1 aIn the beginning was bthe Word, and cthe Word was with God, and dthe Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 eAll things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

I. The Prologue (1:1–18)

A. The Logos in eternity and time (1:1–5)

B. The witness of John the Baptist (1:6–8)

C. The coming of the Light (1:9–13)

D. The Incarnation and revelation (1:14–18)

1:1 The first verse of the Gospel contains three basic affirmations that are fundamental to Christian theology. As E. Haenchen noted, the reader might well anticipate that John’s first statement would be an affirmation that links God and the beginning. The surprise is that he began by linking the Logos (Word) with the beginning.11 This statement asserts that the Logos existed before creation began. John confirms this assertion in the two following verses.