Matthew Henry on John 1:1-5

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · Matthew Henry · CC0 1.0 Universal

The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word, seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God sent in order to reveal his Father's mind to the world. What the evangelist says of Christ proves that he is God.

He asserts, His existence in the beginning; His coexistence with the Father. The Word was with God. All things were made by him, and not as an instrument. Without him was not any thing made that was made, from the highest angel to the meanest worm.

This shows how well qualified he was for the work of our redemption and salvation. The light of reason, as well as the life of sense, is derived from him, and depends upon him. This eternal Word, this true Light shines, but the darkness comprehends it not.

Let us pray without ceasing, that our eyes may be opened to behold this Light, that we may walk in it; and thus be made wise unto salvation, by faith in Jesus Christ.

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commentaryThe Divinity of ChristTHE DIVINITY OF CHRIST. Augustine says (de Civitate Dei, lib. 10, cap. 29) that his friend Simplicius told him he had heard a Platonic philosopher say that these first verses of St. John's gospel were worthy to be writt…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on John 1:1In the beginning was the Word. From early times expositors have perceived that the evangelist essayed here a comparison with the ἐν ἀρχῇ ("in the beginning") of the first verse of the Book of Genesis. This can hardl…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on John 1:1-51EXPOSITION THE title of the book is differently given in the manuscripts and ancient versions, and the differences are so considerable that they cannot be referred to the original text. The simplest form of the title is…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on John 1:1-181. The hypothesis framed by the evangelist to account for the series of facts which he is about to narrate is seen especially in John 1:14; but before asserting this great fact that the Word was made flesh, he proceeds…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on John 1:2The same Logos whom the writer has just affirmed to have been God himself, was, though it might seem at first reading to be incompatible with the first or third clause of the first verse, nevertheless in the beginning w…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on John 1:3-5Jesus Christ in relation to creation. The apostle next shows the relation between the finite and the infinite, the Divine and the human. I. THE WORD MADE FLESH. "All things were made by him." Therefore he must be God. "…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on John 1:3All things ( πάντα, not τὰ πάντα) taken one by one, rather than all things regarded in their totality—"all things," i.e. all beings and elements of things visible or invisible, in heaven, earth, and under the earth (…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on John 1:4The life that gives light to men. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth:" so runs the first verse of the Book of Genesis. "In the beginning was the Word:" so runs the first verse in the Gospel of John.…Joseph S. Exell and contributors