I wonder why John 1 sounds like the beginning of Genesis, and if that might tell us if the Word began with Philo or the Old testament.
Your question here more logically reveals John's inspired mindset and understanding of The Word... more so than presuming that John takes his cue from Philo without proof. Could it be that Philo just understood more than other Jewish scholars of his day regarding the Logos but was still in error as to the nature of the Logos?
Also, someone else wrote that the Apostle John would have understood Jesus as the revealing of the Father from Old Testament Scripture,
John 5:39 "These are 'the Scriptures' which testify of me."
John also had His own insight from the Spirit of Christ, and Christ's own teaching about Himself while with His Apostles on earth, ie:
John 5:37-39
37 The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form.
38 You don’t have his word living in you; because you don’t believe him whom he sent.
39 “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me.
Regarding my first point, that John begins His Gospel account, which clearly parallels the Logos of John 1:1-3 with the beginning of Genesis, John would have gained much insight from Genesis itself about the nature of God being one, yet a plurality.
In
Gen 1:1, Elohim created the sky and the earth. Then it continues with God creating through His Word and Spirit.
Psalms 33:6 By Yahweh’s Word, the heavens were made;
all their army by the Spirit of his mouth.
The title "
Elohim" in Gen 1:1 is one out of many examples in the Old Testament of a grammatical plurality. Though plural, it is understood also as a unity – the Almighty One. (The singular is
Ěl [Ayl] or, coming in later,
Ěloah (Ay-lō-ah.)
Hebrew word
Elohim is used in the plural is that it is translated "gods" (referring to idols) 235 times in the Old Testament. It is exactly the same word that is translated "God," referring to the Almighty.
To show that "Elohim" is not referring to a presumed plurality of majesty as some suppose, although early Jews had no such definition or understanding, we must dig further...
Genesis 1:26-27 World English Bible (WEB)
26 God said, “Let us (
plurality of persons) make man in our (
plurality of persons) image, after our (
plurality of persons) likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 God created man in his own image (
one in unity). In God’s image (
image of God is one being with plurality of persons) he created him; male and female he created them.
God says 'let us make man (Adam) in our image, after our likeness.'
Here we see that God, is speaking with others in Himself, yet only one God created Adam to be in God's image.
When God created man in His own image, although imperfectly, we also see this unity of plurality...
Genesis 5:1-2 (WEB) This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man (
singular), he made him in God’s likeness.
2 He created them (
plurality of persons) male and female, and blessed them. On the day they were created, he named them “Adam” (
singular nature).
The one “Adam” was created in the likeness of the one “God” in that Adam, like God, is a plural being.
Now, compare
Genesis 5:1-2 with
John 1:1-2 and we can see how John would have likely understood -
along with a number of other Old Testament Scriptures - that God and His Word would be that one God - unity in the one God...
John 1:1-2 (WEB)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Adam, in a similar but not exact way, is like God - a plural unity of one being…
For instance, using the John 1:1-2 format...
In the beginning was the Eve, and the Eve was with the Adam, and the Eve was Adam. The same was in the beginning with Adam.
Eve is of the same substance and nature as Adam -
coming form Adam - being with Adam, and is also called "Adam." Very similar language that John uses in
John 1:1-2.
Genesis 3:22-23 World English Bible (WEB)
22 Yahweh God said, “Behold, the man (
Adam - singular yet plurality of unity - Adam and Eve) has become like one of us (
plurality), knowing good and evil. Now, lest he reach out his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...”
23 Therefore Yahweh God (
singular being) sent him out from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from which he was taken.
And we see the plural unity of God speaking to himself in other places in Genesis. Remember that no one is like God who alone creates.. no one was with God creating all things, just as God reveals repeatedly in Isaiah.
Genesis 11:7-9 World English Bible (WEB)
7 Come, let us (
plural) go down, and there confuse their language, that they may not understand one another’s speech.”
8 So Yahweh (
singular) scattered them abroad from there on the surface of all the earth. They stopped building the city.
9 Therefore its name was called Babel, because there Yahweh (
singular being) confused the language of all the earth. From there, Yahweh (
singular) scattered them abroad on the surface of all the earth.
Now read through the following verses carefully, and see what you find about God's nature...
Genesis 18:1-2 World English Bible (WEB)
18 Yahweh appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre, as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day.
