生命之道

太初,道已經存在,道與上帝同在,道就是上帝。 太初,道就與上帝同在。 萬物都是藉著祂造的[a],受造之物沒有一樣不是藉著祂造的。 祂裡面有生命,這生命是人類的光。 光照進黑暗裡,黑暗不能勝過[b]光。

有一個人名叫約翰,是上帝差來的。 他來是要為光做見證,叫世人可以藉著他而相信。 約翰不是那光,他來是為那光做見證。 那照亮世人的真光來到了世上。 10 祂來到自己所創造的世界,世界卻不認識祂。 11 祂來到自己的地方,自己的人卻不接納祂。 12 但所有接納祂的,就是那些信祂的人,祂就賜給他們權利成為上帝的兒女。 13 這些人既不是從人的血緣關係生的,也不是從人的情慾或意願生的,而是從上帝生的。

14 道成為肉身,住在我們中間,充滿了恩典和真理。我們見過祂的榮耀,正是父獨一兒子的榮耀。

15 約翰為祂做見證的時候,高聲喊道:「這就是我以前所說的那位,『祂在我以後來卻比我位分高,因為祂在我之前已經存在了。』」 16 從祂的豐盛裡,我們一次又一次地領受了恩典。 17 因為律法是藉著摩西頒佈的,恩典和真理是藉著耶穌基督賜下來的。 18 從來沒有人見過上帝,只有父懷中的獨一上帝[c]把祂顯明出來。

施洗者約翰的見證

19 以下是約翰的見證。猶太人從耶路撒冷派祭司和利未人來找約翰,查問他是誰。 20 約翰毫不隱瞞地說:「我不是基督。」

21 他們問:「那麼,你是誰?是以利亞嗎?」

他說:「不是。」

他們又問:「你是那位先知嗎?」

他說:「也不是。」

22 他們又追問:「你到底是誰?我們好回覆差我們來的人。你自己說你是誰?」

23 他說:「我就是在曠野大聲呼喊『修直主的路』的那個人,正如以賽亞先知所言。」

24 派來的人當中有幾個法利賽人[d],他們問他: 25 「你既然不是基督,不是以利亞,也不是那位先知,那你為什麼給人施洗呢?」

26 約翰答道:「我是用水施洗,但在你們中間有一位你們不認識的, 27 祂雖然是在我以後來的,我就是給祂解鞋帶也不配。」 28 這事發生在約旦河東岸的伯大尼,那裡是約翰給人施洗的地方。

上帝的羔羊

29 次日,約翰看見耶穌走過來,就說:「看啊!上帝的羔羊,除去世人罪惡的! 30 這就是我以前所說的那位,『有一個人在我以後來卻比我位分高,因為祂在我之前已經存在了。』 31 我以前並不認識祂,現在我用水給人施洗,是要把祂顯明給以色列人。」

32 約翰又做見證說:「我看見聖靈好像鴿子一樣從天降下,住在祂身上。 33 我本來不認識祂,但那位差我來用水給人施洗的告訴我,『你看見聖靈降下,住在誰身上,誰就是用聖靈給人施洗的。』 34 我看見了,便做見證,祂就是上帝的兒子。」

第一批門徒

35 再次日,約翰和兩個門徒站在那裡, 36 他看見耶穌經過,就說:「看啊!這是上帝的羔羊!」 37 兩個門徒聽見他的話,便跟從了耶穌。 38 耶穌轉過身來,看見他們跟著,便問:「你們想要什麼?」

他們說:「老師[e],你住在哪裡?」

39 耶穌說:「你們來看吧。」他們便跟著去看耶穌住的地方。到了那裡大約下午四點了,他們就住在耶穌那裡。 40 聽見約翰的話後跟從耶穌的兩個人中,有一個是西門·彼得的弟弟安得烈。 41 他首先去找他哥哥西門,說:「我們找到彌賽亞了!」彌賽亞的意思是基督[f] 42 他帶著西門去見耶穌。

耶穌看著西門,對他說:「約翰的兒子西門,你要改名為磯法。」磯法的意思是彼得。

43 又過了一天,耶穌決定去加利利。祂遇見了腓力,就對他說:「跟從我!」 44 腓力是伯賽大人,與彼得、安得烈是同鄉。 45 腓力去找拿但業,對他說:「我們遇見了摩西律法書和先知書記載的那位!祂是約瑟的兒子耶穌,從拿撒勒來的。」

