Does John 1:1 imply multiple gods since “the Word” is both with God and is God?

Introduction

John 1:1, as rendered in the Berean Standard Bible, states: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” Some readers have wondered whether this verse teaches belief in multiple gods, since “the Word” is presented both as being with God and as being God. A careful consideration of language, context, and the unified testimony of Scripture clarifies that John 1:1 does not endorse polytheism. Rather, it testifies to the unique relationship within the Godhead: one divine essence manifested in more than one Person.

Context of John 1:1

The Gospel of John opens with a prologue (John 1:1–18) that highlights profound truths of Christ’s deity and mission. These verses identify Jesus Christ as the eternal “Word” (Greek: Logos). Biblical monotheism, from Genesis to Revelation, affirms the existence of only one God (cf. Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45:5). Yet, from the first sentence, John speaks of a plurality of Persons within that oneness. The passage emphasizes that the Word was present “in the beginning,” uncreated and eternal, coexistent with God.

This prologue introduces many themes that follow in John, such as the incarnation (John 1:14), the unique Sonship of Jesus (John 1:18), and His equality with the Father (John 10:30). Each reference underscores the deity of Christ while maintaining the biblical principle of one God.

Language and Grammar

The original Greek text of John 1:1 reads: “Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ Λόγος, καὶ ὁ Λόγος ἦν πρὸς τὸν Θεόν, καὶ Θεὸς ἦν ὁ Λόγος.” A few noteworthy points from the Greek:

1. “ὁ Λόγος” (“the Word”) is the subject of the sentence.

2. “πρὸς τὸν Θεόν” conveys intimate relationship or fellowship with God.

3. “Θεὸς ἦν ὁ Λόγος” translates directly to “and the Word was God,” describing the nature of the Word convincingly as divine.

Because Greek does not use an indefinite article (like our English “a”), John’s phrasing deliberately communicates that the Word shares the same essence as God. Had John intended to express “the Word was a god,” he would have employed different phrasing. Instead, the Word’s identity is placed on par with God without implying two separate gods.

Trinitarian Perspective

The interpretation of John 1:1 that best aligns with the full testimony of Scripture is the concept of the Trinity: one God who eternally exists as three Persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The Word, identified in John 1:14 (“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us,”), is revealed as Jesus Christ, the eternal Son.

The statement “the Word was with God” signals the distinction of Person. The assertion “the Word was God” indicates the shared divine essence. Multiple gods would contradict the monotheism upheld in passages such as Isaiah 44:6 and 1 Timothy 2:5. Instead, the text affirms the multifaceted yet singular nature of God, consistent with John’s broader theological portrait where Jesus makes statements of unity with the Father (John 10:30) and receives worship rightfully due only to God (John 9:38; 20:28).

Consistency with Biblical Monotheism

The core message of Scripture affirms a single divine nature (e.g., Exodus 20:2–3). The Shema in Deuteronomy 6:4 declares, “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is One!”. New Testament writers echo this revelation. Paul affirms in 1 Corinthians 8:6 that there is “one God, the Father,” yet clearly teaches that Jesus shares deity (Philippians 2:6; Colossians 2:9). John begins his Gospel by verifying that this one God comprises more than one Person, yet remains absolutely one in deity and being.

Historic and Doctrinal Unity

Over the centuries, early church leaders and councils addressed any confusion about Christ’s divine identity. The Council of Nicaea (AD 325) upheld that Christ is co-eternal and consubstantial (“of the same substance”) with the Father, consistent with John’s prologue. Church writers such as Ignatius of Antioch, Tertullian, and Athanasius expounded on John 1:1 to emphasize Jesus’s divinity within monotheism. Their collective testimony depends on the bedrock truth that Christ is not a separate, lesser god, but rather God from eternity, in unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Archaeological and Manuscript Evidence

Early fragments of John’s Gospel, such as the papyrus known as p66, date to around the late second century. They attest to the stable transmission of John’s prologue, with “the Word was God” consistently preserved. Scholars from various backgrounds (citing works such as those circulated by the Institute for New Testament Textual Research and comments by textual critics like Dr. James White and Dr. Daniel Wallace) concur that John 1:1 stands securely in the manuscript record. The credibility of this text has further been strengthened through archaeological discoveries that confirm the existence and culture of first-century Palestine, making the Gospel’s backdrop historically sound.

Addressing Common Objections

1. “A God” Translation: Some argue John 1:1 could be translated as “the Word was a god,” implying multiplicity. Yet Greek grammar and lexical studies show this translation does not reflect John’s intended meaning. Grammarian Julius R. Mantey and many others have written extensively to clarify that John’s formulation is indicating the Word is divine, not “a god.”

2. Apparent Contradiction: Others see a contradiction: how can the Word be both with God and be God? This results in confusion if one envisions separate deities. However, the understanding of a triune Godhead explains that the Word (Son) exists in perfect fellowship with the Father, while sharing God’s uncreated, eternal nature.

3. Biblical Monotheism: If the Bible is monotheistic, how do we handle these distinct Persons? Monotheism in Scripture refers to a singular divine essence. Within that essence, the Father, Son, and Spirit each fully possesses the attributes of deity (e.g., omnipotence, eternality, holiness). John 1:1 affirms this truth for the Son without contradicting the Old Testament’s one-God focus.

Philosophical and Behavioral Implications

Understanding John 1:1 influences not just belief, but conduct. If the eternal Word truly is God, then the invitation to relationship with Him carries infinite weight. It offers moral guidance, spiritual transformation, and eternal hope. Emphasizing God’s oneness in Trinity uniquely answers human questions about God's nature and relational capacity—God is, and always has been, relational in His very essence.

Moreover, believing that Jesus Christ is fully God shapes the nature of worship, devotion, and ethical standards. This acknowledgment instructs that the claims of Christ are grounded in divine authority, with direct implications about salvation, resurrection, and daily living.

Conclusion

John 1:1 does not present multiple gods; it declares the profound truth that God is one in essence, yet more than one in Person—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The prologue of John’s Gospel lays a cornerstone for the Christian understanding of God’s nature: the Word (Jesus) is co-eternal, co-equal, and one in deity with the Father.

Numerous lines of evidence—textual, historical, and logical—demonstrate consistency with biblical monotheism. The grammar of the Greek confirms the deity of the Word. The entire context of Scripture echoes this theme: there is one God, yet the Son and the Holy Spirit are fully God alongside the Father. Far from teaching multiple gods, John 1:1 exalts the unbreakable unity of the one true God revealed in Jesus Christ, the divine Word from everlasting to everlasting.