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

Evangelical Free Church of America

Evangelical Free Church of America

Evangelical

Affirms

Logos is fully God; co-eternal with Father; foundational to EFCA theology

The Evangelical Free Church of America (EFCA) affirms the traditional reading of John 1:1 as clearly asserting the full divinity of the Logos. The EFCA Statement of Faith identifies Christ as 'fully God' and the opening of John's Gospel is cited as scriptural support for this conviction. The Logos is understood as the eternal Son, co-equal and co-eternal with God the Father, sharing fully in the divine nature and attributes.

This interpretation is central to EFCA Christology and is affirmed across all EFCA congregations and ministries. The EFCA's evangelical identity is inseparable from the conviction that Christ is God and worthy of worship. The incarnation is understood as the eternal Word becoming flesh, God entering human history for redemptive purposes.

The EFCA's commitment to Scripture as the supreme authority ensures that John 1:1 is read in its plain sense as an affirmation of deity. The Logos doctrine provides the theological foundation for understanding Christ's uniqueness, exclusivity, and redemptive power.

Key Distinctions

Logos divinity:
fully and eternally divine; not created
Incarnation:
Creation role:

Scripture References

Sources

  • EFCA Statement of Faith, Article 1
  • EFCA Doctrinal Commentary