Topics

John 1:1 — "The Word Was God"

Scripture Interpretation

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

Key scriptures: John 1:1-3

Affirms60
Denies10
Nuanced5

Catholic (5)

Orthodox (5)

Mainline Protestant (8)

Evangelical (15)

Baptist (Southern Baptist Convention)

Affirms

The Word is fully divine; John 1:1 affirms Christ's eternal deity

Calvary Chapel

Affirms

John plainly states the Word is God—literal reading affirms Christ's deity

Christian & Missionary Alliance

Affirms

Word (Logos) is fully divine; eternal Son coexistent with God

Christian Reformed Church in North America

Affirms

Logos eternally coexistent with Father; true deity of Word

Church of the Nazarene

Affirms

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

Evangelical Covenant Church

Affirms

The Word was God; affirms full divinity and preexistence of Christ

Evangelical Free Church of America

Affirms

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

IFCA International (Independent Fundamental Churches of America)

Affirms

Affirms Word is God; Jesus Christ is God the Son, eternally equal with the Father

National Association of Free Will Baptists

Affirms

The Logos is fully divine; eternal Word is fully God in nature and attributes

Non-denominational Evangelical

Affirms

Jesus as eternally divine Word; fully God in nature and being

Pentecostal (Assemblies of God)

Affirms

Jesus is eternal God; affirms traditional reading of Logos divinity

Presbyterian Church in America

Affirms

John 1:1 affirms Christ's eternal deity; Logos is God

Reformed Baptist Churches (1689 London Baptist Confession)

Affirms

Logos fully divine, Second Person of the Trinity, eternal with the Father

The Wesleyan Church

Affirms

The Word is God; affirms Jesus' full divinity; grounds redemptive work and sanctification

Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod

Affirms

Word is true God; eternal deity of Christ clearly taught

Charismatic (5)

Anabaptist (5)

Adventist & Restorationist (5)

Other Protestant (8)

Non-Trinitarian (6)

Latter-day Saint (2)

Unique & Independent (7)

African Independent (4)