46 拿但業說:「拿撒勒還會出什麼好東西?」

腓力說:「你來看看吧!」

47 耶穌看見拿但業走過來,就指著他說:「看啊,這是個真正的以色列人!他心裡毫無詭詐。」

48 拿但業問耶穌:「你怎麼會認識我?」

耶穌答道:「腓力還沒有去找你之前,我就看見你在無花果樹下了。」

49 拿但業說:「老師,你是上帝的兒子!你是以色列的王!」

50 耶穌說:「我說看見你在無花果樹下,你就信我嗎?將來你還要看見比這更大的事。 51 我實實在在地告訴你們,你們會看見天門敞開,上帝的天使以人子[g]為梯上上下下。」

Footnotes

  1. 1·3 造的」或譯「存在」。
  2. 1·5 勝過」或譯「接受」或「明白」。
  3. 1·18 獨一上帝」有古卷作「獨一兒子」。
  4. 1·24 派來的人當中有幾個法利賽人」或譯「法利賽人派來的那幾個人」。
  5. 1·38 老師」希臘文是「拉比」,特指猶太教的老師,下同。
  6. 1·41 希伯來文的「彌賽亞」和希臘文的「基督」都是「受膏者」的意思。
  7. 1·51 人子」是耶穌的自稱,耶穌在這裡自比天梯,背景請參見創世記28·12

Prologue

In the beginning(A) was the Word,[a](B)
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.(C)
He was with God in the beginning.(D)
All things were created(E) through Him,(F)
and apart from Him not one thing was created
that has been created.
Life was in Him,[b](G)
and that life was the light(H) of men.
That light shines(I) in the darkness,
yet the darkness did not overcome[c] it.(J)

There was a man named John(K)
who was sent from God.
He came as a witness
to testify about the light,
so that all might believe through him.[d]
He was not the light,
but he came to testify(L) about the light.
The true light,(M) who gives light to everyone,
was coming into the world.[e](N)

10 He was in the world,
and the world was created(O) through Him,
yet the world did not recognize Him.
11 He came to His own,[f]
and His own people[g] did not receive Him.
12 But to all who did receive(P) Him,(Q)
He gave them the right(R) to be[h] children(S) of God,(T)
to those who believe(U) in His name,(V)
13 who were born,(W)
not of blood,[i]
or of the will(X) of the flesh,(Y)
or of the will of man,[j]
but of God.(Z)

14 The Word(AA) became flesh[k](AB)
and took up residence[l] among us.
We observed His glory,(AC)
the glory as the One and Only(AD) Son[m] from the Father,
full of grace and truth.
15 (John testified concerning Him and exclaimed,
“This was the One of whom I said,
‘The One coming after me(AE) has surpassed me,(AF)
because He existed before me.’”)(AG)
16 Indeed, we have all received grace(AH) after grace
from His fullness,
17 for the law was given through Moses,(AI)
grace and truth(AJ) came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God.[n]
The One and Only(AK) Son[o]
the One who is at the Father’s(AL) side[p]
He has revealed Him.(AM)

John the Baptist’s Testimony

19 This is John’s testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem(AN) sent priests(AO) and Levites(AP) to ask him, “Who are you?”

20 He did not refuse to answer, but he declared: “I am not the Messiah.”(AQ)

21 “What then?” they asked him. “Are you Elijah?”(AR)

“I am not,” he said.

“Are you the Prophet?”[q](AS)

“No,” he answered.

22 “Who are you, then?” they asked. “We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself?”

23 He said, “I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord(AT)[r]—just as Isaiah(AU) the prophet said.”

24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.(AV) 25 So they asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you aren’t the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”

26 “I baptize with[s] water,”(AW) John answered them. “Someone stands among you, but you don’t know Him. 27 He is the One coming after me,[t](AX) whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie.”

28 All this happened in Bethany[u] across the Jordan,[v](AY) where John was baptizing.

The Lamb of God

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God,(AZ) who takes away the sin(BA) of the world! 30 This is the One I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because He existed before me.’ 31 I didn’t know Him,(BB) but I came baptizing with[w] water so He might be revealed(BC) to Israel.”

