John 1:1-5

Easy-to-Read Version

Christ Comes to the World

1 Before the world began, the Word^[a] was there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was there with God in the beginning. ³Everything was made through him, and nothing was made without him. ⁴In him there was life, and that life was a light for the people of the world. ⁵The light^[b] shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not defeated^[c] it.

Read full chapter

Footnotes

John 1:1 Word The Greek word is “ logos,” meaning any kind of communication. It could be translated “message.” Here, it describes Jesus Christ before he was sent to earth as a human being, which is the way God chose to tell the world about himself. Also in verses 10, 14, 16.
John 1:5 light Meaning Christ, the Word, who brought to the world understanding about God. Also in verse 7.
John 1:5 defeated Or “understood.”