Above you told me I do not understand John 1:1 ~ so let us consider briefly that verse and test each understanding with the word of God.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
"In the beginning"~John goes back to eternity and very high to the existence of the eternal God.
Beginning~The point of time at which anything begins; absolute, the time when the universe began to be. That in which anything has its rise, or in which its origin is embodied; origin, source, fount. It is a powerful and profound word, taking us back to
a time before any time.
"Was the Word"~Eleanore please note: the Spirit’s word ~ the Word,
not the Son, was in the beginning with God.
In the beginning, before time, in eternity, there existed the eternal Word of God. The God of the Bible, Jehovah, is the self-existent God, I AM THAT I AM. He inhabits eternity, from everlasting to everlasting (
Isaiah 57:15;
Ps 90:2)). This Word is immediately identified
as God and also as Him (
John 1:1,
3-4).
Mark the God He was with the Father, and He is the Father in His nature. What more does a person need to know that the Word here is Jehovah God? Further, since the context moving forward is clearly about God’s Son,
Jesus is Jehovah God!
Let us consider the English word – word – and its context here and elsewhere.
- Word. I. Speech, utterance, verbal expression. Things said, or something said; speech, talk, discourse, utterance; report, tidings, news, information. An element of speech. A combination of vocal sounds, or one such sound, used in a language to express an idea and constituting an ultimate minimal element of speech having a meaning as such. [OED]. By its context, consider how the Word of God is a declaration or revelation. The heavens, part of all things, declares the glory of God (Jn 1:3; Ps 19:1-6). The Word of God is the light of men by the eternal life He gives (Jn 1:4-5). He was the true Light that lights every man coming into the world (Jn 1:9). He was incarnated in man’s flesh for men to see; He revealed God (Jn 1:14). He brought grace and truth, totally unlike the word Moses brought (Jn 1:17) No man has ever seen God, but the incarnate Word declared Him (Jn 1:18). The eternal life with the Father, the Word of life, was manifested (I Jn 1:2).
The Word of God, with human nature as Jesus Christ, revealed God the Father. Jesus said no man could know the Father but by His revelation (
Matt 11:27). Jesus came to give men an understanding (the Word) of God (
I John 5:20).
"And the Word was with God"~Eleanor, please note: the Holy Spirit’s choice of words – the Word,
not the Son, was with God.
John’s second descriptive fact to learn about the Word is that He was with God. The first descriptive fact about the Word was that He was in the beginning. The third descriptive fact, also contained in this verse, is that
He was God. The fourth descriptive fact, in the next verse, is He was
with God in eternity. The fifth descriptive fact, the third verse, is that
the Word created all things.
We understand these five descriptive facts to teach certain general attributes. First, by the first phrase of 1:1, we understand the Word’s
eternal ( not begotten or proceeding from another ) existence. Second, by the next phrase, we understand He is a distinct Godhead person. Third, by the third phrase, we know
He is God like the God He was with. Fourth, by the second verse, we know
He was eternal like God He was with. Fifth, by the third verse, we know He is uncreated and Creator of all things.
The Word of God, as God, yet with God and distinct from God, is the Trinity. We know the Word of God is God by looking ahead to the third phrase. If the Word of God was God and also was with God, then there is plurality. Since there is only one God, then there must be plural Persons (
Deut 6:4). Christianity is a monotheistic religion as much as monotheism can be defined.
Monotheism. The doctrine or belief that there is only one God. [OED].
There is only one God. Period. There can only be one totally Supreme Being. This is self-evident if we define and describe God as the Supreme Being. The scriptures declare it clearly (
Deut 6:4;
Isaiah 43:10;
44:6,
8;
I Cor 8:4-6). God is eternal in both directions without end (
Deut 33:27;
Ps 90:2;
Is 57:15).
Our God is self-existent, self-subsistent, infinitely independent (
Exodus 3:14).
Before this revelation, I AM THAT I AM, He was Almighty God (
Ex 6:3).
There is no difference in nature between these three Persons in the Godhead. The nature of God is the attributes that makes Him distinctly God (
Gal 4:8). When three are said to be one (
I Jn 5:7), they are one in essence and nature. All three are credited with creation (
Job 33:4;
John 1:1;
Heb 1:3;
Rev 4:11). All three are credited with regeneration (
I Pet 3:3;
1:23;
John 5:25;
Tit 3:5). All three are credited with resurrection (
Gal 1:1;
Rom 1:4;
John 10:18).
The Nicene Creed (RCC) and its adoring followers hold to a heretical trinity. The Bible has all three Persons without any distinction at all in their nature.
The Bible knows nothing of “God of God” and similar human speculations. The Bible does not know a begotten god, turning the trinity into paganism.
They are named for their "given roles in creation or especially in our redemption". They did not need names for each other; they were part of the same nature. Their names are for us; their names do not alter their absolute equality.
God is not Father of the Word; the Word does not declare Him to the Spirit
Part two.....
