1:1 (A) Who does "the word" refer to, and what does it mean that the word was with God and the word was God?
1:1 (A) Who does "the word" refer to, and what does it mean that the word was with God and the word was God?
The word refers to Jesus as the revelation of God. In the Old Testament God spoke to His people through the prophets, but in the New Testament He spoke through Jesus. Jesus is the supreme and definitive word or revelation of God in the New Testament (CP Jn 1:18; He 1:1-3; 1Jn 1:1-2; Rev 19:13).
The word "declared" in Jn 1:18 means that all that Jesus is and does interprets and explains who God is and what He does.
The phrase, "the word was with God and the word was God", highlights the eternal pre-existence of Jesus as an equal member of the triune Godhead (CP Psa 45:6-7; Mic 5:2; Jn 1:2-3, 10; 3:13; 8:56-58; 14:9-11; 17:5; Nu 21:4-9 with 1Cor 10:9; Php 2:5-7; Col 1:12-17; 1Ti 3:16; He 1:8-12; 1Jn 5:7; Rev 1:8, 11; 2:8; 22:13).
See also comments on Lu 1:35(B). and author's studies Jesus - Eternally God in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1), and The Doctrine of the Trinity and Jesus in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2).
(B) If Jesus is God, how can He also be the Son of God?
In His preincarnate state Jesus was eternally God - He became the Son at His incarnation (CP V14). See comments on Lu 1:35(B), and author's studies Jesus - Eternally God in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 1), and The Doctrine of the Trinity and Jesus in his book Advanced Studies in the Christian Faith (Volume 2).