John 1:3

Letters to the Faithful - John 1:3

Berean Standard Bible

Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.

King James Bible

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Greek Text:

πάντα δι’ αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο, καὶ χωρὶς αὐτοῦ ἐγένετο οὐδὲ ἕν ὃ γέγονεν.

Transliteration:

Panta di’ autou egeneto, kai chōris autou egeneto oude hen ho gegonen.

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Through Him all things were made

This phrase emphasizes the role of the Word, identified as Jesus Christ, in creation. It aligns with Genesis 1:1, 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. Colossians 1:16 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 Proverbs 8:22-31, 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 Hebrews 1:2, 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 Ephesians 6:12, 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 Hebrews 1:3, where He is described as upholding all things by His powerful word. This affirms the continuous and active role of Christ in the world.

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Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, and the One through whom all things hold together. I greet you, dear brothers and sisters, in the name of Him who was in the beginning with God, the Word made flesh, our Savior and King. May the Spirit of truth enlighten your hearts as we ponder together the mysteries of His glory, revealed to us in the sacred writings.

Beloved, I write to you not as one who stands above, but as a fellow servant of the gospel, called to proclaim the unsearchable riches of Christ. My heart is stirred to bring before you a word of encouragement and exhortation, rooted in the testimony of John, that faithful apostle who leaned upon the bosom of our Lord. For he declares to us, with divine clarity, a truth both simple and profound: "All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made." Consider, O saints, the weight of these words, for they unveil the majesty of our Redeemer and the foundation of our hope.

In the beginning, before the mountains were raised or the seas were gathered, before the stars sang together or the dawn of time broke forth, there was the Word. And through this Word—Jesus, the Son of God—all things came into being. The heavens, vast and unmeasured, proclaim His handiwork. The earth, teeming with life, bears witness to His wisdom. The sun that warms your fields, the winds that stir your forests, the rivers that carve their paths—all these were fashioned through Him. Not a sparrow falls, not a blade of grass bends, apart from the will of Him who spoke creation into existence. O wondrous thought! The very One who hung upon the cross for your redemption is the One through whom the universe was birthed.

And yet, dear friends, let us not grow dull to this truth, as though it were a mere tale of old. For if all things were made through Him, then all things belong to Him. You, who have been baptized into His name, are not your own—you were bought with a price. The fields you till, the homes you build, the children you raise—all these are His, entrusted to you as stewards of His grace. What then shall we say? Shall we live as though the world were ours to command? Shall we chase after fleeting pleasures, as if the Maker of all things were not watching? Far be it from us, beloved! Let us instead lift our eyes to Him who holds all authority in heaven and on earth, and let us order our lives in reverence to His lordship.

I urge you, therefore, by the mercies of God, to consider the purpose for which you were made. For John tells us not only that all things were made through Him, but that without Him nothing was made that has been made. There is no corner of creation, no hidden place, that escapes His sovereign hand. The philosophies of men, the inventions of the proud, the idols of wood and stone—these have no life apart from Him, for even their existence depends upon the One they deny. How great is His patience, that He sustains even those who turn from Him! How vast is His mercy, that He calls the rebellious to repentance!

To you who have ears to hear, I say this: the Word through whom all things were made has not left you without witness. He has come among us, taking on flesh, that we might behold His glory—glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. And now, having risen from the dead, He reigns at the right hand of God, interceding for you who believe. What comfort this brings to the weary soul! The One who crafted the stars knows your name. The One who set the boundaries of the sea sees your struggles. The One who breathed life into dust offers you life eternal through faith in His name.

Yet, my dear brothers and sisters, I must also exhort you. If all things were made through Him, then let us not divide what He has united. I hear of quarrels among you—some clinging to traditions, others boasting in newfound freedoms. Have you forgotten that the same Word who spoke creation into being speaks still through His Spirit and His Scriptures? Let there be no division among you, but rather unity in the truth. Test all things by the light of His Word, and hold fast to what is good. For the world watches, and the glory of Christ is at stake in your love for one another.

Moreover, let this truth stir you to mission. The nations rage, and the peoples plot in vain, but the One through whom all things were made has not abandoned them. Go, therefore, as He has commanded, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Proclaim to them the gospel of Him who is both Creator and Redeemer, that they too might know the life that is found in Him alone.

Finally, beloved, fix your hope on the day when the Word returns in glory. For as all things were made through Him, so all things will be brought to fulfillment in Him. The creation groans, awaiting its liberation, and we with it, longing for the redemption of our bodies. On that day, every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Until then, stand firm in the faith, abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain.

I commend you to the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. May His peace dwell in you richly, and may His Spirit guide you into all truth. Greet one another with the love of Christ, and pray for me, as I pray for you, that we may be found faithful when He comes.

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O Eternal and Almighty God, Creator of all that is, seen and unseen, we bow before Your infinite majesty, our hearts lifted in awe and reverence, for through Your Word, as proclaimed in the Gospel of John, “all things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.” You, O Lord, are the source of all existence, the fountain of life, the architect of the heavens and the earth, and we stand humbled by the boundless power of Your creative love. In the beginning, You spoke, and the Word was with You, and the Word was You, bringing forth light from darkness, order from chaos, and life from the void. We praise You, O God, for the mystery of Your Son, the eternal Word, through whom the stars were set in their courses, the seas were gathered, and every living creature was formed by Your divine will.

With grateful hearts, we acknowledge that all we are and all we have flows from Your hand, for nothing exists apart from Your sustaining grace. You, who fashioned the mountains and painted the skies, have also crafted the depths of our souls, breathing into us the breath of life, that we might reflect Your image and walk in Your truth. O merciful Father, we confess that we have often strayed from Your purpose, chasing shadows and neglecting the light of Your Word. Yet, in Your boundless compassion, You sent that same Word, Jesus Christ, to dwell among us, to redeem us, and to restore us to the glory of Your creation. Through Him, we are made new, called to be co-heirs of Your kingdom, and empowered to live as vessels of Your love.

We lift our voices in supplication, O Lord, for all the world that You have made. Bless the nations, that they may seek justice and peace, reflecting the harmony of Your creative order. Strengthen Your Church, that it may proclaim the truth of Your Word with boldness and humility, drawing all people to the light of Your Son. Comfort those who suffer, heal those who are broken, and guide those who wander, that they may find hope in the One through whom all things hold together. Grant wisdom to leaders, courage to the weary, and unity to the divided, that Your kingdom may be glimpsed even now amidst the trials of this world.

O God of all creation, we pray for hearts attuned to Your purpose, that we may steward Your gifts with care, cherish the beauty of Your handiwork, and honor the life You have woven into every corner of the cosmos. Teach us to see Your glory in the smallest blade of grass and the farthest star, and to recognize Your love in every act of kindness and every moment of grace. May we, as Your children, live as witnesses to the Word made flesh, carrying His light into the darkness, His truth into confusion, and His love into every heart.

We offer this prayer in the name of Jesus Christ, the Word through whom all things were made, who reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.