Response:

The answer to your question as to why it says "In the beginning" is that this is what God wanted it to say! We know that "all Scripture is given by inspiration of God", and that "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost". Therefore, God worded it exactly as He wished it to be worded. Perhaps His desire was to tie this verse to Genesis 1:1, and then show the difference between the two.

Don't let the phrase concern you. The teaching of the verse makes it very clear that Christ pre-dates the creation. It says "In the beginning WAS...". In other words, the Word already existed at the time of the creation. Contrast that with Genesis 1:1, which states "In the beginning God created...". God did His creating in the beginning, but Christ ALREADY WAS in the beginning. He was already with God, and He already was God. Verse three further explains that "all things were made by Him". This shows that Christ pre-dates any part of creation, because He created everything. If Christ is a part of the creation, then He would have had to have made Himself, which could not happen.

The Greek words used in verse 1 show His eternality as well. "In the beginning WAS" is a different word than is used in verse 3, where it says "All things WERE MADE by Him", and verse 14, which states that "the Word BECAME flesh". If I might quote from Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament: "...the use of the word WAS, denot(es) absolute existence (compare 'I am" in John 8:58), instead of CAME INTO BEING, or BEGAN TO BE, which is used in verses 3 and 14 of the coming into being of Creation and of the Word becoming flesh."

The Jehovah's Witnesses do not wish to understand the Scriptures. The Deity of Christ is clearly taught throughout the Bible. All they need to do is read and believe, but they do not. John 1:1 is a verse they must attack, because it is such a bold and concise statement of Who Jesus is. Jesus always WAS, and He always WAS GOD. He BECAME flesh at the Incarnation, so that He could become the perfect Sacrifice for sins. Hebrews 10:4-5 states that a body was prepared for Christ because it was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Verse 10 then states that "we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all". Our eternal salvation rests on the fact that Jesus has always been God, and that He became flesh.

By Dr Mark Montgomery Ambassador Baptist Church 1926 Babcock Blvd Pittsburgh, PA 15209 (412)477-3210