John's Gospel describes the beginning of creation by declaring that the Word, who was with God and was God, made all things.
John opens with the same phrase as Genesis: 'In the beginning.' The Word was present with God and was Himself God. John then states that all things were made by the Word, showing that creation began through Him.
John 1:1 — This is the verse that opens John's Gospel, introducing the Word who was present at the beginning and who was God.
John 1:3 — This verse plainly states that all things were made by the Word, directly describing how creation began.
John's Gospel begins with the same expression found in Genesis: 'In the beginning.' John 1:1 states, 'In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.' Verse 2 adds, 'The same was in the beginning with God,' and verse 3 then describes the act of creation: 'All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.' Taken together, these verses teach that the Word was already present at the moment of the beginning, that the Word was in the presence of God, that the Word Himself was God, and that the entire created order came into being through the Word.
Les Feldick points to John's Gospel and its opening words, 'In the beginning was the Word.' He teaches that the term 'Word' denotes communication—the Godhead's way of expressing and accomplishing things—so the Word is 'God the communicator.' Les emphasizes that 'Word' is capitalized in John 1:1, making it a name of deity; the Word was with God and the Word was God. When it comes to creation, Les explains that all three persons of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Spirit—were present and involved, but the New Testament reveals God the Son as the One who actually spoke the Word that caused creation to become a reality, including man himself. As Les puts it, God the Son is the One who 'called this human being into reality.' Les also connects John's opening to Christ, recalling that the Word who was 'in the beginning' with God later 'became flesh.' In his teaching, the God of creation was God the Son.
In John 1:1, the Word is described as being 'in the beginning,' 'with God,' and 'God.' Les Feldick explains that the word 'Word' denotes communication—the Godhead's communicator. He teaches that because the Word is capitalized, it is a name of deity. Les identifies the Word as God the Son, the One who spoke the Word of creation.
Les teaches that all three persons of the Godhead—the Father, the Son, and the Spirit—were involved in the creation of the earth and everything in it. Even so, the New Testament emphasizes that God the Son is the One who actually spoke the Word and caused creation to become a viable act. The whole Trinity was present, but the spoken Word was the Son's.
Les points to John 1:14, where the Word 'became flesh,' to connect the Creator of the beginning with the Lord Jesus Christ. The One who was 'in the beginning' with God, and who was God, is the same Person who later took on humanity. Les also teaches that the God of creation was God the Son.
Who Really Created the Universe? (Genesis 1:1 Explained)
And that's why so many of them had such tremendous wealth. Abraham was a wealthy man. Isaac was wealthy for his time. Jacob was wealthy. David, glory of all of his kingdom, included wealth. Solomon. My, when the Queen of Sheba saw it and the first thing she said, the half has never yet been told. Well, why? Because those Jewish people were enjoying those earthly promises.
The Word as Communicator
Les explains that the word 'Word' denotes communication, and that God the Son is the One who by the spoken Word created everything that has ever been created, including man—while all three persons of the Godhead were involved.
God the Son Spoke Creation
Les emphasizes that even though the whole Trinity was concerned in creation, the New Testament reveals that God the Son is the One who spoke the Word that caused creation to become a viable act.
The Word Is God
Les quotes John 1:1 and shows that the Word was with God and was God; the capitalized 'Word' is a name of deity, and the Word is God the communicator.
Why Most People Miss Who Jesus Really Is — Colossians 1:15 Explained
Now that may be a reference to creation, but I think rather it's a reference to the coming of Christ to the planet earth. Okay, come back with me to John's Gospel. John's Gospel, chapter 1. John's Gospel, chapter 1. Oh my goodness, we've only got a minute left. Okay, let's do this quickly. John's Gospel, chapter 1, verse 6. There was a man sent from God whose name was John the Baptist, of course.
The Word Became Flesh
Les references John 1, noting that the Word who was with God and was God later became flesh, connecting the Creator of the beginning to Christ.
Why Jesus Performed Signs, Not Just Miracles — John's Gospel Explained
And so those three Gospels are normally called the Synoptic Gospels, and even though those roles are played out by the Messiah, the Son of God, yet it's predominantly His humanity that is in force. But when you get to the Gospel of John, which is set apart even from the three, now we're dealing with Christ as God. Now I'll give you a little tidbit.
God the Son as Creator
Les reiterates that all three persons were present at creation, but God the Son spoke the Word and all things came into being; He is before all things, from eternity past.
John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
This is the opening verse of John's Gospel, and it is the verse Les quotes when explaining how the Word was present at the beginning of creation.
John 1:2: The same was in the beginning with God.
This verse confirms the Word's presence with God from the very beginning.
John 1:3: All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
This verse explicitly describes the beginning of creation as accomplished through the Word.
John 1:14: 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.
Les cites this verse when connecting the Word of creation to Jesus Christ in the incarnation.
Colossians 1:16: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
Les draws on this New Testament passage to show that God the Son created all things, visible and invisible.
Colossians 1:17: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Les quotes this verse to show that the Son existed before all things, coming out of eternity past.
In John 1:1, the Word is identified as being with God and as being God. Les Feldick teaches that the capitalized 'Word' is a name of deity, and that the Word is the communicator of the Godhead—God the Son, who spoke creation into being.
No. Les emphasizes that all three persons of the Trinity were involved in creation, but the New Testament reveals that God the Son is the One who actually spoke the words that brought everything into existence.
Yes. Les points to John 1:14, where the Word 'became flesh,' to show that the Creator of the beginning is the Lord Jesus Christ, who has existed from eternity past.
Watch the Teaching: Who Really Created the Universe? (Genesis 1:1 Explained)