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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 1:3 Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/1-3.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/2/43_Jhn_01_03.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 1:3 - The Beginning" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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without him nothing was made that has been made. <a href="/nlt/john/1.htm">New Living Translation</a> God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. <a href="/esv/john/1.htm">English Standard Version</a> All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. <a href="/bsb/john/1.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a> Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. <a href="/blb/john/1.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. <a href="/kjv/john/1.htm">King James Bible</a> All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. <a href="/nkjv/john/1.htm">New King James Version</a> All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. <a href="/nasb_/john/1.htm">New American Standard Bible</a> All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. <a href="/nasb/john/1.htm">NASB 1995</a> All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. <a href="/nasb77/john/1.htm">NASB 1977 </a> All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. <a href="/lsb/john/1.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a> All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. <a href="/amp/john/1.htm">Amplified Bible</a> All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him not even one thing was made that has come into being. <a href="/csb/john/1.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a> All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. <a href="/hcsb/john/1.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a> All things were created through Him, and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created. <a href="/asv/john/1.htm">American Standard Version</a> All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. <a href="/cev/john/1.htm">Contemporary English Version</a> And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word. Everything that was created <a href="/erv/john/1.htm">English Revised Version</a> All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. <a href="/gwt/john/1.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a> Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him. <a href="/gnt/john/1.htm">Good News Translation</a> Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. <a href="/isv/john/1.htm">International Standard Version</a> Through him all things were made, and apart from him nothing was made that has been made. <a href="/msb/john/1.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a> Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. <a href="/net/john/1.htm">NET Bible</a> All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. <a href="/nheb/john/1.htm">New Heart English Bible</a> All things were made through him, and apart from him nothing was made that has been made. <a href="/wbt/john/1.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a> All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. <a href="/wey/john/1.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing that exists came into being. <a href="/web/john/1.htm">World English Bible</a> All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. <div class="vheading2">Literal Translations</div><a href="/lsv/john/1.htm">Literal Standard Version</a> all things happened through Him, and without Him not even one thing happened that has happened. <a href="/blb/john/1.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a> All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. <a href="/ylt/john/1.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a> all things through him did happen, and without him happened not even one thing that hath happened. <a href="/slt/john/1.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a> All things were by him; and without him out him was not one thing that was.<div class="vheading2">Catholic Translations</div><a href="/drb/john/1.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a> All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made. <a href="/cpdv/john/1.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a> All things were made through Him, and nothing that was made was made without Him. <a href="/nabre/john/1.htm">New American Bible</a> All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be <a href="/nrsvce/john/1.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a> All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being<div class="vheading2">Translations from Aramaic</div><a href="/lamsa/john/1.htm">Lamsa Bible</a> Everything came to be by his hand; and without him not even one thing came to be of what was created. <a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/1.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a> Everything was in his hand, and without him not even one thing existed of the things that existed.<div class="vheading2">NT Translations</div><a href="/anderson/john/1.htm">Anderson New Testament</a> All things were made by him, and without him not one thing was made that now exists. <a href="/godbey/john/1.htm">Godbey New Testament</a> All things were made by Him, and without Him nothing was made, that has been made. <a href="/haweis/john/1.htm">Haweis New Testament</a> All things were made by him; and without him was not one thing made that was made. <a href="/mace/john/1.htm">Mace New Testament</a> all things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made. <a href="/wey/john/1.