Illustrated Study Bible<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nJohn raises the curtain on his Gospel with a stunning description of Jesus Christ as \u201cthe Word\u201d (Greek logos, 1:1). Both Greek and Jewish listeners in the first century would immediately recognize the profound meaning of this title. Greeks would have thought of the seminal forces that sustain the universe. Jewish minds would have thought back to God creating the world with his word (Gen 1:3\u201128). In Jesus\u2019 day, the Word of God took on creative personal attributes (Ps 33:6, 9). Jews viewed God\u2019s Word as personifying divine wisdom. Through Wisdom, God extended himself into the cosmos, creating the world (Prov 8:22\u201131).<\/p>\n\n\n\n