This Word is life, and this life is the expression of God. This means that the Word of life is God's expression.

[jidong xiao]

我们若能问使徒约翰关于一章一节的话，他也许会叫我们看他的福音书。约翰一章一节、四节说，太初有话，话与神同在，话就是神；生命在这话里面，这生命就是人的光。不仅如此，按照约翰一章十四节，话成了肉体，支搭帐幕在我们中间，丰丰满满的有恩典，有实际，且有从父而来独生子的荣耀。这一切经节里有话的定义。话就是神。生命在这话里面，这生命就是我们所需要的光。然后这奇妙的一位，是话的神，成了肉体。这就是说，神成了一个人。祂这人支搭帐幕在我们中间。实际上，祂就是帐幕。不仅如此，这帐幕成了相互的住处，神和我们都可居住在其中。在帐幕这里我们享受恩典，我们领受实际，我们也看见荣耀。这是一章一节所题到的生命之话。

我们已经指出，“生命之话”这辞实际上指明话就是生命。这话，就是永远的生命，成了一个人。祂这一个人，乃是居所，作神与人相互的住处。在这居所里，我们可以享受祂作恩典，接受祂作我们的实际，并注视祂的荣耀。这荣耀，就是神的荣耀，现今成了神独生子的荣耀。这话就是生命，这生命就是神的彰显。这就是说，生命的话就是神的彰显。

If we could ask the Apostle John about the Word in 1:1, he would probably refer us to his Gospel. John 1:1 and 4 say that in the beginning was the Word, that the Word was with God and was God, that in this Word was life, and the life was the light of men. Furthermore, according to John 1:14, the Word became flesh and tabernacled among us, full of grace and truth and having the glory as of an only begotten from a father. In all these verses we have a definition of the Word. The Word is the very God. In this Word is life, and the life is the light we need. Then this wonderful One, God the Word, became flesh. This means that He became a man. As a man, He tabernacled among us. Actually, He was the tabernacle. Furthermore, this tabernacle becomes a mutual abode, in which both God and we may abide. Here in the tabernacle we enjoy grace, we receive the reality, and we see the glory. This is the Word of life mentioned in 1:1. 

We have pointed out that the expression "the Word of life" actually indicates that the Word is life. This Word, who is the eternal life, became a man. As a man, He is the dwelling place as a mutual abode for both God and man. In this dwelling place we may enjoy Him as grace, receive Him as our reality, and behold His glory. This glory, which is the glory of God, has now become the glory of God's only begotten Son. This Word is life, and this life is the expression of God. This means that the Word of life is God's expression.