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a> All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing that exists came into being. <a href="/worrell/john/1.htm">Worrell New Testament</a> All things were made through Him, and apart from Him was not even one thing made that has been made. <a href="/worsley/john/1.htm">Worsley New Testament</a> By Him were all things made, and without Him was not any one thing made that was made. <a href="/parallel/john/1-3.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv">Audio Bible</div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=9" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe> <div class="vheadingv">Context</div><a href="/bsb/john/1.htm">The Beginning</a> …2He was with God in the beginning. 3<a href="/greek/1223.htm" title="1223: di’ (Prep) -- A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through.">Through</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">Him</a> <a href="/greek/3956.htm" title="3956: panta (Adj-NNP) -- All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole.">all things</a> <a href="/greek/1096.htm" title="1096: egeneto (V-AIM-3S) -- A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.">were made,</a> <a href="/greek/2532.htm" title="2532: kai (Conj) -- And, even, also, namely. ">and</a> <a href="/greek/5565.htm" title="5565: chōris (Prep) -- Apart from, separately from; without. Adverb from chora; at a space, i.e. Separately or apart from.">without</a> <a href="/greek/846.htm" title="846: autou (PPro-GM3S) -- He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.">Him</a> <a href="/greek/3761.htm" title="3761: oude (Adv) -- Neither, nor, not even, and not. From ou and de; not however, i.e. Neither, nor, not even.">nothing</a> <a href="/greek/1520.htm" title="1520: hen (Adj-NNS) -- One. (including the neuter Hen); a primary numeral; one."></a> <a href="/greek/1096.htm" title="1096: egeneto (V-AIM-3S) -- A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.">was made</a> <a href="/greek/3739.htm" title="3739: ho (RelPro-NNS) -- Who, which, what, that. ">that</a> <a href="/greek/1096.htm" title="1096: gegonen (V-RIA-3S) -- A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.">has been made.</a> 4In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div> <a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><a href="/colossians/1-16.htm">Colossians 1:16</a> For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. <a href="/hebrews/1-2.htm">Hebrews 1:2</a> But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. <a href="/1_corinthians/8-6.htm">1 Corinthians 8:6</a> yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we exist. And there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we exist. <a href="/genesis/1-1.htm">Genesis 1:1</a> In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. <a href="/psalms/33-6.htm">Psalm 33:6</a> By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and all the stars by the breath of His mouth. <a href="/proverbs/8-22.htm">Proverbs 8:22-31</a> The LORD created me as His first course, before His works of old. / From everlasting I was established, from the beginning, before the earth began. / When there were no watery depths, I was brought forth, when no springs were overflowing with water. ... <a href="/ephesians/3-9.htm">Ephesians 3:9</a> and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. <a href="/revelation/4-11.htm">Revelation 4:11</a> “Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for You created all things; by Your will they exist and were created.” <a href="/hebrews/11-3.htm">Hebrews 11:3</a> By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. <a href="/isaiah/44-24.htm">Isaiah 44:24</a> Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who by Myself spread out the earth, <a href="/romans/11-36.htm">Romans 11:36</a> For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen. <a href="/nehemiah/9-6.htm">Nehemiah 9:6</a> You alone are the LORD. You created the heavens, the highest heavens with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them. You give life to all things, and the host of heaven worships You. <a href="/psalms/102-25.htm">Psalm 102:25</a> In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. <a href="/isaiah/45-12.htm">Isaiah 45:12</a> It is I who made the earth and created man upon it. It was My hands that stretched out the heavens, and I ordained all their host. <a href="/job/33-4.htm">Job 33:4</a> The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.</div> <a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div>All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.A.<a href="/john/1-10.htm">John 1:10</a> He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.<a href="/john/5-17.htm">John 5:17-19</a> But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work… <a href="/genesis/1-1.htm">Genesis 1:1,26</a> In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth… <div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/luke/22-6.htm">Apart</a> <a href="/luke/11-44.htm">Existence</a> <a href="/luke/12-28.htm">Exists</a> <a href="/luke/22-17.htm">Received</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/10-36.htm">Apart</a> <a href="/john/1-4.htm">Existence</a> <a href="/romans/4-15.htm">Exists</a> <a href="/john/1-11.htm">Received</a><div class="vheading2">John 1</div>1. <a href="/john/1-1.htm">The divinity, humanity, office, and incarnation of Jesus Christ.</a> 15. <a href="/john/1-15.htm">The testimony of John.