Prologue: Poetry in MotionPrologue: Poetry in MotionPrologue: Poetry in MotionPrologue: Poetry in Motion

1. Chiasm in 1:1-21. Chiasm in 1:1-2

In the Beginning (A) was the Word (B)

And the Word (B) was with God (C)

And What God (C) was, the Word was (B)

This one (B) was with God in the Beginning (A).

Note structure: A B C C B A, with focus on the middle

Prologue: Poetry in MotionPrologue: Poetry in MotionPrologue: Poetry in MotionPrologue: Poetry in Motion

2. Stair-step in John 1:1-52. Stair-step in John 1:1-5

Note how the second noun in each line becomes the first noun in the next (Sorry, much clearer in Greek than English!)

Prologue: Poetry in MotionPrologue: Poetry in MotionPrologue: Poetry in MotionPrologue: Poetry in Motion

2. Stair-step in John 1:1-52. Stair-step in John 1:1-5

In the Beginning was the Word

And the Word was with God

And What God was, the Word was

In him was life,

and that life was the light of men.

The light shines in the darkness,

but the darkness has not understood it.