ISB ~ John 1 v1

In the beginning:John traces the origin of the Word into eternity past, where God the Son was present with God the Father before time itself began (17:5).

• This opening verse of John is a direct allusion to the opening verse of the Bible. As in Genesis 1, the evangelist draws attention to light, darkness, life, and the spoken Word that brought all things into existence (1:1-5). It is implied that the universe, once created through the Word of God, is now being renewed through that same Word come in the flesh as Jesus Christ (1:14; Rev 21:15; Catechism of the Catholic Church [hereafter CCC] 241, 291).

was with God:Distinguishes the Word from the Father. They are not the same Person, yet they share the same nature in the family of the eternal Godhead (17:25-26) (CCC 25456).

was God:Or, “was divine”. This is the first and clearest assertion of the deity of Jesus in the Fourth Gospel (5:18; 10:30-33; 20:28) (CCC 242).