32 And John testified, “I watched the Spirit(BD) descending from heaven like a dove, and He rested on Him.(BE) 33 I didn’t know Him, but He[x] who sent me to baptize with[y] water told me, ‘The One you see the Spirit descending and resting on—He is the One who baptizes with[z] the Holy Spirit.’(BF) 34 I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God!”[aa](BG)

35 Again the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look! The Lamb of God!”

37 The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and noticed them following Him, He asked them, “What are you looking for?”

They said to Him, “Rabbi”(BH) (which means “Teacher”), “where are You staying?”

39 “Come and you’ll see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day. It was about 10 in the morning.[ab]

40 Andrew,(BI) Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed Him. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah!”[ac](BJ) (which means “Anointed(BK) One”), 42 and he brought Simon to Jesus.

When Jesus saw him, He said, “You are Simon, son of John.[ad] You will be called Cephas”(BL) (which means “Rock”).

Philip and Nathanael

43 The next day He[ae] decided to leave for Galilee. Jesus found Philip(BM) and told him, “Follow Me!”

44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida,(BN) the hometown of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael[af](BO) and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law (and so did the prophets(BP)): Jesus the son of Joseph,(BQ) from Nazareth!”(BR)

46 “Can anything good(BS) come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him.

“Come and see,” Philip answered.

47 Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said about him, “Here is a true Israelite;(BT) no deceit is in him.”

48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

“Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered.

49 “Rabbi,”(BU) Nathanael replied, “You are the Son(BV) of God! You are the King of Israel!”(BW)

50 Jesus responded to him, “Do you believe only because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You[ag] will see greater things than this.” 51 Then He said, “I assure you: You[ah] will see heaven opened and the angels of God(BX) ascending and descending(BY) on the Son of Man.”(BZ)

Footnotes

  1. John 1:1 The Word (Gk Logos) is a title for Jesus as the communication and the revealer of God the Father; Jn 1:14,18; Rv 19:13.
  2. John 1:4 Other punctuation is possible: . . . not one thing was created. What was created in Him was life
  3. John 1:5 Or grasp, or comprehend, or overtake; Jn 12:35
  4. John 1:7 Or through it (the light)
  5. John 1:9 Or The true light who comes into the world gives light to everyone, or The true light enlightens everyone coming into the world.
  6. John 1:11 The same Gk adjective is used twice in this verse: the first refers to all that Jesus owned as Creator (to His own); the second refers to the Jews (His own people).
  7. John 1:11 The same Gk adjective is used twice in this verse: the first refers to all that Jesus owned as Creator (to His own); the second refers to the Jews (His own people).
  8. John 1:12 Or become
  9. John 1:13 Lit bloods; the pl form of blood occurs only here in the NT. It may refer either to lineal descent (that is, blood from one’s father and mother) or to the OT sacrificial system (that is, the various blood sacrifices). Neither is the basis for birth into the family of God.
  10. John 1:13 Or not of human lineage, or of human capacity, or of human volition
  11. John 1:14 The eternally existent Word (vv. 1-2) took on full humanity but without sin; Heb 4:15.
  12. John 1:14 Or and dwelt in a tent; lit and tabernacled; this word occurs only here in John. A related word, referring to the Festival of Tabernacles, occurs only in 7:2; Ex 40:34-38.
  13. John 1:14 Son is implied from the reference to the Father and from Gk usage.
  14. John 1:18 Since God is an infinite being, no one can see Him in His absolute essential nature; Ex 33:18-23.
  15. John 1:18 Other mss read God
  16. John 1:18 Lit is in the bosom of the Father
  17. John 1:21 Probably the Prophet in Dt 18:15
  18. John 1:23 Is 40:3
  19. John 1:26 Or in
  20. John 1:27 Other mss add who came before me
  21. John 1:28 Other mss read in Bethabara
  22. John 1:28 Another Bethany, near Jerusalem, was the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary; Jn 11:1.
  23. John 1:31 Or in
  24. John 1:33 He refers to God the Father, who gave John a sign to help him identify the Messiah. Vv. 32-34 indicate that John did not know that Jesus was the Messiah until the Spirit descended upon Him at His baptism.
  25. John 1:33 Or in
  26. John 1:33 Or in
  27. John 1:34 Other mss read is the Chosen One of God
  28. John 1:39 Lit about the tenth hour. Various methods of reckoning time were used in the ancient world. John probably used a different method from the other 3 Gospels. If John used the same method of time reckoning as the other 3 Gospels, the translation would be: It was about four in the afternoon.
  29. John 1:41 In the NT, the word Messiah translates the Gk word Christos (“Anointed One”), except here and in Jn 4:25 where it translates Messias.
  30. John 1:42 Other mss read Simon, son of Jonah
  31. John 1:43 Or he, referring either to Simon Peter (vv. 41-42) or Andrew (vv. 40-41)
  32. John 1:45 Probably the Bartholomew of the other Gospels and Acts
  33. John 1:50 In Gk, the word you is sg and refers to Nathanael.
  34. John 1:51 In Gk, the word you is pl and refers to Nathanael and the other disciples.

