John’s use of the “Word” to describe Jesus was a startling new application of a popular expression. The term was used widely by theologians and philosophers, both Jews and Greeks. It described the agent of creation (Psalm 33:6); God’s message to His people through the prophets (Hosea 1:2); and God’s law, His standard of holiness (Psalm 119:11). In Greek philosophy, “the Word” was the principle of reason that governed the world.

John’s description shows clearly that He is speaking of Jesus (John 1:14)-a human being He knew and loved, yet at the same time the Creator of the universe, the revelation of God, the living picture of God’s holiness.

Use of the term held certain risks for John’s Gospel. Jewish readers would hear blasphemy in calling any human person “the Word of God.” Learned Greek readers would consider the “Word became human” (John 1:14) unthinkable, incomprehensible. To John and to all Christians after him, this new understanding of the Word was the gospel, the Good News of Jesus Christ.

JOHN 1:1- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.