“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” — John 1:1–2, 14 (NKJV)
On my trip to Israel a year ago, I had the opportunity to visit the birthplace of our Lord Jesus. The cave next door to His birthplace was the cave where St. Hieronymus, better known as St. Jerome, translated the Hebrew and Greek manuscripts of the Word into Latin. Beginning around 300 A.D., it took him over 30 years to complete this labor-intensive task. Later, in the early 1600s, this version was the primary source to produce the English translation, known today as the King James version.
From the earliest manuscripts of the Gospel of John, we find one of the most profound declarations in all of Scripture— Jesus is the Word (Greek: Logos). This truth carries immense weight. The “Word” was not simply spoken by God— it was God. Before time began, the Word was written in the Mind of God.
When John writes that “the Word became flesh,” he is declaring that the eternal, all-powerful, living Word of God stepped into human history as a man—Jesus Christ. He did not come merely to teach about truth; He was truth in the flesh. As Jesus Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” John 14:6 (NKJV).
In a world where truth is often treated as relative or shifting, the coming of Christ stands as God’s eternal statement: there is only one truth—the living Word, Jesus. Through His presence, His words, His miracles, and ultimately His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus showed us the heart and nature of God. He revealed that truth is not an idea or philosophy, but a Person who invites us into a relationship with Himself.
When we read Scripture, we are not just reading inspired words—we are encountering the living Word who continues to speak to our hearts. As Hebrews 4:12 reminds us, “The word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (NKJV). That living power is Jesus Himself, cutting through falsehood, revealing sin, and transforming lives with grace and truth.
Today, let us stand firm in this truth. The world may change, opinions may shift, but the Word remains the same—eternal, unshaken, and alive. Let us listen to His voice, follow His teachings, and live out His truth so that others may see the living Word through us.
God has richly blessed our new denomination, Covenant Brethren Church, and I believe it is primarily due to the fact of our standing on the Word of God and the requirement we impose on all our membership to do the same
Grover Duling, Executive Board Chairman