</a> 39. <a href="/john/1-39.htm">The calling of Simon and Andrew, Philip and Nathanael</a> </div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div>  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div>  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/1.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/1.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div>Through Him all things were made This phrase emphasizes the role of the Word, identified as Jesus Christ, in creation. It aligns with <a href="/genesis/1.htm">Genesis 1:1</a>, where God is the Creator of the heavens and the earth. The use of "through Him" indicates that Jesus is the divine agent of creation, affirming His preexistence and divinity. <a href="/colossians/1-16.htm">Colossians 1:16</a> supports this by stating that all things were created through and for Him. This underscores the belief in the Trinity, where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are distinct yet unified in essence and purpose. The phrase also reflects the wisdom literature, such as <a href="/proverbs/8-22.htm">Proverbs 8:22-31</a>, where wisdom is personified and present at creation, hinting at Christ's role.and without Him nothing was made This part of the verse reinforces the totality of Christ's involvement in creation. It negates any possibility of creation occurring independently of Him, emphasizing His sovereignty and indispensability. This echoes <a href="/hebrews/1-2.htm">Hebrews 1:2</a>, which states that God made the universe through His Son. The phrase also counters early heresies like Gnosticism, which suggested a lesser deity or emanation was responsible for the material world. By affirming that nothing was made without Him, the text asserts the goodness of creation and Christ's authority over all.that has been made This phrase concludes the thought by encompassing all of creation, both seen and unseen. It includes the physical universe and spiritual realms, as suggested in <a href="/ephesians/6-12.htm">Ephesians 6:12</a>, which speaks of spiritual forces. The comprehensive nature of this statement highlights the scope of Christ's creative work, leaving no room for exceptions. It also points to the ongoing sustenance and governance of creation by Christ, as seen in <a href="/hebrews/1-3.htm">Hebrews 1:3</a>, where He is described as upholding all things by His powerful word. This affirms the continuous and active role of Christ in the world.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ (The Word)</a> The central figure in this verse, referred to as "Him," through whom all creation came into being. The Word (Logos in Greek) is a title that emphasizes His divine nature and role in creation. 2. <a href="/topical/c/creation.htm">Creation</a> The event of bringing the universe and all within it into existence. This verse highlights the comprehensive scope of creation, affirming that everything was made through Jesus. 3. <a href="/topical/t/the_apostle_john.htm">The Apostle John</a> The author of the Gospel of John, who provides this theological insight into the nature of Christ and His role in creation.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><a href="/topical/t/the_divine_nature_of_christ.htm">The Divine Nature of Christ</a> Jesus is not merely a part of creation; He is the Creator. This affirms His divinity and eternal existence, which is foundational to Christian belief. <a href="/topical/t/the_sovereignty_of_christ_in_creation.htm">The Sovereignty of Christ in Creation</a> Recognizing Jesus as the Creator should lead us to worship Him as sovereign over all things. This understanding calls us to trust in His power and authority in our lives. <a href="/topical/t/the_purpose_and_order_of_creation.htm">The Purpose and Order of Creation</a> Since all things were made through Christ, creation has purpose and order. This should encourage us to seek His will and purpose in our own lives, knowing we are part of His divine plan. <a href="/topical/d/dependence_on_christ_for_sustenance.htm">Dependence on Christ for Sustenance</a> Just as creation depends on Christ for its existence, we too must depend on Him for our spiritual and physical sustenance. This reliance should be reflected in our daily walk with Him.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_1.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 1</a> <a href="/q/how_does_science_align_with_john_1_3.htm">If all things were made through the Word (John 1:3), how do we reconcile modern scientific explanations for the universe’s origins? </a> <a href="/q/how_to_find_joy_and_unity_in_christ.htm">How can we find joy and unity in Christ?</a> <a href="/q/is_jesus_comparable_to_dmt.htm">Is Jesus comparable to DMT?</a> <a href="/q/what_is_the_cambrian_explosion.htm">What defines the Cambrian Explosion event?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/1.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(3) From the person of the Word we are guided to think of His creative work. The first chapter of Genesis is still present to the mind, but a fuller meaning can now be given to its words. All things came into existence by means of the pre-existent Word, and of all the things that now exist none came into being apart from Him.All things.