Genesis and John start with "In the beginning", Why?

Question: John begins his Gospel with the same three words as Genesis. Does he link them to Genesis in some way?

Answer: “In the beginning was the Word” (John1:1) John begins his Gospel by informing us the Word “was”. The Word did not become—the Word was. That’s important because in these first few words of John’s Gospel we get to see a little of who God is and how great he is.

The Greek word for “Word” is “Logos” which means “word”, “speech”, “reason”. It’s derived from the Greek word “lego” meaning to speak. So from the start we see that there was the Logos. This means there was communication—dialogue, (notice the log in dialogue—Dia is Greek for “through” and Logos is “word”). Within God there was dialogue, a conversation between two or more. So with this opening sentence in John’s Gospel we see the community of persons in the Trinity. 

The Bible calls this community the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 

We also see that the “Word” brings reason, not chaos or disorder, the “Word” brings order. When we are talking to someone we like the conversation to make sense and lead somewhere don’t we? We like order, because we are made in God’s image. We don’t like confusion or turmoil; we like our houses to be in order, and our work to have a plan, we want our lives to be aligned to peace, security and structure. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace” (1 Cor 14:33). 

The “Word” brings goodness. Jesus brings God’s Word to us, because the enemy desires to bring confusion and distress into our lives. But Jesus shows us how to live. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14). Jesus shares his thoughts with us. God’s thoughts are far higher than our thoughts and yet Jesus is willing to share the thoughts of God with us. 

We see a little of the dialogue within God when Jesus prays: “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began” (John 17:5). This is the everlasting glory, the eternal Logos, that we are allowed to hear.

“The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep… And God said, 'Let there be light: and there was light'”. Notice, “God said”, this is the “Word” in action, bringing order from chaos, and light from darkness. When God speaks it counts. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it” (Isa 55:9–11).

John shines some light on the first few words of Genesis by the first few words of his Gospel.