Jean 1
Louis Segond
1 Au commencement était la Parole, et la Parole était avec Dieu, et la Parole était Dieu.
2 Elle était au commencement avec Dieu.
3 Toutes choses ont été faites par elle, et rien de ce qui a été fait n'a été fait sans elle.
4 En elle était la vie, et la vie était la lumière des hommes.
5 La lumière luit dans les ténèbres, et les ténèbres ne l'ont point reçue.
6 Il y eut un homme envoyé de Dieu: son nom était Jean.
7 Il vint pour servir de témoin, pour rendre témoignage à la lumière, afin que tous crussent par lui.
8 Il n'était pas la lumière, mais il parut pour rendre témoignage à la lumière.
9 Cette lumière était la véritable lumière, qui, en venant dans le monde, éclaire tout homme.
10 Elle était dans le monde, et le monde a été fait par elle, et le monde ne l'a point connue.
11 Elle est venue chez les siens, et les siens ne l'ont point reçue.
12 Mais à tous ceux qui l'ont reçue, à ceux qui croient en son nom, elle a donné le pouvoir de devenir enfants de Dieu, lesquels sont nés,
13 non du sang, ni de la volonté de la chair, ni de la volonté de l'homme, mais de Dieu.
14 Et la parole a été faite chair, et elle a habité parmi nous, pleine de grâce et de vérité; et nous avons contemplé sa gloire, une gloire comme la gloire du Fils unique venu du Père.
15 Jean lui a rendu témoignage, et s'est écrié: C'est celui dont j'ai dit: Celui qui vient après moi m'a précédé, car il était avant moi.
16 Et nous avons tous reçu de sa plénitude, et grâce pour grâce;
17 car la loi a été donnée par Moïse, la grâce et la vérité sont venues par Jésus Christ.
18 Personne n'a jamais vu Dieu; le Fils unique, qui est dans le sein du Père, est celui qui l'a fait connaître.
19 Voici le témoignage de Jean, lorsque les Juifs envoyèrent de Jérusalem des sacrificateurs et des Lévites, pour lui demander: Toi, qui es-tu?
20 Il déclara, et ne le nia point, il déclara qu'il n'était pas le Christ.
21 Et ils lui demandèrent: Quoi donc? es-tu Élie? Et il dit: Je ne le suis point. Es-tu le prophète? Et il répondit: Non.
22 Ils lui dirent alors: Qui es-tu? afin que nous donnions une réponse à ceux qui nous ont envoyés. Que dis-tu de toi-même?
23 Moi, dit-il, je suis la voix de celui qui crie dans le désert: Aplanissez le chemin du Seigneur, comme a dit Ésaïe, le prophète.
24 Ceux qui avaient été envoyés étaient des pharisiens.
25 Ils lui firent encore cette question: Pourquoi donc baptises-tu, si tu n'es pas le Christ, ni Élie, ni le prophète?
26 Jean leur répondit: Moi, je baptise d'eau, mais au milieu de vous il y a quelqu'un que vous ne connaissez pas, qui vient après moi;
27 je ne suis pas digne de délier la courroie de ses souliers.
28 Ces choses se passèrent à Béthanie, au delà du Jourdain, où Jean baptisait.
29 Le lendemain, il vit Jésus venant à lui, et il dit: Voici l'Agneau de Dieu, qui ôte le péché du monde.
30 C'est celui dont j'ai dit: Après moi vient un homme qui m'a précédé, car il était avant moi.
31 Je ne le connaissais pas, mais c'est afin qu'il fût manifesté à Israël que je suis venu baptiser d'eau.
32 Jean rendit ce témoignage: J'ai vu l'Esprit descendre du ciel comme une colombe et s'arrêter sur lui.
33 Je ne le connaissais pas, mais celui qui m'a envoyé baptiser d'eau, celui-là m'a dit: Celui sur qui tu verras l'Esprit descendre et s'arrêter, c'est celui qui baptise du Saint Esprit.
34 Et j'ai vu, et j'ai rendu témoignage qu'il est le Fils de Dieu.
35 Le lendemain, Jean était encore là, avec deux de ses disciples;
36 et, ayant regardé Jésus qui passait, il dit: Voilà l'Agneau de Dieu.
37 Les deux disciples l'entendirent prononcer ces paroles, et ils suivirent Jésus.
38 Jésus se retourna, et voyant qu'ils le suivaient, il leur dit: Que cherchez-vous? Ils lui répondirent: Rabbi (ce qui signifie Maître), où demeures-tu?
