1:1a Ἦν 3rd sg. impf. of εἰμί, “be.” Since the Greek Bible begins with the expression ἐν ἀρχῇ, it is likely that John is alluding to Gen 1:1. Although ἐν ἀρχῇ is anar., the sense is def., “in the beginning,” since the art. is often omitted in prep. phrases, esp. those denoting time (BDF § 255 [3]; R 791–92). The sense is not “From the very beginning,” which would be ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς (1 John 1:1; 3:8). “In the beginning” means in effect “before the world was created” (GNB; cf. John 17:5, 24;