What Does John 1:1-18 Mean?

John 1:1 Direct teaching

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Hippolytus, Against the Heresy of Noetus Direct teaching

And the blessed John, in the testimony of his Gospel, gives us an account of this economy (disposition) and acknowledges this Word as God, when he says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Origen, Commentary on John Direct teaching

we have first In the beginning was the Word, then, And the Word was with God, and thirdly, And the Word was God, so that it might be seen that the Word being with God makes Him God.

Alexander of Alexandria, Epistles on the Arian Heresy Direct teaching

...t exist, and that there was no time when He did not exist, when he writes about Him like this: "The only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father," John 1:18. Since that divine teacher meant to show that the Father and the Son are two realities inseparable from each other, he spoke of Him as being in the bosom of the Father. And the same John also says that the Word of God is not included among the things that were created out of things that did not exist: "All things were made by Him." For he presented His distinct personhood when he said, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made," John 1:1-3. For if all things were made by Him, how can it be that He, who gave existence to the things that were made, at one time did not exist? The Word who makes is not to be described as having the same nature as the things that are made. He was in the beginning, and all things were made by Him and formed out of things that did not exist. Moreover, that which exists seems to be opposite to, and far removed from, those things that are made out of things that did not exis

Alexander of Alexandria, Epistles on the Arian Heresy Supporting witness

For he set forth His proper personality, saying, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Clement of Alexandria, Exhortation to the Heathen Supporting witness

For before the morning star it was; and in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Tertullian, Against Praxeas Supporting witness

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Hippolytus, Against the Heresy of Noetus Supporting witness

For he speaks to this effect: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Gregory Thaumaturgus, A Sectional Confession of Faith Supporting witness

For we know that in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Tertullian, Against Praxeas Supporting witness

The Word was with God, and the Word was God.

John 1:14 Direct teaching

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Tertullian, On the Flesh of Christ Direct teaching

But by saying made, he not only confirmed the statement, The Word was made flesh, John 1:14 but he also asserted the reality of the flesh which was made of a virgin.

Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to John 1:14 Direct teaching

For "the Word was made flesh." Being incorporeal, He was in the body; being impassible, He was in a passible body; being immortal, He was in a mortal body; being life, He became subject to corruption, that He might free our souls from death and corruption, and heal them, and might restore them to health, when they were diseased with ungodliness and wicked lusts.

Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to John 1:14 Direct teaching

He truly assumed a body; for "the Word was made flesh," and lived upon earth without sin.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

2. That John knew the one and the same Word of God, and that He was the only begotten, and that He became incarnate for our salvation, Jesus Christ our Lord, I have sufficiently proved from the word of John himself.

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

And this is the Word of God. And the Word of God was made flesh, and dwelt among us;

Tertullian, On Modesty Supporting witness

But when the Word of God descended into flesh —(flesh) not unsealed even by marriage, — and the Word was made flesh, — (flesh) never to be unsealed by marriage, — which was to find its way to the tree not of incontinence, but of endurance;

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness

But the Word of God was made flesh, and dwelt among us.

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

But the Word of God was made flesh, and dwelt among us.

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Supporting witness

And, The Word was made flesh, and dwelt in us.

Dionysius of Alexandria, Miscellaneous Fragments Supporting witness

The one says: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us;

Methodius, Concerning Free Will Supporting witness

In the meanwhile the evangelist says with firmness, The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.

John 1:3 Direct teaching

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Hippolytus, Against the Heresy of Noetus Direct teaching

12. Then, working through these prophets, the Word spoke about Himself. For He had already become His own messenger and showed that the Word would be revealed among men. And for this reason He cried out in this way: "I was made known to those who did not seek me; I was found by those who did not ask for me." And who is this that was made known except the Word of the Father? It is the One whom the Father sent, and in whom He showed to men the power that proceeds from Him. So then, the Word was made known, just as the blessed John says. For he brings together the things spoken by the prophets and shows that this is the Word, through whom all things were made. For he speaks in this way: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. All things were made by Him, and without Him not one thing was made." And later he says, "The world was made by Him, and the world did not know Him; He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him." If, then, he said that the world was made by Him, according to the word of the prophet, "By the Word of the Lord the heavens were made," then this is the Word that was also made known. So we see the Word made flesh, and thr

