John 1:1 Part 2 - 1:2 - The Word was with God

1:1

While looking at the background to the use of the word logos in other contexts is useful, its use in any one particular context must not dominate our thinking. Rather, we must look at Christ first, and John shaped his use of the term logos in the light of what he saw and witnessed in Christ. 

John says that “the Word was with God”. The use of the Greek word pros here is used primarily when speaking about persons, and the “with” here implies a close personal relationship. If we look at things in a purely abstract sense then we are missing the truth. In fact it is significant that the revelation that Christ gave was not merely a set of academic statements about who God is etc. Rather, a large part of the revelational was given in relational terms. In particular the relationship between Christ and the Father (and the Holy Spirit), and in terms of our relationship with God, again especially as our Father.  Now this does not mean that theologically precise statements do not matter, and we cannot rely just on wool sentimental thoughts about God loving us. However, if all we have is cold theology then we have missed it completely. The theological truths and our personal relationship with God go together, and they form a virtuous circle. The theological truths help us to understand our relationship with God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), and our personal relationship with God helps us to appreciate the theological truths.

1:2

“He was with God in the beginning”.There are various points in John where the eternal existence of Christ crops up, such as when He told the Jewish leaders “before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58). Jesus is the eternal Son of God. He has always been the Son of God, he did not become the Son of God.