How to translate John 1:1 if you are not trinitarian? “And the Word was God” Essentially the question is really two questions. How to translate it. And what did the Spirit inspiring John to write this actually mean. It might be best to get the second answered before attempting the first. The second as to what the Spirit is saying: I have no problem with it being a description of the Word as being God, just not Almighty God (who is the Father). I have no problem saying the Word pre-incarnate awesome Son of Man higher than angels but similar to what He would become when He became human flesh lower than angels - saying this Word was awesome enough for it to be true to say He was God - a mirror image of the Father. So the question for me to understand before answering how to translate it is why others maybe have a problem with this. I guess attempts to be always monotheistic in every way as top concern is the problem. But noble as that concern might be in the light of God’s commands it cannot prevent truth being stated about the Word and it did not prevent John stating it as the Holy Spirit led him. Admitedly another concern is it makes it harder to remonstrate with trinitarians. But for the sake of truth about the Word being stated we have to bite that bullet. The Word in the beginning was God. (Not the Almighty God). Higher than all angels. Then the Word became flesh. The only sense He remained divine on becoming flesh and lower than angels is that He is still a god because He is highest judge under God Almighty. John 10. So what the Holy Spirit through John gives us (in chapter 1 then chapter 10) is a subtle but important change in how the Word in the beginning was God and how the Word made flesh is a god. Both are stated truthfully so we will see what happened as the Word became flesh.