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Direct teaching

And so John also, while describing the birth of Christ, says, “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” For His name is also called “the Word of God,” in Revelation 19:13, and not without reason. “My heart has uttered a good word.” He then afterward calls this word by the name of the King indirectly: “I will tell my works to the King.” For by Him all works were made, and without Him nothing was made, as John 1:3 says. “Whether,” says the apostle, “they are thrones or dominions, or powers, or mights, visible things and invisible, all things subsist by Him,” as Colossians 1:16 says. Moreover, this is that Word which came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. For the world was made by Him, and the world did not know Him, as John 1:10-11 says. Moreover, this Word was in the beginning with God, and God was the Word, as John 1:1 says. Who then can doubt, when in the last clause it is said, “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,” that Christ, whose birth is being described, is man because He was made flesh? And because He is the Word of God, who can shrink from declaring with

Victorinus, Commentary on the Apocalypse Direct teaching

... us this principle: that all things were created and established by the Son of God, that is, by the Word of God? For he says the same thing that John and the others say. In fact, John and the others are understood to have received from him what they say. For if John says, “All things were made by Him, and without Him nothing was made,” the prophet David also says, “I declare my works to the King.” Moses, moreover, presents God as commanding at the beginning that there should be light, that heaven should be established, that the waters should be gathered into one place, that the dry land should appear, that fruit should be brought forth according to its seed, that animals should be produced, and that lights and stars should be established in heaven. He shows that no one other than Him by whom all things were made, and without whom nothing was made, was then present with God, by whom these works were commanded to be made. And if He is the Word of God, for “my heart has brought forth a good Word,” he shows that in the beginning the Word was, and that this Word was with the Father, and that besides this the Word was God, and that all things were made by Him. Moreover, this Word was

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Direct teaching

... which we may learn that all things were created and established by the Son of God, that is, by the Word of God? For he says the same thing that John and the others say. Indeed, it is clear that both John and the others received from him what they say. For if John says, "All things were made by Him, and without Him nothing was made," the prophet David also says, "I declare my works to the King." Moreover, Moses presents God as commanding at the beginning that there should be light, that heaven should be established, that the waters should be gathered into one place, that the dry land should appear, that fruit should be brought forth according to its seed, that animals should be produced, and that lights and stars should be established in heaven. He shows that no one else was then present with God, by whom these works were commanded to be made, except him by whom all things were made, and without whom nothing was made. And if he is the Word of God, for "my heart has brought forth a good Word," he shows that in the beginning the Word was, and that this Word was with the Father, and also that the Word was God, and that all things were made by him. Moreover, this Word was made flesh

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made. John 1:1-3

Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness

John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made 50 by him, and the world knew 51 him not.

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

but the Son of God makes man, that is to say, the Word of God, by whom all things were made, and without whom nothing was made.

Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness

...e measure of being, and beyond all number. You brought all things out of nothing into being by Your only begotten Son, and You begot Him before all ages by Your will, Your power, and Your goodness, without any instrument: the only begotten Son, God the Word, the living Wisdom, the First-born of every creature, the angel of Your great counsel, and Your High Priest, but also the King and Lord of every intellectual and sensible nature, who was before all things, and by whom all things were made. “For You, O eternal God, made all things by Him, and through Him You grant Your fitting providence over the whole world. For by the same one through whom You gave being, You also gave well-being. You are the God and Father of Your only begotten Son, and by Him You made, before all things, the cherubim and the seraphim, the ages and hosts, the powers and authorities, the principalities and thrones, the archangels and angels. And after all these, by Him You made this visible world and all things in it. “For You are He who formed heaven like an arch and stretched it out like the covering of a tent, and founded the earth upon nothing by Your will alone; who fixed the firmament and prepared the

Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. James Supporting witness

holy also Your only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom You have made all things;

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book I Supporting witness

For, summing up his statements respecting the Word previously mentioned by him, he further declares, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” But, according to their hypothesis, the Word did not become flesh at all, inasmuch as He never went outside of the Pleroma, but that Saviour [became flesh] who was formed by a special dispensation [out of all the Æons], and was of later date than the Word.

John 1:18 Direct teaching

No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Direct teaching

The only-begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him, John 1:18 — calling invisibility and ineffableness the bosom of God.

