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There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.

The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. 11 He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. 15 (John bore witness to him, and cried, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.’”) 16 And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only Son,[a] who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.

The Testimony of John the Baptist

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Eli′jah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 They said to him then, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Eli′jah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

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Footnotes

  1. John 1:18 Other ancient authorities read God

There was a man sent from God whose name was John.(A) He came as a witness to testify(B) concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.(C) He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

The true light(D) that gives light to everyone(E) was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him,(F) the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.(G) 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed(H) in his name,(I) he gave the right to become children of God(J) 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.(K)

14 The Word became flesh(L) and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,(M) the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace(N) and truth.(O)

15 (John testified(P) concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’”)(Q) 16 Out of his fullness(R) we have all received grace(S) in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses;(T) grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.(U) 18 No one has ever seen God,(V) but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[a](W) is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah

19 Now this was John’s(X) testimony when the Jewish leaders[b](Y) in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”(Z)

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”(AA)

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”(AB)

He answered, “No.”

22 Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23 John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness,(AC) ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”[c](AD)

24 Now the Pharisees who had been sent 25 questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26 “I baptize with[d] water,”(AE) John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me,(AF) the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”(AG)

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan,(AH) where John was baptizing.

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Footnotes

  1. John 1:18 Some manuscripts but the only Son, who
  2. John 1:19 The Greek term traditionally translated the Jews (hoi Ioudaioi) refers here and elsewhere in John’s Gospel to those Jewish leaders who opposed Jesus; also in 5:10, 15, 16; 7:1, 11, 13; 9:22; 18:14, 28, 36; 19:7, 12, 31, 38; 20:19.
  3. John 1:23 Isaiah 40:3
  4. John 1:26 Or in; also in verses 31 and 33 (twice)