Ang Salita ng Buhay

Sa simula ay ang Salita, at ang Salita ay kasama ng Diyos, at ang Salita ay Diyos.

Sa simula ay kasama na siya ng Diyos.

Lahat ng mga bagay ay ginawa sa pamamagitan niya at kung wala siya ay hindi nagawa ang anumang bagay na ginawa.

Nasa sa kanya ang buhay at ang buhay ay siyang ilaw ng mga tao.

Ang ilaw ay lumiliwanag sa kadiliman; at ito'y hindi nagapi ng kadiliman.

Mayroong(A) isang tao na isinugo mula sa Diyos na ang pangalan ay Juan.

Siya ay dumating bilang saksi, upang magpatotoo tungkol sa ilaw, upang sa pamamagitan niya'y sumampalataya ang lahat.

Hindi siya ang ilaw, kundi dumating siya upang magpatotoo tungkol sa ilaw.

Siya ang tunay na ilaw na tumatanglaw sa bawat dumarating sa sanlibutan.

10 Siya noon ay nasa sanlibutan at ang sanlibutan ay ginawa sa pamamagitan niya, gayunma'y hindi siya nakilala ng sanlibutan.

11 Siya'y naparito sa kanyang sariling tahanan at siya'y hindi tinanggap ng kanyang sariling bayan.

12 Subalit ang lahat ng tumanggap sa kanya na sumasampalataya sa kanyang pangalan ay kanyang pinagkalooban sila ng karapatan na maging mga anak ng Diyos,

13 na ipinanganak hindi sa dugo, o sa kalooban ng laman, o sa kalooban ng tao, kundi ng Diyos.

14 At naging tao[a] ang Salita at tumahang kasama namin, at nakita namin ang kanyang kaluwalhatian, kaluwalhatiang gaya ng sa tanging Anak ng Ama, puspos ng biyaya at katotohanan.

15 Nagpatotoo si Juan tungkol sa kanya at sumigaw, “Siya yaong aking sinasabi, ‘Ang dumarating na kasunod ko ay naging una sa akin sapagkat siya'y nauna sa akin.’”

16 At mula sa kanyang kapuspusan ay tumanggap tayong lahat, biyaya na sinundan pa ng ibang biyaya.

17 Sapagkat ibinigay sa pamamagitan ni Moises ang kautusan; ang biyaya at ang katotohanan ay dumating sa pamamagitan ni Jesu-Cristo.

18 Walang sinumang nakakita kailanman sa Diyos. Ang Diyos na tanging Anak[b] na nasa kandungan ng Ama ang nagpakilala sa kanya.

Ang Patotoo ni Juan na Tagapagbautismo(B)

19 Ito ang patotoo ni Juan nang suguin ng mga Judio ang mga pari at mga Levita mula sa Jerusalem upang siya'y tanungin, “Sino ka ba?”

20 Siya'y nagpahayag at hindi ikinaila kundi sinabing, “Hindi ako ang Cristo.”

21 Siya'y(C) kanilang tinanong, “Kung gayo'y, ikaw ba si Elias?” At sinabi niya, “Hindi ako.” “Ikaw ba ang propeta?” At siya'y sumagot, “Hindi.”

22 Sinabi nila sa kanya, “Sino ka ba? Bigyan mo kami ng isasagot sa mga nagsugo sa amin. Ano ang masasabi mo tungkol sa iyong sarili?”

