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John 1:3
“All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.”
The Gospel of John opens not with a birth narrative, but with a profound theological poem. This passage introduces Jesus, whom it calls "the Word" (Logos), as eternally present with God and actively involved in creation.
If everything owes its existence to the divine Word, what responsibility does that imply for how we view and interact with the non-human world?
Then — the setting
The Gospel of John was likely written in the late 1st century CE, possibly in Ephesus, addressing a diverse audience that included Jewish and Gentile believers, as well as those familiar with Greek philosophical concepts. The author uses the term "Logos" (Word) which would have resonated with Greek thought about a universal ordering principle, while also connecting deeply with Jewish wisdom traditions where God's creative word and wisdom are personified. This opening prologue sets the stage for understanding Jesus' unique identity and role in salvation history.
Across the Testaments
In the Old Testament, God creates the cosmos through speaking (e.g., Genesis 1). His 'word' is powerful and effective, bringing things into being from nothing. John's Gospel deepens this by identifying this creative 'Word' as a distinct divine agent, the pre-existent 'him' who was with God and was God. This continuity links the creator God of Israel with Jesus, establishing Jesus not just as a prophet or messiah, but as the very agent of creation, making him central to both the origin and the redemption of all things.
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Read alongside it
This passage describes creation through God's spoken word, providing a strong Old Testament parallel.
Paul's letter echoes John's theme, stating that 'all things have been created through him and for him.'
The psalmist declares that 'by the word of Yahweh the heavens were made,' highlighting divine speech in creation.
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