Observations by Archpriest Michael Pomazanski.

        The attention of every Christian that is familiar with the Bible is drawn to the parallel between the first words in the beginning of the Old Testament Book of “Genesis” and the beginning of John’s Gospel. We too will pause on this parallel.

        “En archi” — “In the beginning” — are the opening words of both Holy Writings. In Greek, the word “archi” has three rudimentary meanings: a) beginning of an event or undertaking, in the ordinary and simple sense of the word; b) command, rule or authority: c) in a secular meaning — ancient times, the past, long ago, and in a spiritual sense — unconstrained by time, eternal.

        In the original language of the Book of the Prophet Moses the word is applied in the usual sense (as in a) above) — before all His actions out of Himself, God created heaven and earth ie. before earth’s creation, there was only God and nothing existed outside Himself. The same word appears as the first in John’s Gospel. However, the Saint Apostle elevates the meaning of the Greek Word “Archi. “In the beginning was the Word” — Word, as a personal Divine being, “In the beginning” — before any other type of being, and more than this: out of any time, in the limitless eternity. The same word appears once more in another part of the same Gospel, with the same meaning: we present the verse. When the Judeans asked Christ: “Who are You?” — Christ replied: “From the beginning of existence, as I have told you.” Thus, the first Gospels of the two Testaments begin with one and the same expressive word: but in the New Testament, it has a more elevated meaning than that in the Book of Genesis.

        In the ensuing text of both Books, especially in the first five verses of each one, we notice this internal association. Let it be unintentional on the part of the Evangelist — as it is not conveyed in strict sequence — but as a connection, flows out by itself from the substance of the narration on the two topics. Here, the majesty of these New Testament events — with its comparison to the Old Testament — is clearly determined. For the sake of clarity, we conducted the parallel by placing the Old Testament first, and the Gospel, second.

        Book of Genesis The Gospel

        1. “In the beginning God…” 1.”In the beginning was the Word, and the

        1.“And God said, Let there…” Word was with God, and the Word was

        God.” Here the mystery of monotheism

        is heightened in the revelation of the

        second hypostasis in God, (the expression

        “was with God” is explained further on,

        in the 18^th verse: “The only begotten Son

        Who is in the bosom of the Father”).

        2. “All things were made through Him

        (Word), and without Him nothing

        was made that was made.”

        The verb “said” is made more precise

        with the words “said with the Word,”

        the participation of the second Divine

        Hypostasis, Creator of the whole world,

        Fulfiller of the Father’s will.

        2. “And the earth was waste & void…” 3. “In Him (Word) was life” (in contrast).

        (lifeless) 4. “And the life was the Light of men.”

        3. “And God said, Let there be light…”- The subject of the thought is elevated

        this is about a physical light. immeasurably, notwithstanding it is

        denoted by one and the same word.

        4. “And darkness was upon the face of About Word, Son of God: “And the Light

        the deep…” shines in the darkness, and the darkness

        did not comprehend it — (in contrast).

        And further verses: 5. The words of John the Baptist are cited:

        5. On the Holy Spirit: “And the Spirit “I did not know Him; but that He should

        of God moved upon the face of the be revealed to Israel, therefore I came

        waters…” baptising with water. And John bore

        witness, saying, ‘I saw the Spirit descending

        from heaven like a dove, and He remained

        upon Him’” (verse 31-32 in comparison).

        6. On the incarnation of the Word.

        6. “And God said, Let us make man in Our “And the Word became flesh and dwelt

        image…And God created man in His among us, and we beheld His glory, the

        Own image…” glory as of the only begotten of the Father

        (verse 14 in comparison).

        7. “And He rested on the seventh day from 7. Coming of the Word to earth. Glory of

        all His work which He had made…” the Saviour: “Hereafter you shall see

        Heaven open, and the Angels of God

        Ascending and descending upon the Son

        Of Man” (John 1:51, — in comparison).

This coincidence of thoughts and of verbal expressions between the given two holy Books of the Old and New Testaments, this light of the first in the church remembrances of the Gospel — falling on the first Book of the Prophet Moses — is confirmed by the Apostle’s words in the same first chapter of his Gospel: “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (verse 16-17).

        Consequently, it is not necessary to seek the source for the name “Logos — Word,” which has entrenched itself in Christianity. This name-understanding is in general, completely familiar to the Old Testament: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth” (Psalm 33:6) — stated in the Psalter, formerly read daily by the Judeans either in ancient-Jewish text or in translated form of the Seventy.

        However, Christ’s farewell dialogue with His Disciples shines even more clearly for us: “The word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s Who sent Me” (John 14:24). “For all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you “ (John 15:15). “All things that the Father has are Mine” (John 16:15). Here is the fundamental subject of this majestic dialogue, just as the first sacerdotal prayer uttered by Christ that followed it.

        The Orthodox Church lovingly took to calling the Son of God “Word” and widely applies it, not in one form only but either in one or another determinations, attributes: “Bear God the Word” (“It is meet and right to bless Thee”): “The only Son and Word of God” (Song during Liturgy); “All-Ruler, Word of the Father” (From prayers before sleep).