In The Beginning Was The Word

John 1:1, In the beginning... was the Word, and the Word was WITH God, and the Word was God.

This study begins with “in the beginning” because it requires understanding. In the beginning is a vague and indistinct phrase. There is no definite place in time specified. We naturally think of Genesis 1:1 as the beginning of the time of creation. But in John 1:1, we should consider a “time” before creation, which was not a “time” in our sense of the word, but the eternity before time, or it could mean during the time of creation. In any case, the entire triune Godhead is outside of time but works within time as well. We are here introduced to a relationship before anything is created; the relationship of “the Word” to God.

Not only are we introduced to a relationship, but we are introduced to the creator. But it does not name the creator. However, Heb. 3:4 tells us,  Every house is built by some man; but He that built all things is God. So God is identified as the builder of ALL things.

Strong’s Concordance #2316 has the word “God” as Theos, Greek, “the one true God.”
The Interlinear has the word as Theos, Greek, “God, the Godhead, trinity” ...God the Father, the first person in the trinity ...God the Son (Christ), the second person of the trinity ...and the Holy Spirit, the third person in the trinity.
Vine’s Dictionary of New Testament Words has the word as Theos, Greek, with the same meanings.
Scofield notes on Gen. 1:1 has the word as “Elohim” because, of course, Genesis is in Hebrew. Theos is Greek. They are defined as the same. 

So, from this little information, can we identify Who “the Word” is? 

Nearly all the Christian world will tell us, “the Word is Jesus.” OK... let’s try reading Jesus into the texts instead of “the Word.”
verse 1... In the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God.
verse 14... And Jesus became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory.

Question... can flesh and blood be pre-existent? 

The man Jesus became flesh and blood in the womb.
Jer. 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
He was formed to be fully man – but sinless, and He was fully God incarnate. God took on flesh and blood in the womb... and they were One. (hypostasis). God the Son, in His humanity, was Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus was born of a woman.

Rom. 1:3, Concerning his Son Jesus, Who was made of the seed of David according to the flesh.

Luke 1:31, And behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and shall call his name JESUS.
By every definition and acceptance, the word “conceived” means from egg, to embryo, to fetus, to full term. Therefore Jesus was made, formed, brought forth, became, created a man in the womb like every other human BUT  without sin because He had no human father. Jesus was not conceived as a full-term baby. That should be obvious.

Luke 1:31 says, “you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.”

And Matt. 1:21 says the same thing to Joseph – “she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins.” 

Jesus was made, named, and “begotten” by God.

Acts 13:32-33 says, And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us, their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm:

“You are My Son; Today I have begotten You.”

One cannot be “begotten” in everlasting. Today means Resurrection morning, which is another whole study.

Jesus was declared to be the Son of God by God, the Father Himself, Matt. 3:17 and 17:5; by demons, Matt. 8:29 and Luke 4:41; and by Peter, Matt. 16:16, etc. The Son of God existed in prophecy as the coming Messiah, and in Jesus as the Messiah... first as the Servant, Isaiah 42:1, and then as Lord and Savior, Acts 2:36 Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord (Greek: Kurios, title given to God the Anointed/Jehovah) and Christ (Messiah).” 

The name Jesus is, of course, the “anglicized” version of the Greek Iesous, which in turn is the transliteration of the Hebrew Yeshua, or Joshua, or again Jehoshua, all meaning “Jehovah is salvation.” That name would also fulfill the prophecy of “His name will be Emmanuel” Isaiah 7:14, symbolic and prophetic name of the Messiah, the Christ, meaning “God with us.” 

“Not until Jesus of Nazareth dies on the cross to atone for the sins of all humanity, and is resurrected bodily from the dead, does He complete his role as the Son of God, the second person of the triune God, Who is Jehovah God the Son.” 
~Dr. Hugh Ross

In Gen. 1:26-27 we read, Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Philippians 2:6-10 says, (Christ Jesus) Who, being in the form (external appearance) of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form (external appearance) of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men (hypostatic union). And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name, which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.

Adam was made in the image of God. God formed him in His own image, but he sinned. Jesus also was made in the form of God. God made (created) Jesus as the new man... the last Adam.

So Who is the Word?

Let’s go back to the beginning before Genesis 1:1. What is the relationship of the Godhead? It is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. One of those, or ALL of them, is “the Word.”

Isaiah 46:10-11, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.

Eph. 1:4, For he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world that we may be holy and unblemished in his sight in love.

Christ existed before the foundation of the world!
...and Christ is a   M Y S T E R Y.  (that’s another study)

1 Peter 1:20, (We are) redeemed with the precious blood of Christ (Jesus), as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Foreordained does not mean eternal. It means, in the counsel of God, it was decided before the foundation of the world.

Eph. 2:7&10, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
The END from the BEGINNING  was decided and ordained of God for His own purpose and Glory.

John 17:24, Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me  before the foundation of the world.

It is so critical  to identify the pronouns in scripture. Who is “they” which the Father is giving to whoever the “ME” is?? I would propose that “they” is the “Body of Christ” which God is giving Jesus. "Built together."
Ephesians 4 speaks of unity, one Body, one Spirit, one Lord, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all by His Spirit, for the building up (edifying) of the Body of Christ... the Bride.

Acts 15:18, Known unto God are ALL  his works from the beginning of the world.

“God the Father laid out the divine plan (according to the council of His will), God the Son carried out the will of the Father, and God the Spirit motivated the will of God in believers.” ~Tertullian

In the beginning, God’s Divine decision was that He would have to redeem His creation out of the corruption of sin and death, because of what satan had done, by His own sacrifice, which God the Son, Who is called Jehovah throughout the Old Testament, would take upon Himself as Christ.

THAT  is “the Word” of John 1:1.