39 Venez, leur dit-il, et voyez. Ils allèrent, et ils virent où il demeurait; et ils restèrent auprès de lui ce jour-là. C'était environ la dixième heure.
40 André, frère de Simon Pierre, était l'un des deux qui avaient entendu les paroles de Jean, et qui avaient suivi Jésus.
41 Ce fut lui qui rencontra le premier son frère Simon, et il lui dit: Nous avons trouvé le Messie (ce qui signifie Christ).
42 Et il le conduisit vers Jésus. Jésus, l'ayant regardé, dit: Tu es Simon, fils de Jonas; tu seras appelé Céphas (ce qui signifie Pierre).
43 Le lendemain, Jésus voulut se rendre en Galilée, et il rencontra Philippe. Il lui dit: Suis-moi.
44 Philippe était de Bethsaïda, de la ville d'André et de Pierre.
45 Philippe rencontra Nathanaël, et lui dit: Nous avons trouvé celui de qui Moïse a écrit dans la loi et dont les prophètes ont parlé, Jésus de Nazareth, fils de Joseph.
46 Nathanaël lui dit: Peut-il venir de Nazareth quelque chose de bon? Philippe lui répondit: Viens, et vois.
47 Jésus, voyant venir à lui Nathanaël, dit de lui: Voici vraiment un Israélite, dans lequel il n'y a point de fraude.
48 D'où me connais-tu? lui dit Nathanaël. Jésus lui répondit: Avant que Philippe t'appelât, quand tu étais sous le figuier, je t'ai vu.
49 Nathanaël répondit et lui dit: Rabbi, tu es le Fils de Dieu, tu es le roi d'Israël.
50 Jésus lui répondit: Parce que je t'ai dit que je t'ai vu sous le figuier, tu crois; tu verras de plus grandes choses que celles-ci.
51 Et il lui dit: En vérité, en vérité, vous verrez désormais le ciel ouvert et les anges de Dieu monter et descendre sur le Fils de l'homme.
Juan 1
Ang Salita ng Dios (Tagalog Contemporary Bible)
Ang Salitang Nakapagbibigay ng Buhay na Walang Hanggan
1 Nang pasimula, naroon na ang tinatawag na Salita. Ang Salita ay kasama ng Dios at ang Salita ay Dios. 2 Sa simula paʼy kasama na siya ng Dios. 3 Nilikha ang lahat ng bagay sa pamamagitan niya, at walang anumang nalikha nang hindi sa pamamagitan niya. 4 Ang Salita ang pinagmumulan ng buhay, at ang buhay na itoʼy ilaw, dahil ito ang nagbibigay-liwanag sa mga tao. 5 Ang ilaw na itoʼy nagliliwanag sa kadiliman,[a] at hindi ito nadaig ng kadiliman.[b]
6 Isinugo ng Dios ang isang tao na ang pangalan ay Juan. 7 Isinugo siya upang magpatotoo kung sino ang ilaw, upang sa pamamagitan ng kanyang patotoo ay sumampalataya ang lahat ng tao. 8 Hindi si Juan ang mismong ilaw, kundi naparito siya upang magpatotoo kung sino ang ilaw. 9 Ang tunay na ilaw na nagbibigay-liwanag sa lahat ng tao ay dumating na sa mundo. 10 Naparito siya sa mundo. At kahit na nilikha ang mundo sa pamamagitan niya, hindi siya kinilala ng mundo. 11 Pumunta siya sa sarili niyang mga kababayan, pero tinanggihan siya ng karamihan. 12 Ngunit ang lahat ng tumanggap at sumampalataya sa kanya ay binigyan niya ng karapatang maging anak ng Dios. 13 Naging anak sila ng Dios hindi sa pamamagitan ng pisikal na pagkasilang o dahil sa kagustuhan ng tao kundi dahil sa kalooban ng Dios.
14 Nagkatawang-tao ang Salita at namuhay na kasama natin. Nakita namin ang kadakilaan niya bilang kaisa-isang Anak ng Ama. Puspos siya ng biyaya at pawang katotohanan ang mga sinasabi niya.
