神成為人

太初有道,
道與神同在,
道就是神。
這道太初與神同在。
萬有是藉著他而成的;
凡所成的,
沒有一樣不是藉著他而成的。
生命在他裡面,
這生命就是人的光。
這光在黑暗中照耀,
黑暗卻沒有勝過[a]這光。

有一個人受神的差派而來,
他名叫約翰
他為見證而來,
是要為這光做見證,
好讓人都藉著他相信。
他不是這光,
而是要為這光做見證。
這光是真光,
來到這世界照亮每個人。

10 他在這世界,
世界也是藉著他而成的,
世界卻不認識他。
11 他來到自己的地方,
自己的人卻不接受他。
12 但是所有接受他的,
就是信他名的人,
他就賜給他們權柄成為神的兒女。
13 他們不是由血緣、
或肉體的意願、
或人的意志所生的,
而是由神所生的。

14 道成了肉身,
居住在我們中間。
我們看到了他的榮耀,
正是從父而來的獨生子的榮耀,
充滿了恩典和真理。
15 約翰為他做見證,呼喊說:
「這一位就是我曾說過的,
『那在我之後來的,已成為在我前面的,
因為他在我之前就已經存在。』」
16 原來從他的豐盛完美中,
我們都領受了恩典,而且恩上加恩。
17 因為律法是藉著摩西賜下的,
恩典和真理是藉著耶穌基督而來的。
18 從來沒有人看見神,
只有在父懷裡的那位獨生子——神,
他將神表明了出來。

施洗約翰的見證

19 以下是約翰的見證。那時候,耶路撒冷的那些猶太人派了一些祭司和利未人到約翰那裡去問他:「你是誰?」

20 他就承認,並毫不否認地告白:「我不是基督。」

21 他們又問:「那麼你是誰呢?是以利亞嗎?」

他說:「我不是。」

「是那位先知[b]嗎?」

他回答:「不是。」

22 於是他們問:「你到底是誰?好讓我們給那些派我們來的人一個答覆。你自己說,你是什麼人?」

23 約翰說:「正如先知以賽亞所說的,我就是在曠野裡呼喊的聲音:『你們當修直[c]主的道[d]。』[e]

24 那些被派來的人屬於法利賽人, 25 他們又問約翰:「你既不是基督,又不是以利亞,也不是那位先知,那麼,你為什麼施洗呢?」

26 約翰回答說:「我用水[f]施洗,但有一位站在你們中間,是你們不認識的, 27 他是那在我之後來的,[g]我就是為他解鞋帶也不配。」

28 這些事發生在約旦河對岸的伯大尼[h],就是約翰施洗的地方。

神的羔羊

29 第二天,約翰看見耶穌向他走來,就說:「看哪,神的羔羊,除去世人罪孽的! 30 這一位就是我所說的『那在我之後來的人,已成為在我前面的,因為在我之前他就存在了。』 31 我以前也不認識他,但為了讓他向以色列顯明,所以我來用水施洗。」

32 約翰又見證說:「我看到聖靈好像鴿子從天上降臨,停留在他身上。 33 我以前也不認識他,可是那派我用水施洗的對我說:『如果你看見聖靈降臨在誰身上,又停留在誰身上,誰就是用聖靈施洗的那一位。』 34 我看到了,就見證:這一位就是神的兒子[i]。」

35 過了一天,約翰和他的兩個門徒又站在那裡。 36 約翰看著耶穌走過,就說:「看哪,神的羔羊!」

37 那兩個門徒聽他說話,就跟從了耶穌。 38 耶穌轉過身來,看到他們跟著走,就問:「你們尋找什麼呢?」

他們對耶穌說:「拉比,你住在哪裡呢?」——「拉比」翻譯出來意思是「老師」。

39 耶穌說:「你們來看吧!」他們去了,看見耶穌住的地方,那天就住在他那裡。那時大約是下午四點[j]

40 聽見了約翰的話而跟從耶穌的兩個人中,有一個是西門彼得的弟弟安得烈 41 安得烈先去找自己的哥哥[k]西門,對他說:「我們找到了彌賽亞。」——「彌賽亞」翻譯出來就是「基督」。 42 他就帶西門到耶穌那裡。

耶穌注視著他,說:「你是約翰[l]的兒子西門,你將被稱為磯法。」——「磯法」翻譯出來就是「彼得[m]」。

腓力與拿旦業

43 又過了一天,耶穌決定前往加利利地區。他找到腓力,對他說:「你跟從我!」

44 腓力來自伯賽達,與安得烈彼得同鄉。 45 腓力找到拿旦業[n],對他說:「我們發現了摩西在律法上所寫的,和先知們所記的那一位。他就是約瑟的兒子,拿撒勒人耶穌。」

