King James Bible
"And the Word was made 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."
The eternal Logos from John 1:1 takes on human nature in the Incarnation, bridging the infinite gap between God and humanity. This shocking claim—that divinity became genuinely human—forms the cornerstone of Christian theology. The Greek 'eskēnōsen' literally means 'tabernacled,' evoking God's dwelling with Israel in the wilderness tabernacle. Jesus embodies God's presence not in a tent but as a living person walking among his people. John testifies as an eyewitness to divine glory revealed in Jesus's earthly ministry—likely referencing the Transfiguration and miracles. 'Only begotten' (monogenēs) emphasizes Jesus's unique status as the Father's one-of-a-kind Son. These paired attributes echo Exodus 34:6's description of Yahweh as abundant in 'hesed' (covenant love) and 'emet' (faithfulness). In Jesus, God's merciful character and reliable revelation reach their perfect expression.