15 Nagpatotoo si Juan tungkol sa kanya at ito ang kanyang sinabi: “Siya ang tinutukoy ko nang sabihin kong, ‘May isang darating na kasunod ko, mas dakila siya kaysa sa akin, dahil nariyan na siya bago pa ako ipanganak.’ ”
16 Sa kasaganaan ng kanyang biyaya[c] ay tumanggap tayong lahat ng sunud-sunod na pagpapala. 17 Ibinigay sa atin ng Dios ang Kautusan sa pamamagitan ni Moises, ngunit ang biyaya at katotohanan ay napasaatin sa pamamagitan ni Jesu-Cristo. 18 Wala pang nakakita sa Dios Ama kahit kailan, ngunit ipinakilala siya sa atin ng kanyang Bugtong na Anak,[d] na Dios din nga at kapiling ng Ama.[e]
Ang Patotoo ni Juan tungkol kay Jesus(A)
19-20 Pinapunta ng mga pinuno ng mga Judio sa Jerusalem ang ilang mga pari at Levita upang tanungin si Juan kung sino talaga siya. Tinapat sila ni Juan. Sinabi niya, “Hindi ako ang Cristo.” 21 Nagtanong sila, “Kung ganoon, sino ka? Ikaw ba si Propeta Elias?” Sumagot siya, “Hindi.” Tinanong pa nila si Juan, “Ikaw ba ang Propeta na ipinangakong darating?” “Hindi rin,” sagot ni Juan. 22 “Kung ganoon, sino ka talaga? Sabihin mo sa amin para may maisagot kami sa mga nagsugo sa amin. Ano ang masasabi mo tungkol sa sarili mo?” 23 Sumagot si Juan, “Ako ang taong binanggit ni Propeta Isaias nang sabihin niya,
‘Maririnig ang sigaw ng isang tao sa ilang na nagsasabi,
Tuwirin ninyo ang dadaanan ng Panginoon.’ ”[f]
24 Ang mga nagsugo sa mga taong pumunta kay Juan ay mga Pariseo.[g] 25 Tinanong nila ulit si Juan, “Bakit ka nagbabautismo kung hindi naman pala ikaw ang Cristo, o si Elias, o ang Propeta?” 26 Sumagot si Juan, “Nagbabautismo ako sa tubig, ngunit may nakatayong kasama ninyo na hindi ninyo nakikilala. 27 Siya ang sinasabi kong darating na kasunod ko, at ni hindi man lang ako karapat-dapat na maging alipin niya.”[h]
28 Nangyari ito sa Betania, sa kabila ng Ilog ng Jordan, kung saan nagbabautismo si Juan.
Si Jesus ang Tupa ng Dios
29 Kinabukasan, nakita ni Juan si Jesus na papalapit sa kanya. Sinabi niya sa mga tao, “Narito na ang Tupa ng Dios na ihahandog upang mag-alis ng kasalanan ng mga tao sa mundo! 30 Siya ang tinutukoy ko nang sabihin ko, ‘May isang darating na kasunod ko, mas dakila siya kaysa sa akin, dahil nariyan na siya bago pa ako ipanganak.’ 31 Noong unaʼy hindi ko rin kilala kung sino siya. Ngunit naparito akong nagbabautismo sa tubig upang ipakilala siya sa Israel.”
32 Pagkatapos, nagpatotoo si Juan, “Nakita ko ang Banal na Espiritu na bumaba mula sa langit tulad ng isang kalapati at nanatili sa kanya. 33 Noong unaʼy hindi ko rin kilala kung sino siya, ngunit ang Dios na nag-utos sa akin na magbautismo sa tubig ang nagsabi sa akin, ‘Kapag nakita mong bumaba ang Banal na Espiritu at nanatili sa isang tao, ang taong iyon ang magbabautismo sa Banal na Espiritu.’ 34 Nakita ko ito at nagpapatotoo ako na siya ang Anak ng Dios.”
