Genesis 1:1 & John 1:1: God's eternity?
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.

What does 'In the beginning' reveal about God's existence before creation?
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