LUKE

In Luke’s gospel account, he writes in the very first verses of those who were eyewitnesses and servants of the word from the beginning, and how he (Luke) investigated everything from the beginning. The text continues on, intertwining the births and ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus.

  • Luke 1:1-3
    1 Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us,
    2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word,
    3 it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus;
    (Continues on, intertwining the births and ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus.)

MARK

Mark also starts right off speaking of the beginning, the beginning of the gospel. He quotes the word of God and includes the story of John the Baptist.

  • Mark 1:1-4
    1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
    2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: “BEHOLD, I SEND MY MESSENGER AHEAD OF YOU, WHO WILL PREPARE YOUR WAY;
    3 THE VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE READY THE WAY OF THE LORD, MAKE HIS PATHS STRAIGHT.’”
    4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

ACTS

In the first chapter of Acts, again the beginning of the gospel of Christ is discussed:

  • Acts 1:21-22
    21 “Therefore it is necessary that of the men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us–
    22 beginning with the baptism of John until the day that He was taken up from us–one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”

In Peter’s preaching to Cornelius, he spoke of the beginning of the word, how it went out from Galilee after John the Baptist’s ministry:

  • Acts 10:36-38
    36 “The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)–
    37 you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting (i.e., beginning) from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed.
    38 “You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

1 JOHN

The epistle of 1 John also starts right off discussing the beginning. He writes about what they have “heard,” “seen,” and “touched” from this beginning. This can only be, then, in the context of Jesus’ ministry.

  • 1 John 1:1
    1 What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life–

The clear pattern—in two of the Gospels, the book of Acts, and an epistle of John—is that the “beginning” is the start of Jesus’ ministry, heralded by John the Baptist.

So then, with this foundation, how is it possible to look at the opening verses of John and think that the “beginning” refers to the beginning of Creation? John even follows the same pattern of speaking of the beginning and going right into the story of John the Baptist in John 1:6.

JOHN

  • John 1:1-2,6
    1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
    2 He was in the beginning with God.
    6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.

The many Scriptures which speak of the same thing, in the same pattern, using the same words, should assist in interpreting John’s gospel. John’s way of expression is different; a bit more spiritual perhaps. But that doesn’t mean he was writing about something different than or unique from what the others have written.