46 拿旦業對他說:「拿撒勒還能出什麼好的嗎?」

腓力說:「你來看吧!」

47 耶穌看見拿旦業向他走來,就指著他說:「看,一個真正的以色列人!他裡面沒有詭詐。」

48 拿旦業對耶穌說:「你怎麼知道我呢?」

耶穌回答說:腓力叫你以前,你還在無花果樹下,我就看見你了。」

49 拿旦業說:「拉比,你是神的兒子,你是以色列的王!」

50 耶穌對他說:「因為我說『我看見你在無花果樹下』,你就信嗎?你將會看到比這更大的事。」 51 耶穌又對他說:「我確確實實地告訴你們:你們將會看見天敞開了,神的天使們在人子上頭,上去下來。」

Footnotes

  1. 約翰福音 1:5 勝過——或譯作「領會」或「掌握」或「接受」。
  2. 約翰福音 1:21 那位先知——參《申命記》18:15。
  3. 約翰福音 1:23 修直——或譯作「修平」。
  4. 約翰福音 1:23 道——或譯作「路」。
  5. 約翰福音 1:23 《以賽亞書》40:3。
  6. 約翰福音 1:26 用水——或譯作「在水裡」。
  7. 約翰福音 1:27 有古抄本附「已成為在我前面的,」。
  8. 約翰福音 1:28 伯大尼——有古抄本作「伯達巴拉」。
  9. 約翰福音 1:34 神的兒子——有古抄本作「神所揀選的」。
  10. 約翰福音 1:39 下午四點——原文為「第十時刻」。
  11. 約翰福音 1:41 哥哥——原文直譯「兄弟」。
  12. 約翰福音 1:42 約翰——有古抄本作「約拿」。
  13. 約翰福音 1:42 彼得——意思為「石頭」。
  14. 約翰福音 1:45 拿旦業——一般認為,此人與其他《福音書》和《使徒行傳》中的巴多羅邁是同一個人。

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

The Eternal Word(A)

In the beginning (B)was the Word, and the (C)Word was (D)with God, and the Word was (E)God. (F)He was in the beginning with God. (G)All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (H)In Him was life, and (I)the life was the light of men. And (J)the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not [a]comprehend it.

John’s Witness: The True Light

There was a (K)man sent from God, whose name was John. This man came for a (L)witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might (M)believe. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that (N)Light. (O)That[b] was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and (P)the world did not know Him. 11 (Q)He came to His [c]own, and His [d]own did not receive Him. 12 But (R)as many as received Him, to them He gave the [e]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 (S)who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word Becomes Flesh

14 (T)And the Word (U)became (V)flesh and dwelt among us, and (W)we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, (X)full of grace and truth.

15 (Y)John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, (Z)‘He who comes after me [f]is preferred before me, (AA)for He was before me.’ ”

16 [g]And of His (AB)fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For (AC)the law was given through Moses, but (AD)grace and (AE)truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 (AF)No one has seen God at any time. (AG)The only begotten [h]Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

A Voice in the Wilderness(AH)

19 Now this is (AI)the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

20 (AJ)He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”

21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you (AK)the Prophet?”

And he answered, “No.”

22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”

23 He said: (AL)“I am

(AM)‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’

as the prophet Isaiah said.”

24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

26 John answered them, saying, (AN)“I baptize with water, (AO)but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 27 (AP)It is He who, coming after me, [i]is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”

28 These things were done (AQ)in [j]Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The Lamb of God(AR)

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! (AS)The Lamb of God (AT)who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who [k]is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, (AU)therefore I came baptizing with water.”

32 (AV)And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, (AW)this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the (AX)Son of God.”

The First Disciples

35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, (AY)“Behold the Lamb of God!”

37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they (AZ)followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”

They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”

39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).

40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was (BA)Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the [l]Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.

Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of [m]Jonah. (BB)You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, [n]A Stone).

Philip and Nathanael

43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found (BC)Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” 44 Now (BD)Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found (BE)Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom (BF)Moses in the law, and also the (BG)prophets, wrote—Jesus (BH)of Nazareth, the (BI)son of Joseph.”

46 And Nathanael said to him, (BJ)“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”

Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, (BK)an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”

48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?”

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

49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, (BL)You are the Son of God! You are (BM)the King of Israel!”

50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, (BN)hereafter[o] you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Footnotes

  1. John 1:5 Or overcome
  2. John 1:9 Or That was the true Light which, coming into the world, gives light to every man.
  3. John 1:11 His own things or domain
  4. John 1:11 His own people
  5. John 1:12 authority
  6. John 1:15 ranks higher than I
  7. John 1:16 NU For
  8. John 1:18 NU God
  9. John 1:27 ranks higher than I
  10. John 1:28 NU, M Bethany
  11. John 1:30 ranks higher than I
  12. John 1:41 Lit. Anointed One
  13. John 1:42 NU John
  14. John 1:42 Gr. Petros, usually translated Peter
  15. John 1:51 NU omits hereafter