any other beings, but was one which existed in eternity, and which was therefore a union of nature or essence. (Barnes’ Notes on NT).
C. H. Spurgeon: John is the majestic evangelist. He is the high-soaring eagle with piercing eyes. His is the Gospel of the Son of God. We cannot describe the deity of Christ in clearer language than John uses. He was with God. He was God. He did the works of God, for he was the Creator. If any doubt his deity, they must do so in distinct defiance of the language of Holy Scripture. (Spurgeon Study Bible)
Cross-References
“The infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scripture itself. Therefore, when there is a question about the true and full meaning of any Scripture (which is not manifold, but one), that meaning must be searched out and ascertained by other places that speak more clearly.” (WCF 1.9)
- John 1:1, “In [the] beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
- John Calvin: “In order to impress more deeply on our minds what had been already said, the Evangelist condenses the two preceding clauses (in v.1) into a brief summary (v.2), that the Speech/Word always was, and that He was with God; so that it may be understood that the beginning was before all time.” (Calvin’s Commentary)
- Matthew 1:23, “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
- J. C. Ryle: “Let us often read these verses. Let us mark that the Saviour in whom the believer is bid to trust is nothing less than the Eternal God, One able to save to the uttermost all that come to the Father by Him. He that was ‘with God,’ and ‘was God,’ is also ‘Emmanuel, God with us.'” (Practical Reflection)
- Proverbs 8:27,30, “When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, … then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always.”
- Matthew Poole: “Lest any should say, Where was this Word before the foundations of the earth were laid? The evangelist saith, with God, which agreeth with Proverbs 8:27, 30. This both distinguishes Christ from all creatures, (none of which were with God in the beginning), and also showeth the vanity of Sabellius, and those we call quakers, who will not allow Christ to be a distinct subsistence, or person, from his Father: it also denotes the Son’s co-existence and his equality with his Father; and yet his filial relation; for God is not said to have been with the Father, but the Word with God. This Word, who was from eternity, co-existed with God the Father.” (Matthew Poole’s Commentary)
- Colossians 1:17, “And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
- This ties directly to John 1:2, showing Christ’s pre-existence and His active role in sustaining creation, reinforcing His divine nature and eternal presence with God.
Tri-Perspectivalism
“In the ‘normative perspective,’ we ask the question, ‘What do God’s norms direct us to believe?’ In the ‘situational perspective,’ we ask, ‘What are the facts?’ In the ‘existential perspective,’ we ask, ‘What belief is most satisfying to a believing heart?’” (John Frame, Theology in Three Dimensions)
Normative Perspective - Jesus’ Eternal Existence – John 1:2 says, “He was in the beginning with God.” This affirms the eternal existence of Jesus Christ, the Word, as He was with God from the very beginning. It reflects the doctrine of the Trinity, revealing that Jesus, the Son, is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father. He is not a created being, but eternally existent, fully divine. Scripture affirms His unchanging nature, as God is eternal and sovereign over all creation (Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 13:8).
Situational Perspective - Jesus’ Preeminence in Creation – The fact that Jesus was with God “in the beginning” shows His preeminence in the unfolding of creation and redemption. This situates Him at the center of God’s plan from the start. In a world that often denies the eternal nature and divinity of Christ, this verse situates Jesus as foundational. He is not an afterthought or reaction, but the eternal Lord who governs history and creation from the very beginning (Revelation 22:13).
Existential Perspective - Jesus Is Our Anchor in Eternity – On a personal level, this verse reminds us that Jesus, who was from the beginning, is the same Lord we trust in today. He is unchanging and eternal, and our faith rests in Him as our constant, unshakeable source of hope. His eternal nature gives us assurance in a world that is often unpredictable and unstable. When we recognize that He was with God from the beginning, we can trust Him to guide us through all times and circumstances (Hebrews 6:19; Malachi 3:6).