Ang mga Unang Tagasunod ni Jesus
35 Kinabukasan, naroon ulit si Juan kasama ang dalawa sa mga tagasunod niya. 36 Nang makita niya si Jesus na dumaraan, sinabi niya, “Narito na ang Tupa ng Dios!” 37 Nang marinig iyon ng dalawang tagasunod ni Juan, sinundan nila si Jesus. 38 Lumingon si Jesus at nakita silang sumusunod. Kaya tinanong niya sila, “Ano ang kailangan ninyo?” Sumagot sila, “Rabbi, saan po kayo nakatira?” (Ang ibig sabihin ng Rabbi ay “Guro.”) 39 Sinabi sa kanila ni Jesus, “Halikayo at makikita ninyo.” Kaya sumama ang dalawa at nakita nila ang tinutuluyan niya. Bandang alas kwatro na noon ng hapon, kaya doon na sila nagpalipas ng gabi. 40 Ang isa sa dalawang nakarinig ng sinabi ni Juan at sumunod kay Jesus ay si Andres na kapatid ni Simon Pedro. 41 Kinaumagahan, hinanap kaagad ni Andres ang kapatid niyang si Simon at sinabi sa kanya, “Natagpuan na namin ang Mesias.” (Ang ibig sabihin ng Mesias ay “Cristo”.) 42 Isinama niya si Simon kay Jesus. At nang makarating sila kay Jesus, tiningnan ni Jesus si Simon at sinabi, “Ikaw si Simon na anak ni Juan, mula ngayon ay tatawagin ka nang Cefas.” (Ang Cefas ay pareho rin ng pangalang Pedro.)[i]
Ang Pagtawag ni Jesus kina Felipe at Natanael
43 Kinabukasan, nagpasya si Jesus na pumunta sa Galilea. Pagdating niya roon, nakita niya si Felipe at sinabi niya rito, “Sumunod ka sa akin.” 44 (Si Felipe ay taga-Betsaida, tulad nina Andres at Pedro.) 45 Hinanap ni Felipe si Natanael at sinabi niya rito, “Natagpuan na namin ang taong tinutukoy ni Moises sa Kautusan, at maging sa mga isinulat ng mga propeta. Siya si Jesus na taga-Nazaret na anak ni Jose.” 46 Tinanong siya ni Natanael, “May mabuti bang nanggagaling sa Nazaret?” Sumagot si Felipe, “Halika at tingnan mo.”
47 Nang makita ni Jesus na papalapit sa kanya si Natanael, sinabi niya, “Narito ang isang tunay na Israelita na hindi nandaraya.”[j] 48 Tinanong siya ni Natanael, “Paano ninyo ako nakilala?” Sumagot si Jesus, “Bago ka pa man tawagin ni Felipe, nakita na kita habang nasa ilalim ka ng puno ng igos.” 49 Sinabi ni Natanael, “Guro, kayo nga ang Anak ng Dios! Kayo ang hari ng Israel!” 50 Sinabi sa kanya ni Jesus, “Sumampalataya ka ba sa akin dahil sinabi kong nakita kita sa ilalim ng puno ng igos? Higit pa rito ang masasaksihan mo.” 51 Sinabi pa sa kanya ni Jesus, “Sinasabi ko sa inyo ang totoo, makikita ninyo na bubukas ang langit, at makikita rin ninyo ang mga anghel ng Dios na umaakyat at bumababa sa akin na Anak ng Tao.”
Footnotes
- 1:5 kadiliman: Ang ibig sabihin, kasamaan.
- 1:5 hindi ito nadaig ng kadiliman: o, hindi ito naunawaan ng mga nasa kadiliman.
- 1:16 biyaya: Sa ibang salin ng Biblia, kagandahang-loob.
- 1:18 Bugtong na Anak: o, natatanging Anak.
- 1:18 kapiling ng Ama: o, minamahal ng Ama; o, laging kasama ng Ama; sa literal, nasa dibdib ng Ama.
- 1:23 Isa. 40:3.
- 1:24 o, Ang ilan sa mga inutusang pumunta kay Juan ay mga Pariseo.
- 1:27 Hindi … alipin niya: sa literal, Hindi man lang ako karapat-dapat na magkalag ng tali ng kanyang sandalyas.
- 1:42 Ang ibig sabihin ng Cefas o Pedro ay “Bato.”
- 1:47 hindi nandaraya: o, hindi nagsisinungaling.
John 1
New Century Version
Christ Comes to the World
1 In the beginning there was the Word.[a] The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were made by him, and nothing was made without him. 4 In him there was life, and that life was the light of all people. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered[b] it.
6 There was a man named John[c] who was sent by God. 7 He came to tell people the truth about the Light so that through him all people could hear about the Light and believe. 8 John was not the Light, but he came to tell people the truth about the Light. 9 The true Light that gives light to all was coming into the world!
10 The Word was in the world, and the world was made by him, but the world did not know him. 11 He came to the world that was his own, but his own people did not accept him. 12 But to all who did accept him and believe in him he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They did not become his children in any human way—by any human parents or human desire. They were born of God.
14 The Word became a human and lived among us. We saw his glory—the glory that belongs to the only Son of the Father—and he was full of grace and truth. 15 John tells the truth about him and cries out, saying, “This is the One I told you about: ‘The One who comes after me is greater than I am, because he was living before me.’”
