How does Genesis 1:1 connect with John 1:1 about God's eternal nature? Setting the Stage: The Two Verses Side by Side • “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) • “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) Shared Phrase, Shared Truth • Both verses open with “In the beginning,” anchoring creation and revelation to the same starting point. • Neither passage attempts to prove God’s existence; instead, each assumes it, presenting God—and the Word—as already present before time began. • The identical wording underscores that the God who speaks the cosmos into being in Genesis is the same God revealed as the Word in John. God’s Eternal Nature Highlighted • Eternity before time: God exists before the created order; time itself flows from His will. • Continuous existence: Genesis shows God initiating creation; John shows the Word already existing, stressing an unbroken, eternal presence. • Immutable character: The God of Genesis and the Word of John share the same divine essence—unchanging, sovereign, self-existent. The Word and Creation • Creative agency: Genesis highlights God’s spoken word (“And God said…”). John identifies that spoken power with the eternal Word, personal and active. • Unity in purpose: What Genesis records God doing, John attributes to the Word, revealing a consistent divine plan from the first moment. • Christ’s pre-existence: By connecting the Word with God, John affirms that Jesus is not a created being but co-eternal, co-creative, and divine. Key Takeaways for Everyday Faith • Assurance of God’s constancy—He was, is, and always will be. • Confidence in Christ’s deity—our Savior shares the same eternal nature as the Creator. • Trust in Scripture’s harmony—Old and New Testaments speak with one voice about who God is. |