οὗτος (This ) – This demonstrative pronoun is in the masculine singular form, meaning “this” or “this one” plus a sense of masculinity, referring to the Word mentioned previously. Another good translation could be “he,” but if that were in John’s mind, he would have usedαὐτός , 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 ) – This is an imperfect tense, indicative mood, third person singular verb ofεἰμί (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 ) – This phrase combines the prepositionἐν (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 ) – In English, “the” is dropped as the word “God” is treated as a proper noun. The prepositionπρὸς (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.”
- 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)
- 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” (Matthew Poole’s Commentary)
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. (CSB Spurgeon Study Bible)