23 Sinabi(D) niya, “Ako ang tinig ng isang sumisigaw sa ilang na lugar, ‘Tuwirin ninyo ang daan ng Panginoon, gaya ng sinabi ng propeta Isaias.’”

24 Sila'y mga sugo buhat sa mga Fariseo.

25 Siya'y tinanong nila, “Kung gayo'y bakit ka nagbabautismo, kung hindi ikaw ang Cristo, o si Elias, o ang propeta?”

26 Sila'y sinagot ni Juan, “Ako'y nagbabautismo sa tubig; sa gitna ninyo'y may isang nakatayo na hindi ninyo kilala,

27 na pumaparitong kasunod ko at hindi ako karapat-dapat magkalag ng panali ng kanyang sandalyas.”

28 Ang mga bagay na ito'y nangyari sa Betania, sa kabilang ibayo ng Jordan, na pinagbabautismuhan ni Juan.

Ang Kordero ng Diyos

29 Kinabukasan, nakita ni Juan si Jesus na lumalapit sa kanya, at kanyang sinabi, “Narito ang Kordero ng Diyos, na nag-aalis ng kasalanan ng sanlibutan!

30 Siya yaong aking sinasabi, ‘Kasunod ko'y dumarating ang isang lalaki na higit pa sa akin,[c] sapagkat siya'y nauna sa akin.

31 Hindi ko siya nakilala, dahil dito'y naparito ako na nagbabautismo sa tubig upang siya'y mahayag sa Israel.”

32 Nagpatotoo si Juan, “Nakita ko ang Espiritu na bumababang tulad sa isang kalapati na buhat sa langit at dumapo sa kanya.

33 Hindi ko siya nakilala subalit ang nagsugo sa akin upang magbautismo sa tubig ay nagsabi sa akin, ‘Ang nakita mong babaan ng Espiritu at manatili sa kanya, ay siya ang nagbabautismo sa Espiritu Santo.’

34 Aking nakita at pinatotohanan kong ito ang Anak ng Diyos.”

Ang Unang mga Alagad ni Jesus

35 Kinabukasan, muling naroon si Juan kasama ng dalawa sa kanyang mga alagad.

36 At kanyang tiningnan si Jesus samantalang siya'y naglalakad at sinabi, “Narito ang Kordero ng Diyos!”

37 Narinig siya ng dalawang alagad na nagsalita nito, at sila'y sumunod kay Jesus.

38 Paglingon ni Jesus at nakita silang sumusunod ay sinabi niya sa kanila, “Ano ang inyong hinahanap?” At sinabi nila sa kanya, “Rabi (na kung isasalin ang kahulugan ay Guro), saan ka nakatira?”

39 Sinabi niya sa kanila, “Halikayo at tingnan ninyo.” Pumunta nga sila at nakita kung saan siya nakatira; at sila'y nanatiling kasama niya nang araw na iyon. Noon ang oras ay mag-iikasampu.[d]

40 Ang isa sa dalawang nakarinig ng pagsasalita ni Juan, at sumunod sa kanya, ay si Andres na kapatid ni Simon Pedro.

41 Una niyang natagpuan ang kanyang kapatid na si Simon, at sa kanya'y sinabi, “Natagpuan na namin ang Mesiyas”—na kung isasalin ay Cristo.

42 Kanyang dinala si Simon kay Jesus. Siya'y tiningnan ni Jesus at sinabi, “Ikaw ay si Simon na anak ni Juan. Tatawagin kang Cefas”—(na kung isasalin ang kahulugan ay Pedro.)

Tinawagan ni Jesus sina Felipe at Nathanael

43 Kinabukasan ay ipinasiya ni Jesus na pumunta sa Galilea. Kanyang nakita si Felipe, at sa kanya'y sinabi ni Jesus, “Sumunod ka sa akin.”

44 Si Felipe nga ay taga-Bethsaida, sa lunsod nina Andres at Pedro.

45 Natagpuan ni Felipe si Nathanael, at sinabi sa kanya, “Natagpuan namin iyong isinulat ni Moises sa Kautusan, at gayundin ng mga propeta, si Jesus na taga-Nazaret, ang anak ni Jose.”

46 Sinabi sa kanya ni Nathanael, “Mayroon bang mabuting bagay na maaaring manggaling sa Nazaret?” Sinabi sa kanya ni Felipe, “Halika at tingnan mo.”

