King James Version
John 1:1
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:1 in other versions
- New International Version (NIV)In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- English Standard Version (ESV)In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- New King James Version (NKJV)In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
- New Living Translation (NLT)In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Context of John 1:1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Read all of John 1John 1:1 word by word
Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος, καὶ ὁ λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν θεόν, καὶ θεὸς ἦν ὁ λόγος.Read the interlinear
Cross-references for John 1:1
- Genesis 1:1In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
- Proverbs 8:22The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
- Ephesians 3:9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
- Colossians 1:17And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
- Hebrews 1:10And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:
- Hebrews 7:3Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.
- Hebrews 13:8Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
- Revelation 1:2Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw.
- Revelation 2:8And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive;
- Revelation 21:6And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
- Revelation 22:13I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
- John 1:14And 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.
- 1 John 1:1That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
- 1 John 5:7For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
- Revelation 19:13And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
- John 1:18No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Commentaries on John 1:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1In the beginning - That is, before any thing was formed - ere God began the great work of creation. This is the meaning of the word in Genesis 1:1, to which the evangelist evidently alludes. This phrase fully proves, in the mouth of an inspired writer, that Jesus Christ was no part of the creation, as he existed when no part of that existed; and that consequently he is no creature, as all created nature was formed by him: for without him was nothing made…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1In the beginning - This expression is used also in Genesis 1:1. John evidently has allusion here to that place, and he means to apply to “the Word” an expression which is there applied “to God.” In both places it clearly means before creation, before the world was made, when as yet there was nothing. The meaning is: that the “Word” had an existence before the world was created. This is not spoken of the man Jesus, but of that which “became” a man, or was…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The apostle and evangelist, John, seems to have been the youngest of the twelve. He was especially favoured with our Lord's regard and confidence, so as to be spoken of as the disciple whom Jesus loved. He was very sincerely attached to his Master. He exercised his ministry at Jerusalem with much success, and outlived the destruction of that city, agreeably to Christ's prediction, ch. 21:22. History relates that after the death of Christ's mother, John…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1In the beginning: Using the same phrase as the beginning of the Old Testament (Genesis 1:1), the Gospel of John introduces Jesus Christ as the one through whom God created everything (John 1:3). Through Jesus, God also creates new life in those who believe (1:12–13). The Gospel of John begins with its central claim: Jesus Christ, the Word (logos), not only revealed God but was God. The Greek word logos means “word” or “message.” The logos is the Word of…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1The author of the Fourth Gospel was the younger of the two sons of Zebedee, a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee, who resided at Bethsaida, where were born Peter and Andrew his brother, and Philip also. His mother's name was Salome, who, though not without her imperfections (Mt 20:20-28), was one of those dear and honored women who accompanied the Lord on one of His preaching circuits through Galilee, ministering to His bodily wants; who followed Him to the…Read the comment
Topics related to John 1:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on John 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
King James Version — Public Domain except in the United Kingdom (Crown rights)
Commentaries