Christmas Season · Second Sunday after Christmas Day · Year A
John 1:1-18 or John 1:1-5, 9-14
The Word Became Flesh
January 4, 2026
Overview & Insights
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” (John 1:14)
The prologue is generally taken to be a hymn that the evangelist has annotated, and the shorter option offered here, dropping vv. 6-8 and 15, in effect restores the hymn by removing the two prose insertions about John the Baptist. Its first words, en arche, reach behind Israel’s history to Genesis 1:1, and the sequence of light, life and word follows the order of the first creation account. The hinge is v. 14, where the abstractions acquire flesh: the verb eskenosen means to pitch a tent, so the Word tabernacles among us as the glory once did in the wilderness shrine, and “we have seen his glory” answers the refusal of Exodus 33:20. Verse 18 closes the circle the first verse opened, the only-begotten turned toward the Father’s heart now being the one who makes him known, and its flat statement that no one has ever seen God sets the terms for the whole Gospel.
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Take it further: John 1:1-18 or John 1:1-5, 9-14
Commentary
Commentary on John 1:1-14Commentary on Jn 1:1-14 Working Preacher
Luther Seminary commentary on the Prologue as John's birth story, the Word who was God becoming flesh.
Enduring Word Bible Commentary John Chapter 1Enduring Word Bible Commentary Jn Chapter 1 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik's verse-by-verse exposition of the Word, the light, and the incarnation in John's Prologue.
John 1:1 CommentariesJn 1:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Aggregated classic commentary on In the beginning was the Word and the Word was God.
John 1 CommentaryJn 1 Commentary Precept Austin
Deep verse-by-verse study notes gathering many conservative scholars on the Logos and the incarnation.
The Nativity of the Lord (Year B), Dr. Pitre Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre
Dr. Brant Pitre's Catholic exegesis linking the Day Mass Prologue with Isaiah 52 and Hebrews 1.
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Mass During the Day Loyola Press · Sunday Connection
Loyola Press Sunday Connection background, reflection questions, and family prayer for the Day Mass gospel.
Background & Word Study
John 1:1 InterlinearJn 1:1 Interlinear BibleHub
Greek word by word with parsing for Word (logos), was (en), and with God (pros ton theon).
BibleProject: Gospel of John Overview (John 1-12)BibleProject: Gospel of Jn Overview (Jn 1-12) BibleProject
Animated literary overview showing how the Prologue introduces the themes of John's first half.
Jesus the word become flesh in John 1Jesus the word become flesh in Jn 1 Psephizo · Ian Paul
Ian Paul's Anglican study of the Prologue as an overture anticipating the whole gospel.
The Church Fathers
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