The Eternal Pre-Existence of God the Son

John 1:1-8  BYZ (BibleWorks).  Words for discussion have been underlined.

1 VEn avrch/| h=n o` lo,goj( kai. o` lo,goj h=n pro.j to.n qeo,n( kai. qeo.j h=n o` lo,gojÅ  2  Ou-toj h=n evn avrch/| pro.j to.n qeo,nÅ  3  Pa,nta diV auvtou/ evge,neto( kai. cwri.j auvtou/ evge,neto ouvde. e]n o] ge,gonenÅ  4  VEn auvtw/| zwh. h=n( kai. h` zwh. h=n to. fw/j tw/n avnqrw,pwn(  5  kai. to. fw/j evn th/| skoti,a| fai,nei( kai. h` skoti,a auvto. ouv kate,labenÅ

Lit:  1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the God, and God was the Word [Word is the subject].  2 This one [the Word] was in the beginning with the God.  3 All things through him came to be, and without him came to be not one thing, which has come to be.  4 In him life was, and the life was the light of men, 5 and the light in the darkness shines, and the darkness it not seized ["did not seize it"].

Notice the underlining and red coloration of the Koine word meaning 'was'.  Likewise, notice the underlining and blue coloration of various forms of the word ginomai, generically meaning 'come to be'. 

It's well known that the verb 'to be' has the flavor and aspect of "continuing to be," rather than "coming and going."  This is the grammatical form.  This interpretation of this text at the lexical level takes this into account, of course.  But, since Koine Greek is a natural language, not a mathematical formula, how far should we push these uses of 'to be' to indicate the eternal existence of God the Son?

One answer (among many) can be formulated by looking at the use of the forms of ginomai which are colored in blue.  At those places, ginomai is used to refer to creation.  See verse 3.  "All things were made by him (through his instrumentality), and without him was made not one thing that was made!"  The vociferious and distinctive emphasis on the instrumentality of God the Son in creating anything and everything that was ever made implies his own eternity.  He was never "made."

Therefore, by noting the contrast between the verbs 'to be' and 'come to be' in the context of the Greek text, we obtain a clear view of the authorial intention to state the eternal and uncreated deity of the Son of God.

This, in turn, supports the statement that the Son (always) contained life [past tense], that this life was [past tense: even since creation] the light of men, and that, as the light now shines in (or within) the darkness (which came about through sin), it was never "seized and conquered" by that darkness.

Re the light "shining":  This verb, in the context, partakes of the attributes of deity, too!  This light is not a created light.  Ever since there were men, the Word was their unconquered light!

He still is!