47 Nakita ni Jesus si Nathanael na lumalapit sa kanya, at sinabi ang tungkol sa kanya, “Narito ang isang tunay na Israelita na sa kanya'y walang pandaraya!”

48 Tinanong siya ni Nathanael, “Paano mo ako nakilala?” Si Jesus ay sumagot, “Bago ka tinawag ni Felipe, nang ikaw ay nasa ilalim ng puno ng igos ay nakita kita.”

49 Sumagot si Nathanael sa kanya, “Rabi, ikaw ang Anak ng Diyos; ikaw ang Hari ng Israel.”

50 Si Jesus ay sumagot sa kanya, “Dahil ba sa sinabi ko sa iyo, ‘Nakita kita sa ilalim ng puno ng igos,’ kaya ikaw ay sumasampalataya? Higit na dakilang mga bagay ang makikita mo kaysa rito.”

51 Sinabi(E) niya sa kanya, “Katotohanang sinasabi ko sa inyo, makikita ninyong bukas ang langit, at ang mga anghel ng Diyos na nagmamanhik-manaog sa Anak ng Tao.”

Footnotes

  1. Juan 1:14 Sa Griyego ay laman .
  2. Juan 1:18 Sa ibang mga kasulatan ay Ang tanging Anak, na Diyos o Ang tanging Anak .
  3. Juan 1:30 Sa Griyego ay naging una sa akin .
  4. Juan 1:39 o ika-4 ng hapon sa makabagong pagbilang ng oras .

The Word Became Flesh

In the beginning was the Word,(A) and the Word was with God,(B) and the Word was God.(C) He was with God in the beginning.(D) Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.(E) In him was life,(F) and that life was the light(G) of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness,(H) and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.(I)

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

The true light(M) that gives light to everyone(N) was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him,(O) the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.(P) 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed(Q) in his name,(R) he gave the right to become children of God(S) 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.(T)

14 The Word became flesh(U) and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,(V) the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace(W) and truth.(X)

15 (John testified(Y) 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.’”)(Z) 16 Out of his fullness(AA) we have all received grace(AB) in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses;(AC) grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.(AD) 18 No one has ever seen God,(AE) but the one and only Son, who is himself God and[b](AF) is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah

19 Now this was John’s(AG) testimony when the Jewish leaders[c](AH) 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.”(AI)

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

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”(AK)

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,(AL) ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”[d](AM)

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[e] water,”(AN) John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know. 27 He is the one who comes after me,(AO) the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”(AP)

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

John Testifies About Jesus

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God,(AR) who takes away the sin of the world!(AS) 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’(AT) 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.”

32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him.(AU) 33 And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water(AV) told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’(AW) 34 I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”[f](AX)

John’s Disciples Follow Jesus(AY)

35 The next day John(AZ) was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”(BA)

37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”

They said, “Rabbi”(BB) (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”

39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”

So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.

40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ).(BC) 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called(BD) Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter[g]).(BE)

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip,(BF) he said to him, “Follow me.”(BG)

44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida.(BH) 45 Philip found Nathanael(BI) and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law,(BJ) and about whom the prophets also wrote(BK)—Jesus of Nazareth,(BL) the son of Joseph.”(BM)

46 “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”(BN) Nathanael asked.

“Come and see,” said Philip.

47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite(BO) in whom there is no deceit.”(BP)

48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.”

49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi,(BQ) you are the Son of God;(BR) you are the king of Israel.”(BS)

50 Jesus said, “You believe[h] because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “Very truly I tell you,[i] you[j] will see ‘heaven open,(BT) and the angels of God ascending and descending(BU) on’[k] the Son of Man.”(BV)

Footnotes

  1. John 1:5 Or understood
  2. John 1:18 Some manuscripts but the only Son, who
  3. 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.
  4. John 1:23 Isaiah 40:3
  5. John 1:26 Or in; also in verses 31 and 33 (twice)
  6. John 1:34 See Isaiah 42:1; many manuscripts is the Son of God.
  7. John 1:42 Cephas (Aramaic) and Peter (Greek) both mean rock.
  8. John 1:50 Or Do you believe … ?
  9. John 1:51 The Greek is plural.
  10. John 1:51 The Greek is plural.
  11. John 1:51 Gen. 28:12