“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:1-2.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:1-3.
The important thing to remember about the words, “In the beginning…” in both of these passages is that they refer to the beginning of everything, whether the heavens and everything in them or the earth and the things on it, including life.
These words mean literally, in the beginning. In the beginning also means that God and the Word were there before the beginning, just as your parents were there before your conception, in your beginning.
“The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms…” Deuteronomy 33:27a.
“For thus says the High and Lofty One who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.’” Isaiah 57:15.
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse…” Romans 1:20.
What there was before that is something you and I are going to have to ask God some time in eternity, though I am not sure we will completely understand the answer.
In the Genesis passage, God is credited with the creation of everything. In the passage in the gospel of John it is said that the “Word” was there in the beginning also; so let us confirm who, or what the Word was. We know that we are not dealing with a what because the personal is brought up in verse 2.
“He was in the beginning with God.” John 1:2.
The apostle John, the inspired writer of the book, identifies the Word as being the Son of God later in the chapter.
“And the Word became 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.” John 1:14.
“No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.” John 1:18.
Again John refers to Jesus as the Word in his epistle (letter) written 90 A.D. to all the Christians in Asia Minor, and to us.
“That 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, concerning the Word of life – the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us – that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.” 1 John 1:1-4.
“For there are three who bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one.” 1 John 5:7.
Jesus Christ is again called the Word at the beginning of the battle of Armageddon in the last book in the Bible, the book of Revelation.
“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.” Revelation 19:11-13.
Jesus, the Word, is rightfully called the beginning and the end.
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8.
It has also been demonstrated that Scripture plainly portrays Jesus Christ as God incarnate. God the Son co-equal with God the Father and God the Holy Spirit; again this is another mystery that we will either have to ask God or it will become apparent when we see Him.
It also says of Christ, the Word.
“All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:3.
You can see a little of this if you go back to Genesis 1.
“The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” Genesis 1:2.
We saw earlier that God was there in the beginning, and if you believe that He is a triune God (triune, three in one, a trinity in unity), which He is, God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit, then it would follow that the entire trinity was there.
So God was there, as it states. Scripture then tells us that the Spirit of God hovered over the face of the waters. Some versions say that He moved over the face of the waters, and an amplified version tells us that He hovered or brooded over the face of the waters.
The concordance says that the Hebrew word for brood means to cherish or vivify (give life to, animate), perhaps in the context these things are meant to show how intensely the Spirit was considering the chaos before Him. Now watch the action unfold.
“Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light.” Genesis 1:3.
“Then God said…” God spoke, the Word called it forth and the Holy Spirit brought it about. It has been said that God the Father planned, God the Son spoke it, and God the Holy Spirit brought it forth. All things were created through Jesus Christ and are attested to in various verses.
“By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.” Psalm 33:6.
“To me [Apostle Paul], who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all people see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ…” Ephesians 3:8-9.
“For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist [are held together].” Colossians 1:16-17.
“God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds…” Hebrews 1:1-2.
“By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.” Hebrews 11:3.
“All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John 1:3.
The consistency of the repetition of the words “through Him” gives enough evidence to the teaching that all things were made through Christ the Word, to be able to accept that as a basic doctrine of Scripture.
The authority and finality of the words, “…and without Him nothing was made that was made” gives weight to the fact that the eternally existing uncreated Jesus Christ, God incarnate, is a part of the Godhead who in eternity past, planned, then created all things without exception.
“Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed [Christ], saying, ‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.’ He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: ‘Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.’ ‘I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”’ Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.” Psalm chapter 2.
In the Beginning God taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 3-31-14, updated on 8-7-21.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version, copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.