A @Christadelphians Video: The Word in John 1 simply refers to the purpose and intention God has had with the Earth from the very beginning. Part of that plan included the life, death, and resurrection of his son, who is the perfect physical manifestation of God’s character, and hence fulfills the plan of God and is called the Word made flesh. Jesus is the Word referenced in John. The presenter says that the Greek word translated as “Word” in John 1 is “Logos,” which expresses a Divine intention, mind, or purpose. The presenter argues that the Word Logos does not in and of itself denote any personality, but rather it signifies the purpose of God. However, the presenter also points out that when we apply the meaning of Logos to verses 2 and 3 of John 1, we discover that it’s talking about how God from the very beginning created the Earth with a plan and purpose in mind.

This plan, according to the presenter, is to ultimately fill the Earth with his glory, or to have a world that manifests his name and character. Therefore, the presenter concludes that the Word in John 1 does not directly refer to Christ, but rather God’s plan in which Jesus played an extremely important part. The presenter then addresses the question of why John 1:14 refers to the Word made flesh if Jesus isn’t the Word. The presenter explains that verse 14 says, “And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.” According to the presenter, this means that the Divine Purpose that was with God from the beginning was being fulfilled in the manifestation of God through Jesus Christ.

The presenter emphasizes that it was the Logos, or purpose, that was with God from the beginning, not Christ. When the Word Logos, or purpose, was made flesh as we read in verse 14, then and only then does the Word refer to Christ. This is because, according to the presenter, Christ was the ultimate fulfillment of God’s plan with the Earth. He was the Word and purpose of God lived out in speech and action, not merely written on scrolls. The presenter concludes that Christ was the perfect physical example to those around him and to us of how God wants us to manifest his name and character to fulfill his plan with the Earth.