--The words express in the grandeur of an unthinkable array of units what is expressed in totality by "the world" in <a href="/john/1-10.htm" title="He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.">John 1:10</a>. The completion of the thought by the negative statement of the opposite brings sharply before us the infinitely little in contrast with the infinitely great. Of all these units not one is by its vastness beyond, or by its insignificance beneath His creative will. For the relation of the Word to the Father in the work of creation, comp. Note on <a href="/context/colossians/1-15.htm" title=" Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:">Colossians 1:15-16</a>.For the form of this verse, which is technically known as antithetic parallelism, comp. <a href="/john/5-20.htm" title="For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that himself does: and he will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.">John 5:20</a>; <a href="/john/5-23.htm" title="That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honors not the Son honors not the Father which has sent him.">John 5:23</a>; <a href="/john/8-23.htm" title="And he said to them, You are from beneath; I am from above: you are of this world; I am not of this world.">John 8:23</a>; <a href="/context/john/10-27.htm" title="My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:">John 10:27-28</a>; <a href="/1_john/2-4.htm" title="He that said, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.">1John 2:4</a>; <a href="/1_john/2-27.htm" title="But the anointing which you have received of him stays in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall abide in him.">1John 2:27</a>, et al. It is found not unfrequently in other parts of the New Testament, but it is a characteristic of St. John's Hebrew style. Its occurrence in the poetry of the Old Testament, e.g., in the Psalms (<a href="/context/psalms/89-30.htm" title="If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments;">Psalm 89:30-31</a>, et al.) will be familiar to all. . . . <div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/1.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div>Verses 3, 4. - (2) The creation of all things through the Logos, as the instrument of the eternal counsel and activity of God. Verse 3. - All things (Πάντα, not τὰ πάντα) taken one by one, rather than all things regarded in their totality - "all things," i.e. all beings and elements of things visible or invisible, in heaven, earth, and under the earth (see <a href="/colossians/1-16.htm">Colossians 1:16</a>, etc.), came into being through him, through the Logos, who was in the beginning with God, and was God. The Logos is the organ or instrument by which everything, one by one, was made. Two other words are used in the New Testament to denote "creation" - κτίζειν, used in <a href="/revelation/4-11.htm">Revelation 4:11</a> and <a href="/colossians/1-16.htm">Colossians 1:16</a>, a word indicating the mind and act of the Creator; and ποιεῖν, which, as in <a href="/mark/10-6.htm">Mark 10:6</a>, points generally to the thing made. The parts of the verb γίγνεσθαι indicate the progress of the work, the process of some creative order, the occurrence of some event in the evolution of Divine providence. This word does not by one solitary expression dogmatically convey the creative act, but the fact of the "becoming," from, it may be, the region of pure thought to that of existence, or from non-observation into prominence, or from an inchoate to a perfect development, or from nothing to something. The context must determine the fulness of its meaning. Occasionally, as in <a href="/john/8-58.htm">John 8:58</a>, it is powerfully contrasted with existence: "Before Abraham was [had come into being] I am." The context here does not allow us to affirm that St. John repudiated the prior existence of the υ}λη, stuff, of which πάντα were made. He does not affirm nor deny such a prior existency or condition, but by referring the universe in all its parts and items to the Logos, he absolutely ignores the Platonic notion of eternal matter. He could scarcely be ignorant of the speculation as it entered into the Philonic interpretation and formed the basis of the Gnostic speculations which were beginning to infest the early Church. By giving, however, a Divine origin and instrument to the "becoming" of πάντα, and strengthening his statement by the negative coassurance, he absolutely excludes the dualism of Philo and of Gnostic tendency. In asserting that the Logos is he or that through whom all things were made, the writer does not lower the dignity of the Logos by regarding him merely as the ὄργανον of the Father, because the same preposition is used of the relation of the Father to the world or to his servants (<a href="/romans/11-36.htm">Romans 11:36</a>; <a href="/galatians/1-1.htm">Galatians 1:1</a>; <a href="/hebrews/2-10.htm">Hebrews 2:10</a>). Elsewhere St. Paul powerfully affirms the same application of διά (<a href="/1_corinthians/8-6.htm">1 Corinthians 8:6</a>) to Christ's part in the Creation, reserving for the One God, the Father, the preposition ἐκ. From God and by or through God are all things, still "all things" derive their existence "through" the activity, the will, the thought, of the Logos. "The sphere contracts as the blessing enlarges [query, 'intensifies']: existence for everything; life for vegetable and animal world; light for men" (Plummer). The same idea is made more explicit by the negative form in which it is restated: and without him - that is, independently of his cooperation and volition (cf. <a href="/john/15-5.htm">John 15:5</a>) - not even one thing came into being. The ὕλη could hardly be spoken of as "one thing," seeing, according to the theory, it was not a unit as opposed to a multiplicity, but the condition of all things. The ἐγένετο would drive harder against any recognition of the ὕλη than would the ἕν. There is not the faintest approach to any supposition on John's part of the existence