Gregory Thaumaturgus, On the Trinity Direct teaching

...et us see whether it is in our power to find out in what manner thoughts are born of the heart, and words of the tongue, and the like. Now if we can by no means understand things that are done in ourselves, how could it ever be that we should understand the mystery of the uncreated Creator, which goes beyond every mind? Assuredly, if this mystery were one that could be penetrated by man, the inspired John would by no means have affirmed this: "No man has seen God at any time." John 1:18 He then, whom no man has seen at any time, whom can we reckon Him to resemble, so that by this we should understand His generation? And we, indeed, without ambiguity understand that our soul dwells in us in union with the body. But still, who has ever seen his own soul? Who has been able to discern its union with his body? This one thing is all we know certainly, that there is a soul within us joined with the body. Thus then we reason and believe that the Word is begotten by the Father, although we neither possess nor know the clear rationale of the fact. The Word Himself is before every creature, eternal from the Eternal, like spring from spring, and light from light. The word Word, indeed, belo

Ignatius of Antioch, Connection to John 1:18 Supporting witness

one God, who has manifested Himself by Jesus Christ His Son, who is His eternal Word, not proceeding forth from silence.

Didache, Connection to John 1:18 Supporting witness

After this he comes to the water, and blesses and glorifies the Lord God Almighty, the Father of the only begotten God;

Hippolytus, Against the Heresy of Noetus Supporting witness

the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Tatian, The Diatessaron Supporting witness

the only Son, God, which is in the bosom of his Father, he has told of him.

Origen, Against Celsus Supporting witness

the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

Irenaeus, Connection to Matthew 11:27 Supporting witness

Wherefore, although "no one knows the Father, except the Son, nor the Son except the Father, and those to whom the Son will reveal Him,"

Irenaeus, Connection to Matthew 11:27 Supporting witness

the Saviour spoke falsely when He said, "No one knoweth the Father but the Son,"

John 1:2 Direct teaching

The same was in the beginning with God.

Theophilus of Antioch, To Autolycus Supporting witness

And hence the holy writings teach us, and all the spirit-bearing [inspired] men, one of whom, John, says, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, John 1:1 showing that at first God was alone, and the Word in Him.

Irenaeus, Against Heresies: Book III Supporting witness

For that according to John relates His original, effectual, and glorious generation from the Father, thus declaring, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Also, “all things were made by Him, and without Him was nothing made.” For this reason, too, is that Gospel full of all confidence, for such is His person.

Hermas, Connection to John 1:1 Direct teaching

the Son of God is older than all His creation, so that He was present at the creation as counsellor of the Father.

Novatian, Treatise Concerning the Trinity Supporting witness

...o is before all time. And He is always in the Father, unless the Father has not always been Father. Only, in a certain sense, the Father also goes before Him, since it is necessary, in some degree, that He should be before He is Father. Because it is essential that He who knows no beginning should go before him who has a beginning. In this way, He is less, since He knows that He is in Him, having an origin because He is born, and being of like nature with the Father in some measure by His nativity. Although He has a beginning in that He is born, since He is born of that Father who alone has no beginning. He, then, when the Father willed it, proceeded from the Father. And He who was in the Father came forth from the Father. And He who was in the Father because He was of the Father was afterward with the Father because He came forth from the Father. That is to say, He is that divine substance whose name is the Word, by whom all things were made, and without whom nothing was made. For all things are after Him, because they are by Him. And rightly, He is before all things, but after the Father, since all things were made by Him, and He proceeded from Him by whose will all things wer

Alexander of Alexandria, Epistles on the Arian Heresy Supporting witness

who, not in time, nor after an interval, nor from things which are not, has begotten His only-begotten Son.

Gregory Thaumaturgus, A Sectional Confession of Faith Supporting witness

And we anathematize those who constitute different worships, one for the divine and another for the human, and who worship the man born of Mary as though He were another than the God of God.

Alexander of Alexandria, Epistles on the Arian Heresy Supporting witness

...of the patriarchs and apostles, and of all the saints. And we believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. He was not begotten from things that are not, but from Him who is the Father. He was not begotten in a bodily manner, by excision or division, as Sabellius and Valentinus thought, but in a certain inexplicable and unspeakable manner, according to the words of the prophet quoted above: "Who shall declare His generation?" Isaiah 53:8. Since no nature that is begotten can investigate His subsistence, just as no one can investigate the Father, because the nature of rational beings cannot receive the knowledge of His divine generation by the Father. But men who are moved by the Spirit of truth have no need to learn these things from me. For the words spoken before by Christ on this very matter are sounding in our ears: "No man knows the Father, save the Son; and no man knows who the Son is, save the Father." Matthew 11:27. We have learned that He is, equally with the Father, unchangeable and immutable, lacking nothing, the perfect Son, and like the Father. In this alone He is inferior to the Father: that He is not unbegotten. For He is the exact image of the F

Lactantius, The Divine Institutes Supporting witness

John also thus taught: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.