John 1:1

Greek: Ἐν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος.

The challenge with this phrase is its abstraction—“In the beginning the Word was.”
Was what? And the "beginning" of what?

The Greek Ἐν means “in” or “within,” typically implying location or containment. Here, its meaning was extended to “in time”, and even further to “in the beginning of time.” But is John referring to chronological time itself? 

The verb ἦν (was) appears three times in this verse. In any other instance of the New Testament, "was" is followed by an object. This verse is highly unusual if it leaves the reader with just ἦν—a rare/unknown usage in Greek.

“In the Beginning” (ἀρχή)

The Greek word ἀρχή (Strong’s G746) has various meanings:

•     Head, source, origin
•     Principle, chief, ruler

It is a feminine noun and carries a deeper sense than just a chronological starting point.

In Hebrew thought, “beginning” is not a mere moment in linear time but rather a source from which all things flow and to which all things return— a circuit rather than a fixed point.

In the Septuagint (LXX), the Hebrew ראש (rosh, #7218, meaning "head") and תחלה (techillah, #8462, meaning "to bore, pierce") are often translated as ἀρχή.

The definite article ("the") is rarely used with ἀρχή unless referring to a specific authority (e.g., Luke 20:20) or in Revelation (where the term “Origin/Head” appears three times: Rev. 3:14, 21:6, 22:13).

Usage in Greek Literature

In Greek texts, the genitive phrase τῆς ἀρχῆς ("of the Origin") is common. However, when expressing "from out of the origin", Greek often omits the article:

    ἐξ ἀρχῆς ("from out of the Origin").

Interestingly, the New Testament never uses ἐξ with ἀρχή. Instead, it prefers ἀπὸ ("away from") to indicate derivation.

Philosophical Perspective on ἀρχή

Aristotle, in Rhetoric (1.7.12-13), explores the idea of origin and cause:

If there is an origin (ἀρχή), but another is not an origin, or if there is a cause, but another is not a cause, this distinction arises for the same reason: for without a cause and an origin (ἀρχή), it is impossible for anything to exist or come into being.

And among two origins (ἀρχαί), the one that comes from the greater origin (ἀρχή) is greater. Likewise, among two causes, the one from the greater cause is greater. Conversely, among two origins (ἀρχαί), the origin (ἀρχή) of the greater is greater, and among two causes, the cause of the greater is greater.