John 1:1-3 in High Definition

The following article is taken from the book, Top Ten Bible Verses in High Definition. To buy click here.

Low Resolution

Key: [CAP] = Should be Capitalized, [ML] = Misleading, [OD] = Outdated, [T] = Wrong Tense, [WT] = Wrong Translation, [X] = Not in Greek, [-] = Greek Word not Translated

KJV

Verse 1

In the[X] beginning was the Word[ML], and the Word[ML] was with[WT] God, and the Word[ML] was God.

Verse 2

The[X] same[WT] was in the[X] beginning with[WT] God.

Verse 3

All things[X] were made[WT] by him[CAP]; and without him[CAP] was not any[WT] thing[X] made[WT] that was[T] made[WT].

ESV

Verse 1

In the[X] beginning was the Word[ML], and the Word[ML] was with[WT] God, and the Word[ML] was God.

Verse 2

He[WT] was in the[X] beginning with[WT] God.

Verse 3

All things[X] were made[WT] through him[CAP], and without him[CAP]was not any[WT] thing[X] made[WT] that was[T] made[WT].

High Definition

BV and BKJV

Verse 1

In the beginning, there was the Message, the Message was close to God, and the Message was God.

Verse 2

This Message was close to God in the beginning.

Verse 3

All things came into existence through Him, and separate from Him not even one thing came into existence that has come into existence.

The Improvements

Verse 1

The definite article ("the") before "beginning" (verses 1 and 2) is not in the Greek text, but the Greek text is not saying "in a beginning". So even though the definite article is not in the Greek text, it still must be inserted in English. This often happens when translating from Greek. But in these cases the definite article should always be in italics to show the reader that it is not in the Greek text.

A word is a word. Was there a single word in the beginning? No, it was a message. "Word" is an old way of saying "message". Today "word" is rarely used that way.

The phrase "in the beginning was the Word" does not communicate the meaning that this verse has: that God had a message for this world at the beginning of time. If "word" were updated to "message", it would communicate the correct meaning.

Logos is the Greek word for "word". Logos is also translated 28 other ways in the KJV which illustrates the extremely inconsistent way that the KJV was written.

The common Greek word for "with" is meta. Meta is not in these verses. The Greek word used here is pros (toward). In these verses pros means "close to". The Message was close to God.

Verse 2

All the words in the second verse are also used in the first verse (just a different arrangement) except the Greek word for "this" (houtos). Houtos is obviously referring to the Message, "this Message was in the beginning". It is a restatement of the first verse.

The KJV uses "the same" instead of "this". The ESV uses "He" instead of "this". "The same" and "He" are wrong translations for houtos.

Verse 3

These words (things, thing) in the third verse are not in the Greek text even though they are implied by the Greek text and so they should be in italics.

The Greek word behind "made" in the third verse is ginomai (become). Literally, it would be "all things became through Him". There is a Greek word for “made” (poieo). Poieo is not in this verse. It is ginomai (became). It is not proper English to say “all things became through Him”, so it must be restated in a way to keep the meaning of the Greek text, “all things came into existence through Him”.

These pronouns refer to Jesus and so they should be capitalized.

The last phrase of the third verse ("that was made") is past in the KJV and ESV, but not in the Greek text. In the Greek text, it is perfect ("that has been made").

The Big Picture

Since the beginning of time God has had a message for mankind. The message was close to God and the Message was God. What better way to share the message than to send the Son of God as the Message to tell and show the message.

Through the Message everything came into existence. The Message has a central role with God and our world. God is not a being that sits somewhere out in the universe uninterested with this world and mankind.

God has a message for you.