Lesson 1.1
John 1 : 1 – 5 — The Logos as Undistorted Meaning
In this opening passage, John establishes the foundation for the entire Gospel. Traditional translations compress the Greek into familiar phrasing, but when we expand the original terms, a far deeper and more mystical picture emerges — one that aligns the Logos with undistorted Meaning itself.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Expanded Greek Concepts
| Greek Term | Traditional | Expanded Sense |
|---|---|---|
| ἀρχή (archē) | Beginning | Origin, source, first principle — the fountainhead of all existence |
| λόγος (logos) | Word | Undistorted, perfect Meaning — the living rational pattern of reality |
| πρὸς τὸν θεόν (pros ton theon) | With God | In dynamic relational union toward God |
| οὗτος (houtos) | He / This one | This same one — the Logos referenced demonstratively, not yet personified |
| ζωή (zōē) | Life | Vital divine consciousness — life aligned with Meaning |
| φῶς (phōs) | Light | Illumination, revelation, truth — the self-disclosure of Meaning |
| σκοτία (skotia) | Darkness | Ignorance, distortion, misalignment with Meaning |
The Logos Translation (Expanded Rendering)
1. At the very origin — the source and first principle of all that exists — the undistorted and perfect Meaning already was. This Meaning was in living relation with God, and this Meaning was of the very essence of God.
2. This very one — the same Meaning just spoken of — existed from the origin in relation to God.
3. Through this undistorted Meaning all things came into being; apart from it not one thing has come to be.
4. In this Meaning was life itself, and that life was the illumination of human consciousness.
5. And the light of true Meaning continues to shine within the darkness of distortion, and the darkness has not overpowered, grasped, or understood it.
Why the Difference Matters
- Temporal → Metaphysical Shift: “In the beginning” becomes “At the source of all being.”
- Concept → Relation: Logos is not only a concept but a dynamic relationship within God.
- He → This One: Verse 2 retains the Logos as principle before full personification.
- Light → Awareness: Darkness is distortion, not mere evil — an unawareness of Meaning.
- Participation: Humanity is invited into this undistorted alignment rather than passive belief.
Reflection Prompts
- How does understanding logos as “undistorted Meaning” change your reading of the passage?
- What does John’s use of houtos suggest about the shift from principle to person?
- If darkness is distortion rather than morality, how does that alter the concept of salvation?
- What does “Meaning was God” imply about the nature of reality itself?
Key Takeaway: John 1 : 1–5 reveals that the structure of existence itself is living Meaning. The line traditionally read “He was with God in the beginning” more accurately unfolds as “This very Meaning was in the origin, in living relation with God.”