Most translations inappropriately introduce the masculine pronoun “he” into John 1.1-2, rather than “it” or “this one.”[1] This prompts the reader into the mistake of thinking “the word” is a distinct person apart from God. Although Greek has grammatical gender (meaning nouns are masculine or feminine), this does not mean the reader should assign personhood to them. We should not confuse grammatical gender with natural or biological gender.

The word translated “with” (pros) in the phrase “the word was with God” in John 1.1b “does not imply any movement or action on the part of the Logos. Support for this view may be found in the NT parallels where pros with the accusative often following the verb einai denotes the linear motion but punctiliar [i.e. not moving] rest”[2]

Furthermore, John uses the Greek preposition para not pros “to express the proximity of one person to another or the nearness of the Son to the Father.”[3]

For example, in 1 John 1:2 the “eternal life,” describes as a “what” or “which” throughout, is “with [pros] God.” Paul in Gal. 2:5 says that the Gospel is “with [pros] you.”

Hence, many translations and paraphrases capture the meaning and intent behind the Greek of John 1.1c:

• “What God was the word was.” New English Bible; Revised English Bible (‘89).
• “The Word was God Himself.” Amplified Bible (1965 & 1987 update); A Translation in the Language of the People (Williams); Original Aramaic NT in Plain English.
• “God was that Word.” Ancient Eastern Manuscripts (Lamsa); NT Coptic Version.

[1] houtos, see the TEV, LB, NASB, NIV, NRSV, NAB, and the AB.

[2] (Matt. 26.18, 55 vl.; Mk. 6.3 ( =Matt. 13.56); 9.19 ( = Lk. 9.41 but Matt. 17.17 has meth’ hymon); 14.49; 1Cor 16.6f.; 2Cor 5.8; 11.9; Gal 1.18; 4.18, 20; Phil 1.26; 1Thess 3.4; 2Thess 2.5; 3.10; Phlm 13; Heb 4.13; 1Jn 1.2)” (Brown, NIDNT, p 1204).

[3] Jn. 1.39; 4.40; 8.38; 14.17, 23, 25; 19.25; cf. 14.23; note also meta tinos in Jn. 3.22, 25 f. etc.; Jn 8.38; 17.5. ibid., p 1205.