Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 1:14

"And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth." — John 1:14 (ASV)

Verse 14 marks the fourth statement about the Word. Note the contrast between vv.1 and 14. Verse 1 states that the Word “was,” referring to his permanent condition or state, while v.14 states that the Word “became” flesh, involving a change in state. This is the basic statement of the Incarnation, for Christ entered into a new dimension of existence through the gateway of human birth and took up his residence among human beings. The verb translated “made his dwelling” (GK 5012) means “to pitch a tent, to dwell temporarily.” He left his usual place and accepted the conditions of human life and environment, with the attendant temporal limitations that all humans experience (cf. also 3:17; 6:38–42, 51; 7:29; 8:23; 9:5; 10:36; 16:28).

John’s presentation of Christ as the Word is not primarily metaphysical but practical (cf. comment in v.1). As the preexistent Son of God, he was the Creator of the world and the Executor of the will of the Father. As the incarnate Son of God, he exercised in his human existence these same powers and revealed effectively the person of the Father. “We have seen his glory” implies a personal observation of a new reality. Probably there is an allusion to the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:2–8; Mark 9:2–8). His incarnation was the full manifestation of grace and truth because it was the greatest possible expression of God’s compassion for people and the most perfect way of conveying the truth to their understanding.

The “one and only [GK 3666] Son” emphasizes the fact that Jesus is the unique Son of God; he has no equal and is able fully to reveal the Father. God’s personal revelation of himself in Christ has no parallel elsewhere, nor has it ever been repeated.