of such a primeval entity or eternal reality. The γέγονεν gives the student of the text and of the meaning grave difficulty. From very early times the Alexandrine Fathers and numerous uncial manuscripts, and an immense group of quotations and versions, unquestionably close the sentence we have just considered with ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν, and consider the ὅγέγονεν as the subject of the following clause, translating it either, That which has come into being in him was life; or, that which has come into being was (or is) life in him - for one manuscript, א, has rendered the text more grammatical by reading ἔστι instead of η΅ν. This, adopting the supposed early punctuation, Tregelles and Westcott and Hort have introduced into the text; but R.T. has coincided with T.R. Dr. Westcott has an elaborate note affirming the deep thought involved in the "ancient punctuation," to the effect that the ὅγέγονεν refers, not merely to the original creation, ἐγένετο, but to the continued existence of that which has come into being. Of this, it is said, it derives its life, has its life in the Logos, and that this idea is expressed in a profounder way than by saying ἔχει ζωὴν; that it was life (before it was called into being, or became) in him. This profound and mysterious statement is affirmed by Dr. Moulton and Dr. Westcott to find different but clear expression in <a href="/revelation/4-11.htm">Revelation 4:11</a>, "Thou art worthy, our Lord and our God, to receive glory, etc.; for thou didst create all things, and for thy pleasure they were [η΅σαν, the reading preferred by Tisehendorf (8th edit.) and Westcott and Herr, instead of εϊσι, 'they are'] and were created." Dr. Westcott thinks that "life" here represents "the Divine element in creation, that in virtue of which things 'are' each according to the fulness of its being." What has been created represents the eternal thought, the life that it had in the Logos before the world was. Unless one were compelled to take this thought by the exigencies of the textual criticism, we should hesitate to affirm that this can be the author's intention. To us the common punctuation is far more satisfactory m meaning: Apart from him there came into existence not one thing which has come into existence. This, in its grand comprehensiveness and individualizing of every molecule and every force, brings the mind of the reader down from eternity to time, from the creation to the preservation and providence of the world, and it prepares the way for the great assertion of the following verse. <a href="/commentaries/john/1-3.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a> <a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div>Through δι’ (di’) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_1223.htm">Strong's 1223: </a> A primary preposition denoting the channel of an act; through. Him αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. all things πάντα (panta) Adjective - Nominative Neuter Plural <a href="/greek/strongs_3956.htm">Strong's 3956: </a> All, the whole, every kind of. Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole. were made, ἐγένετο (egeneto) Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1096.htm">Strong's 1096: </a> A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction <a href="/greek/strongs_2532.htm">Strong's 2532: </a> And, even, also, namely. without χωρὶς (chōris) Preposition <a href="/greek/strongs_5565.htm">Strong's 5565: </a> Apart from, separately from; without. Adverb from chora; at a space, i.e. Separately or apart from. Him αὐτοῦ (autou) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive Masculine 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_846.htm">Strong's 846: </a> He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons. nothing οὐδὲ (oude) Adverb <a href="/greek/strongs_3761.htm">Strong's 3761: </a> Neither, nor, not even, and not. From ou and de; not however, i.e. Neither, nor, not even. was made ἐγένετο (egeneto) Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1096.htm">Strong's 1096: </a> A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude. that ὃ (ho) Personal / Relative Pronoun - Nominative Neuter Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_3739.htm">Strong's 3739: </a> Who, which, what, that. has been made. γέγονεν (gegonen) Verb - Perfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular <a href="/greek/strongs_1096.htm">Strong's 1096: </a> A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude. <div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/1-3.htm">John 1:3 NIV</a> <a href="/nlt/john/1-3.htm">John 1:3 NLT</a> <a href="/esv/john/1-3.htm">John 1:3 ESV</a> <a href="/nasb/john/1-3.htm">John 1:3 NASB</a> <a href="/kjv/john/1-3.htm">John 1:3 KJV</a> <a href="//bibleapps.com/john/1-3.htm">John 1:3 BibleApps.com</a> <a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/1-3.htm">John 1:3 Biblia Paralela</a> <a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/1-3.htm">John 1:3 Chinese Bible</a> <a href="//saintebible.com/john/1-3.htm">John 1:3 French Bible</a> <a href="/catholic/john/1-3.htm">John 1:3 Catholic Bible</a> <a href="/john/1-3.htm">NT Gospels: John 1:3 All things were made through him (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/1-2.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 1:2"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 1:2" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/1-4.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 1:4"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 1:4" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>