first two verses must refer to an earlier period. This thought is particularly evident in the description “In the beginning was the Word.” Here the verb “was” is the imperfect en, conveying the idea of continuous existence rather than the more usual term egeneto, which is also translated “was” but has the idea of coming into being. The concept of the eternal preexistence of the Word is conveyed by the idea, “When all things began, the Word already was.” Not only does John emphasize the eternal preexistence