This verse is not a mere repetition of the one preceding. In verse 1 John said that the Word was in the beginning and that the Word was with God; here he is careful to affirm that the two existed simultaneously, that is, from the very beginning, the Word was with God.

In rendering “from the very beginning,” it may be necessary in some languages to repeat the first clause of verse 1, for example, “from the time before the world was created.” However, in some languages reference to the time before creation may simply be indicated by a temporal substitute, for example, “from that very time.”

Since, however, the relation of the Word to God has continued into the present time, in some languages a so-called perfect tense may be required, for example, “the Word has been with God.” Otherwise, as already noted, a pure past tense may suggest a state which no longer exists.

Quoted with permission from Newman, Barclay M. and Nida, Eugene A. A Handbook on the Gospel of John. (UBS Handbook Series). New York: UBS, 1980. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .