What Does John 1:2 Mean in the King James?
The same was in the beginning with God.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The beginning is already a relation: the Word is with God there, not outside that relation awaiting a later start.
THE MEANING
The Word is already with God at the beginning. The verse presents the Word’s relation to God as present at the origin, before anything that begins is under way.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The Word does not begin as a later addition to God’s life; this verse places the Word with God at the beginning.
THE ROOT
ἀρχή
archē
GROWS FROM
ἀρχ-
arch-
The Greek word family carries the ideas of beginning and rule.
The same word family can name a beginning and a ruler. Here the word is temporal, but it places the Word at the origin rather than downstream from it.
ALSO GROWS
archō: to begin; to rule
ἄρχω
Its shared stem links beginning with the idea of what takes the lead.
archōn: ruler, one who exercises authority
ἄρχων
This related word shows how the family reaches from firstness toward rule, while this verse specifically says the Word is present at the beginning.
πρός
pros
GROWS FROM
πρός
pros
A relational preposition that can mark direction toward someone as well as being with them.
The KJV’s “with” can sound like simple proximity, while πρός also carries orientation toward another. The verse presents the Word as already in relation to God at the beginning.
ALSO GROWS
prosagōgē: approach, access
προσαγωγή
This compound uses πρός as a prefix; its sense of approach adds a direction toward someone to the idea of relation.
prosechō: turn toward, attend to
προσέχω
Here too, πρός contributes the sense of directing oneself toward something, echoing the orientation in “with God.”
THE PATTERN
What is present at the origin is already in relation to God; creation does not begin in isolation.
And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.THE THREAD
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.John repeats the Greek ἀρχή (archē, “beginning”) and πρός (pros, “with, toward”), keeping the same origin and relation in view. “The same” in this verse points back to that Word, continuing the thought rather than introducing a new one.
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