John 1:1 — "The Word Was God"

How denominations interpret the opening verse of John's Gospel regarding the nature and divinity of the Logos ('Word') and its relationship to God.

Overall consensus80/100

Church of the Nazarene

Church of the Nazarene

Evangelical

Affirms

Affirms traditional reading; Word's divinity central to Christological doctrine

The Church of the Nazarene affirms the traditional Trinitarian reading of John 1:1. The Logos passage is understood as affirming the full divinity of Jesus Christ — that he is God and was with God from eternity. This reading is central to the Nazarene understanding of Christ as the Son of God and the second person of the Trinity.

The Nazarene theology emphasizes both the divinity and the humanity of Christ. Christ is fully divine (as John 1:1 affirms) and fully human (as John 1:14 affirms). The Word who was God became flesh for our salvation, accomplishing redemption through incarnation, death, and resurrection. This Christology is foundational to Nazarene soteriology and worship.

Scripture References

Sources

  • Church of the Nazarene Manual
  • Nazarene theology of Christ