The Servant of the Lord

1 Paul, called to be an apostle^(A) of Christ Jesus by the will of God,^(B) and our brother Sosthenes,^(C)

² To the church of God^(D) in Corinth,^(E) to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called^(F) to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name^(G) of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours:

³ Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.^(H)

Thanksgiving

⁴ I always thank my God for you^(I) because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. ⁵ For in him you have been enriched^(J) in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge^(K)— ⁶ God thus confirming our testimony^(L) about Christ among you. ⁷ Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift^(M) as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed.^{(N) 8} He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless^(O) on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(P) 9} God is faithful,^(Q) who has called you^(R) into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.^(S)

John Testifies About Jesus

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God,^(A) who takes away the sin of the world!^{(B) 30} This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’^{(C) 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.^{(D) 33} And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water^(E) told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’^{(F) 34} I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”^[a](G)

John’s Disciples Follow Jesus^(H)

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

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”^(K) (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).^{(L) 42} And he brought him to Jesus.

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

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

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

⁴⁴ Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of Bethsaida.^{(Q) 45} Philip found Nathanael^(R) and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law,^(S) and about whom the prophets also wrote^(T)—Jesus of Nazareth,^(U) the son of Joseph.”^(V)

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

“Come and see,” said Philip.

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

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,^(Z) you are the Son of God;^(AA) you are the king of Israel.”^(AB)

⁵⁰ Jesus said, “You believe^[c] 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,^[d] you^[e] will see ‘heaven open,^(AC) and the angels of God ascending and descending^(AD) on’^[f] the Son of Man.”^(AE)

¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you^(A) so that you might go and bear fruit^(B)—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.^{(C) 17} This is my command: Love each other.^(D)