The Truth about John 1:1
Christians who believe that Jesus is God will often quote John 1:1, for them this is the strongest verse and strongest verse for the deity of Jesus Christ. John 1:1 reads as follows:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The actual Greek reads like this:
En arche een ho logoskai ho logos een pros ton theon kai theos een ho logos
If anyone knows how to read Greek, or has a friend or teacher who can understand and read Biblical Greek, then they will know that the definite article is missing prior to calling the Word God. Basically the definite article is missing at the end of the verse, when the Word is called God.
In the English language the definite article is known as ?The'.
Now since the definite article is missing prior to calling the word God, an accurate and more proper translation of John 1:1 should read as follows:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.
This is a more fair and truthful plus an accurate translation. The first translation that I gave you is a false and biased Trinitarian translation, a Trinitarian translation they have done to suit their false doctrine.
This right here is enough to refute the argument and put it to bed, to show that John 1:1 does not call Jesus THE God.
However so it doesn't end there, the main issue that should make you think, and should make the Trinitarian think is WHY did the Gospel writer choose to remove the definite article?
Why would the Gospel author distinguish between THE God and his servant Jesus? Why does he make this crucial distinction between THE God and the Word? By removing the definite article from Jesus what is the author trying to show you? Is he trying to show you the Word is God also?!
This is very important for you to understand, that when John mentions God he keeps the definite article, so you know who the true God is, then when John mentions the Word, he specifically removes the definite article! So why the distinction, and what is John trying to show and tell you? Is he trying to show you the Word is The God?!
The answer is very simple, and this in itself is what makes this argument very strong against the Trinitarian. The fact that John removes the definite article from calling the Word God is an indication of his beliefs, that he did NOT believe the Word was THE God, as he made a clear distinction with God and the Word by taking the definite article out concerning the Word, and leaving it in for the true God.
For instance the false Trinitarian translation translates it as follows:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Indeed if John wrote this, it would have been far more conclusive and would show what he is telling you and what he believes, that the Word is THE God. Yet John doesn't write that, he makes the clear distinction and separation concerning who the true God is, instead of writing the above, he writes:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.
So this is the crucial matter and point, the fact that John separates the Word and God, and makes a clear distinction that the Word is not THE God, but just a god. If John wanted you to believe the Word was THE God then he would have kept the definite article to make this point crystal clear, and he would have written it as the false Trinitarian translation. Yet John doesn't do that, he goes out of his way to show the Word is not THE God by removing the definite article concerning Jesus, and keeping the definite article concerning the True God.
So John simply called Jesus a god, not THE God, this was something normal back then, to call people gods. When someone was called a god, it meant he was a prophet, a righteous man, a judge, and even the Messiah.
Since we have cleared this up, let us also respond to john 1:3 which reads:
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
The Christian will contend this verse further proves that Jesus is God, since all things were made by HIM. Yet since the Trinitarian already made a false doctrine from verse 1, they have continued running this false doctrine to verse 3.
For starters the word HIM does not have to be translated as HIM, but rather can be translated as IT. To understand how we should properly interpret verse 3 we should go back to verse 1 and examine what verse 1 means.
We have already established that John one verse 1 doesn't call Jesus God, but rather goes out of its way to make a distinction between Jesus and THE God, Jesus is simply called a god.
Let us quote John 1:1 again:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god.
This makes perfect sense when you use your mind, and it should make sense to a Muslim as well. A true Muslim believes that Allah is all knowing, and he doesn't get new thoughts or ideas, he always knows what he will do. Allah's purpose, plan, and wisdom are always with him. The Word mentioned in John 1:1 is God's plan, purpose, and wisdom.
So John states in the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, we agree, God's purpose and plan is always with him, he always knew what he will do, he didn't have to think till Sunday and then get a new idea. After stating this fact, John then continues and becomes specific, when he says and the Word was a god, referring to Jesus. We as Muslims also agree, we believe that Jesus is God's word, Allah simply said be, and he was, as the Quran states:
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YUSUFALI: The similitude of Jesus before Allah is as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him: "Be". And he was.
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YUSUFALI: Behold! the angels said: "O Mary! Allah giveth thee glad tidings of a Word from Him: his name will be Christ Jesus, the son of Mary, held in honour in this world and the Hereafter and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah;
Jesus is indeed the Word of Allah, since Allah simply said BE and Jesus was. In reality all of us are Allah's world, including the heavens, the earth, and everything you see around you.
So therefore the Word of God is God's plan, purpose, and wisdom. Jesus was a manifestation of this purpose, plan, and wisdom, just like all of us are.
Now we can understand John 1 verse 3 more properly when it says:
All things were made by it; and without it was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:3 is referring to the Word of God, as I said, the word of God is God's plan, purpose, and wisdom. All of us agree that everything was created by God's word, God simply said be, and it came into existence and creation, do any of us deny such a fact?
Just like Jesus is the Word of God, and created simply by saying BE and he was, everything you see around you is also the creation of God's word.
This is precisely what John is teaching you, that God's word is his plan, purpose, and wisdom, and God's word has always been with him, and everything comes into existence through God's word. Jesus is a word of God, you are a word of God, I am a word of God, everything is a word of God.
So to summarize:
-John 1:1 shows Jesus is not THE GOD
-John 1:1 mentions THE True God, and then makes sure to distinguish this with Jesus
-John 1:1 calls Jesus a god, taking the definite article out
-God's word is his purpose, plan, and wisdom
-God's word is always with him, as he doesn't get new ideas, he is all knowing
-Jesus is the word of God, Allah simply said BE and he was
-Adam is also the word of God, so are you, myself, and everything in creation
-Everything is created through and by God's word, he says be and it is
So in conclusion the reality is this, John 1:1 is the greatest proof that Jesus is not God, now who would have thought that?
And Allah Knows Best!