John\’s opening verses prior to the 1611 KJV

It is a fact that English was once a gendered language. This was the case even up to the 16th century. Yet with this in mind, when it came to the opening four verses of the gospel of John, the earliest English Bible translators used a neuter pronoun \”it\” to refer to the logos in John 1 for nearly a century.

1534: Tyndale\’s Bible

The same was in the beginnynge with god. All thinges were made by it, and without it, was made nothinge that was made. In it was lyfe, and the lyfe was the lyght of men, and the lyght shyneth in the darcknes but the darcknes comprehended it not

1537: Matthews’ Bible

The same was in the begynnynge wyth God. All thynges were made by it and without it was made nothynge that was made. In it was lyfe, and the lyfe was the lyght of men, and the lyght shyneth in the darknes, but the darknes comprehended it not.

1539: The Great Bible (Cranmer’s Bible)

The same was in the begynnyng wyth God. All thinges were made by it, and wythout it, was made nothynge that was made. In it was lyfe, and the lyfe was the lyght of men, and the lyght shyneth in darcknes, and the darcknes comprehended it not

1540: Taverner

The same was in the begynnyng with God. All thynges were made by it, and wythoute it was made nothynge that was made. In it was lyfe, and the lyfe was the lyght of men, and the lyght shyneth in darkenes, and the darkenes comprehended it not.

1557: Whittingham

Althinges were made by it, and without it was made nothing that was made. In it was lyfe, and the lyfe was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkeness, and the darknes comprehended it not.

1560: The Geneva Bible

All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that was made. In it was lif, and the lif was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkenes, and the darkenes comprehended it not.

1568: The Bishop’s Bible

All things were made by it, and without it, was made nothing that was made. In it was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darknesse, and the darknesse comprehendeth it not.

1571: Anglo-Saxon / English Interlinear

The same was in the beginning with God. All thinges were made by it: and without it was made nothing that was made. In it was life, and the life was the light of men.

1607: Beza/Tomson

This same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that was made. In it was life, and that life was the light of men. And that light shineth in the darknesse, and the darknesse comprehended it not.

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