The Word Was With God

The Story Behind the Hymn

John opens his gospel with the largest possible sentence: In the beginning was the Word. The apostle borrows Genesis 1's opening cadence and quietly names the one who spoke it. This chamber hymn keeps that recognition slow and deliberate — a household saying, with strings under it, that the Christ we sing to is the Word by whom every household was made.

Scripture Anchor

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” John 1:1-3, 14 · KJV

Companion passages: Genesis 1:1 ("In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth") · Hebrews 1:1-3 ("God, who at sundry times spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets") · Colossians 1:15-17 ("by him all things consist") · 1 John 1:1 ("That which was from the beginning...of the Word of life").

Listen & Sing Along

Press play. The choir will lead. The highlighted line is the line the choir is singing now. Nothing autoplays; the hymn will wait for you.

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Verse 1

In the beginning was the Word,

And the Word was with God, and God he was;

Nothing was made that was not made

Through him, the Light that has no cause.

Verse 2

The Word became a household guest,

He wrapped in cloth the endless day;

The Maker of the wild vine slept

Beside a sleeping child in hay.

Bridge

The Word was with God,

And the Word was God,

And the Word was made flesh,

And dwelt among the household of the earth.

Verse 3

So let this household read him aloud,

And find him printed on the ordinary sky;

The Word who bore the world in silence

Speaks yet the Amen no world can deny.

Bridge (Repeat)

The Word was with God,

And the Word was God,

And the Word was made flesh,

And dwelt among the household of the earth.

The highlighted line is the line the choir is singing now.

Reflection

Every Christian household lives inside John 1. We were not made by accident, and we were not left to figure it out. The Word who was with God, and who was God, took on a household of flesh in Bethlehem so that our households of flesh would have a way home. That is the whole gospel in one long, unhurried breath.

A Prayer to the Eternal Word

Eternal Word of God, thou wast before the world was and thou wilt be when this world is done. Teach this household to read thee aloud in scripture morning and evening, and to see thy signature on the ordinary sky. Speak thy Amen over us as we sleep. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Watch & Share

YouTube version: Coming soon — the household will find this hymn as a full video on our channel. Visit the CrossAIHub channel to be notified when it’s posted.

Shorts: A short-form YouTube Shorts clip of this hymn will be published so households can share a verse in a minute. The Shorts placeholder is here so the ecosystem is ready when the video ships.

Use This Hymn At Home

Morning Before the day begins

Read John 1:1-14 aloud slowly before the day begins. Sing Verse 1 as an invocation.

Evening As the house grows quiet

Sing the Bridge together with the strings — a slow, quiet chorus for closing the day.

With Children Simple enough for little ears

Teach the children the Bridge lines. Ask: who is the Word? Sing together and finish with a soft Amen.