2 He lifted up his eyes and looked, and saw that three men stood opposite him. When he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself to the earth
Genesis 18:22 World English Bible (WEB)
22 The men turned from there, and went toward Sodom, but Abraham stood yet before Yahweh (one of the three 'men' was Yahweh -
no doubt the Word).
Genesis 19:24 World English Bible (WEB)
24 Then Yahweh (
The Word) rained on Sodom and on Gomorrah sulfur and fire from Yahweh (
The Father) out of the sky.
Notice, Yahweh sends Yahweh in many Scriptures, especially in Zachariah.
Also Jesus fulfills what only Yahweh can do in the Old Testament:
'Jesus (Yahweh) is the one whom John prepares the way.'
'Jesus (Yahweh) will come again with His Holy angles to bring judgement.'
Therefore, God in one, yet plural unity...
Deuteronomy 6:4: 'Listen, Israel: Yahweh our Elohim Yahweh is one.” or “Elohim (plural) is united ('echad, singular).”
Here is one more Passage to consider on God's plural nature.
Isaiah 6:8-10 World English Bible (WEB)
8 I heard the Lord’s voice, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?”
Then I said, “Here I am. Send me!”
So, one of these Yahweh's is the Logos, who is eventually made flesh to be our redeemer, our Savior, our one Mediator and Judge - all titles of God alone in the Old Testament fulfilled in Christ Jesus - the Word...
Micah 5:2 (KJV)
2 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Only one Savior of mankind...
Isaiah 45:21-25 World English Bible (WEB)
21 Declare and present it.
Yes, let them take counsel together.
Who has shown this from ancient time?
Who has declared it of old? Haven’t I, Yahweh?
There is no other God besides me, a just God and a Savior;
There is no one besides me.
Only one we are to bow down to and worship - God alone who will not share His glory with another....
Isaiah 45:22 “Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth;
for I am God, and there is no other.
23 I have sworn by myself. The word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and will not be revoked,
that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.
24 They will say of me, ‘There is righteousness and strength only in Yahweh.’”
Even to him shall men come; and all those who raged against him shall be disappointed.
25 All the offspring of Israel will be justified in Yahweh, and will rejoice!
Fulfilled in Christ...
Philippians 2:9-11 World English Bible (WEB)
9 Therefore God also highly exalted him, and gave to him the name which is above every name;
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under the earth,
11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
God is the only Savior, and His name is the only name in the Old Testament - fulfilled in Christ...
Acts 4:10-12 World English Bible (WEB)
10 be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand here before you whole.
11 He is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’[
a]
12 There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!”
Psalm 118:20-24 World English Bible (WEB)
20 This is the gate of Yahweh;
the righteous will enter into it.
21 I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me,
and have become my salvation.
22 The stone which the builders rejected has become the head of the corner.
23 This is Yahweh’s doing.
It is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day that Yahweh has made.
We will rejoice and be glad in it!
25 Lord, save us! Lord, grant us success!
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
From the house of the Lord we bless you.
27 The Lord is God, and he has made his light shine on us.
John 10:7-9 World English Bible (WEB)
7 Jesus therefore said to them again, “Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep’s gate.
8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn’t listen to them.
9 I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture.
The Father sends His Word with His Spirit - just as prophesied in the Old Testament...
Isaiah 48:16 World English Bible (WEB)
16 “Come near to me and hear this:
“From the beginning I have not spoken in secret;
from the time that it happened, I was there.”
Now the Lord Yahweh has sent me, with his Spirit.
Matthew 3:16-17 World English Bible (WEB)
16 Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming on him.
17 Behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus (the incarnate Word) is the
Holy Arm of God
Isaiah 59:16-19 World English Bible (WEB)
16 He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor.
Therefore his
own arm brought salvation to him; and his righteousness sustained him.
17 He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head.
Fulfilled in Jesus...
1 Timothy 2 (WEB)
5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
6 who gave himself as a ransom for all; the testimony in its own times
So many more examples could be given showing the one God is plural in nature, and that this one God the Father has within His nature the Word and Spirit - both of whom the Father sends forth to do all things - to create, to redeem, to save, to judge, and to do all things God does in His creation.
So, it is not unusual that the Apostle John should understand that Jesus is that Word of God incarnate, and that the Spirit was with the Word to accomplish His mission on earth just as prophesied.