John 1:1 and the Jehovah’s Witnesses – Episode 10, God with God

“…and the Word was with God…” (John 1:1b)

When we come to John 1:1b and read that the Word was in fellowship with God (ton theon, in the Greek), we certainly have precedent for this from the Old Testament, especially as seen in the witness to the Angel or Messenger of Yahweh being equal with Yahweh. And in what follows in John’s Gospel we see John’s description of this intimate connection Jesus has with the Father, and Jesus’ own description of it, repeated again and again.

And the Word became flesh and pitched his tent among us, and we saw his glory, glory as the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

No one has ever seen God. The only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has explained Him. (John 1:16-18)

But Jesus responded to them, “My Father is working until now and I too am working.” For this reason then the Jews began seeking rather to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was saying God was his own Father, making himself equal with God. Jesus answered them, therefore, saying, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son is not able to do anything by himself, but only what he sees the Father doing, for whatever he sees Him do, these things he likewise does. Because the Father loves the Son and has shown him what He Himself does, and greater works than these He will show him so that you might be amazed. For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also to whomever the Son chooses he gives life. For the Father does not judge anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all might honor the Son even as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. Truly, truly I say to you that the one who hears my word and believes in the One who sent me has eternal life and will not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.” (John 5:17-24)

I and the Father are one thing. (John 10:30)

And now, glorify me, Father, from Yourself, with the glory I had with you before the world existed.” (John 17:5)

Jesus and the Father have the fellowship of those who are on the same level, though there is an obvious deference Jesus gives to the Father. Is it possible to be equal to someone and yet for that person to be your leader? Of course. Human beings are all equal to each other, despite our attempts to place ourselves in positions and classes above and separate from one another.  And yet fellow humans act as “superiors” or leaders over us.

In the divine Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are equally God, but the Father directs the Son (“the Son is not able to do anything by himself, but only what he sees the Father doing, for whatever he sees Him do, these things he likewise does”) and the Son directs the Spirit (“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father is sending in my name, He will teach you all things and remind you of all the things I have told you”).