John 1:1 - 5

From BibleWiki

The passage strong parallels Genesis 1. The "word" as verse 1, refers to Jesus, and states that he was with God and that he was God, inferring that he and God are one in the same. Verses 2-3 indicate that Jesus was elemental in the creation of the Earth, that both he and God worked together, and both where necessary to create it.

In verses 4-5 a metaphor is created with the words "light" and "darkness", which likely refer to Christ, and the absence of him. Verse 4 states that life is the "light of men", presumably stating that the essence of life is to live for Christ.

[edit] Literary Analysis

The first few verses employ literary repetition, repeating the words "in the beginning" and "word", in an effort to reinforce both the setting "the beginning" and the subject "the word" or Jesus. The "word" can be compared to Genesis, where God spoke to create the Earth, and this passage is saying the "word" was involved in the creation of the Earth.