Christmas · The Nativity of Our Lord (Christmas Day) · Year A
John 1:1-14 (15-18)
In the Beginning Was the Word
December 25, 2025
Overview & Insights
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5)
Behind the prologue’s Word lie several conversations at once, the creative word of Genesis and the personified wisdom of Israel’s later books, the logos of Stoic cosmology, and the mediating word of Philo, a Jewish contemporary in Alexandria. John’s usage matches none of them exactly, and the decisive difference arrives with flesh. The prologue also lays down the Gospel’s working vocabulary. Light set against darkness is announced at v. 5 and then carried through the narrative (8:12; 12:35-36), and the verb of that verse, katelaben, holds both “overcome” and “grasp”, a doubleness the Gospel exploits. Verse 11 states the plot in advance, that he came to his own and his own did not receive him, while v. 12 makes the alternative a birth owing nothing to blood or human will. The bracketed close sets Moses and the law beside grace and truth without setting them against each other.
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Take it further: John 1:1-14 (15-18)
Commentary
Enduring Word Bible Commentary John Chapter 1Enduring Word Bible Commentary Jn Chapter 1 Enduring Word · David Guzik
David Guzik walks through the prologue, the Word made flesh, and the light shining in darkness.
Commentary on John 1:1-14Commentary on Jn 1:1-14 Working Preacher
Lutheran preaching commentary keyed to this exact Christmas Day Gospel reading.
John 1:1 CommentariesJn 1:1 Commentaries BibleHub
Classic commentators gathered on 'In the beginning was the Word.'
The Work of Christmas, Christmas Day (III) Sermons That Work · Episcopal Church
Episcopal sermon on the prologue for Christmas Day in the RCL.
Background & Word Study
The manifestation of Jesus in John 1The manifestation of Jesus in Jn 1 Psephizo · Ian Paul
Anglican scholar Ian Paul reads the prologue as the overture to the whole Gospel.
John 1:1 Greek Text Analysis (Interlinear)Jn 1:1 Greek Text Analysis (Interlinear) BibleHub
Word by word Greek with parsing for the logos language of the prologue.
Book of John OverviewBook of Jn Overview BibleProject
Visual overview of John's structure and the theme of Jesus as the Word and life.
John - Enter the BibleJn - Enter the Bible Enter the Bible
Luther Seminary background on the Fourth Gospel's authorship, audience, and outline.
Brian Stoffregen Exegetical Notes, John 1:1-14Brian Stoffregen Exegetical Notes, Jn 1:1-14 Crossmarks · Brian Stoffregen
Detailed Greek exegetical notes on the prologue for Christmas Day.
The Church Fathers
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