My Neville GoddardNeville Goddard on John 1:3
Executive Summary
Neville Goddard interprets the biblical passage “By Him all things were made” (John 1:3) as a definitive statement about the nature of reality and its cause. He teaches that the creative power referred to is not an external deity but is your own wonderful human imagination. This power is synonymous with the indwelling Jesus Christ. Consequently, every object, event, and circumstance in the world—both desirable and undesirable—originates from an act of imagining. The search for God, the creator, is therefore an inward journey that culminates in the discovery of your own imagination as the one and only cause.
Key Concepts
- The creative agent in John 1:3, referred to as “Him,” is identified as the human imagination.
- This creative power, the imagination, is the true identity of Jesus Christ, who dwells within every individual.
- All objective reality is produced solely through imagining; everything that is now a physical fact was once only imagined.
- Because “all things” were made by imagination, it is the source of both blessings and curses, the lovely and the unlovely.
- To find God is to discover that your own imagination is the cause of the phenomena of your life.
Detailed Explanation
Neville Goddard’s interpretation of John 1:3 centers on a radical re-identification of the creator. He teaches that the being by whom “all things were made” is the human imagination. This is not a metaphor; he presents it as a fundamental truth. The scripture, in this view, is not describing a historical event performed by an external God, but an ever-present creative process occurring within human consciousness.
This creative power is equated with Jesus Christ. Neville urges students to test the scriptural claim that “Jesus Christ is in you.” He concludes that this indwelling Christ is one's imagination. Therefore, when the Bible states that all things were made by Him, it is speaking of your imagination as the sole creative power in the universe. To prove this, Neville points to the objective world, challenging anyone to name a single thing—from the clothes we wear to the buildings we inhabit—that did not first exist as an image in the mind.
This principle holds true for the entirety of creation, without exception. If imagination is the cause of “all things,” then it must be responsible for the “unlovely things” as well as the blessings. This places the responsibility for the circumstances of one's life squarely on the individual’s use of their imagination. The power that creates health and wealth is the same power that creates sickness and poverty.
The ultimate search for God, the First Cause, is therefore an internal one. By observing the events of your life and tracing them back to previous imaginal acts, you can prove to yourself that your imagination is the creative power spoken of in scripture. Finding this cause within yourself is, according to Neville, finding God.
Important Quotes
All objective reality is solely produced through imagining.
— Live In The End
If all things are made by God, and without Him is not anything made that is made (John 1:3), then where is God? In my Imagination!
— Faith
Christ-in-you is your own wonderful human imagination. That is the Lord!
— The Identical Harvest
“By him all things were made and without Him was not anything made that is made.” [John 1:3] And that is the Creator of the world.
— You Dare To Assume
Common Misunderstandings
- The Creator is External: A common misunderstanding is that the creative power described in the Bible is a being separate from oneself. Neville's interpretation of John 1:3 directly refutes this, locating the creator entirely within the individual as their own imagination.
- Imagination Creates Only 'Good' Things: It is a mistake to believe this power only produces positive outcomes. The source material is clear that if “all things” were made by imagination, this includes the “unlovely things” and curses, making one responsible for all aspects of their reality.
Practical Applications
The primary application of this teaching is to consciously use your imagination to create your desired reality. Instead of looking outside for a cause or a savior, you are called upon to turn inward.
Neville instructs students to test this principle for themselves. You can do this by tracing current circumstances back to prior imaginal acts, thereby proving the cause-and-effect relationship.
Prayer is redefined as the act of using your imagination to subjectively appropriate your objective hope. This means assuming the feeling of the wish fulfilled. Once you have entered the desired state in imagination, you are to drop it, trusting that the imaginal act, like a seed, will grow into objective reality in its own time.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to Neville, who is the 'Him' that made all things in John 1:3?
Neville identifies 'Him' as your own wonderful human imagination. He equates this power with the indwelling Jesus Christ, who is the true creator of the world.
Does this interpretation mean my imagination created the negative things in my life?
Yes. The source material states that if 'all things were made by Him,' then this power is responsible for the 'unlovely things' as well as the blessings. The same creative power is at work in all situations.
How can I prove to myself that my imagination creates reality?
Neville advises you to test it. Examine yourself to find this creative power within. You can prove it by consciously imagining a state and watching it come to pass, or by tracing current events in your life back to your own past imaginal acts.
Ask Neville about John 1:3
Find every place Neville interpreted this verse and ask how it connects to his teaching. Create a free account to begin.
Start chatting →