16 Because he was full of grace and truth, from him we all received one gift after another. 17 The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But God the only Son is very close to the Father,[d] and he has shown us what God is like.
John Tells People About Jesus
19 Here is the truth John[e] told when the leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 John spoke freely and did not refuse to answer. He said, “I am not the Christ.”
21 So they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”[f]
He answered, “No, I am not.”
“Are you the Prophet?”[g] they asked.
He answered, “No.”
22 Then they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to tell those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 John told them in the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“I am the voice of one
calling out in the desert:
‘Make the road straight for the Lord.’” Isaiah 40:3
24 Some Pharisees who had been sent asked John: 25 “If you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet, why do you baptize people?”
26 John answered, “I baptize with water, but there is one here with you that you don’t know about. 27 He is the One who comes after me. I am not good enough to untie the strings of his sandals.”
28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing people.
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, “Look, the Lamb of God,[h] who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the One I was talking about when I said, ‘A man will come after me, but he is greater than I am, because he was living before me.’ 31 Even I did not know who he was, although I came baptizing with water so that the people of Israel would know who he is.”
32-33 Then John said, “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven in the form of a dove and rest on him. Until then I did not know who the Christ was. But the God who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘You will see the Spirit come down and rest on a man; he is the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen this happen, and I tell you the truth: This man is the Son of God.”[i]
The First Followers of Jesus
35 The next day John[j] was there again with two of his followers. 36 When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”[k]
37 The two followers heard John say this, so they followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following him, he asked, “What are you looking for?”
They said, “Rabbi, where are you staying?” (“Rabbi” means “Teacher.”)
39 He answered, “Come and see.” So the two men went with Jesus and saw where he was staying and stayed there with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
40 One of the two men who followed Jesus after they heard John speak about him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and say to him, “We have found the Messiah.” (“Messiah” means “Christ.”)
42 Then Andrew took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas.” (“Cephas” means “Peter.”[l])
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
44 Philip was from the town of Bethsaida, where Andrew and Peter lived. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the man that Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets also wrote about him. He is Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.”
46 But Nathanael said to Philip, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
Philip answered, “Come and see.”
47 As Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said, “Here is truly an Israelite. There is nothing false in him.”
48 Nathanael asked, “How do you know me?”
Jesus answered, “I saw you when you were under the fig tree, before Philip told you about me.”
49 Then Nathanael said to Jesus, “Teacher, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”
50 Jesus said to Nathanael, “Do you believe simply because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that.” 51 And Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and ‘angels of God going up and coming down’[m] on the Son of Man.”
Footnotes
- 1:1 Word The Greek word is “logos,” meaning any kind of communication; it could be translated “message.” Here, it means Christ, because Christ was the way God told people about himself.
- 1:5 overpowered This can also be translated, “understood.”
- 1:6 John John the Baptist, who preached to people about Christ’s coming (Matthew 3, Luke 3).
- 1:18 But . . . Father This could be translated, “But the only God is very close to the Father.” Also, some Greek copies read “But the only Son is very close to the Father.”
- 1:19 John John the Baptist, who preached to people about Christ’s coming (Matthew 3, Luke 3).
- 1:21 Elijah A prophet who spoke for God. He lived hundreds of years before Christ and was expected to return before Christ (Malachi 4:5–6).
- 1:21 Prophet They probably meant the prophet that God told Moses he would send (Deuteronomy 18:15–19).
- 1:29 Lamb of God Name for Jesus. Jesus is like the lambs that were offered for a sacrifice to God.
- 1:34 the Son of God Some Greek copies read “God’s Chosen One.”
- 1:35 John John the Baptist, who preached to people about Christ’s coming (Matthew 3, Luke 3).
- 1:36 Lamb of God Name for Jesus. Jesus is like the lambs that were offered for a sacrifice to God.
- 1:42 Peter The Greek name “Peter,” like the Aramaic name “Cephas,” means “rock.”
- 1:51 ‘angels . . . down’ These words are from Genesis 28:12.
John 1
New Catholic Bible
A New Creation[a]
In the Beginning Was the Word[b]
Chapter 1
The Word of God, Source of Life[c]
1 In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the very beginning.
3 Through him all things came into existence,
and without him there was nothing.
That which came to be
4 found life in him,
and the life was the light of the human race.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has been unable to overcome it.
Faith Means Welcoming the Word of God Made Man.[d] 6 A man appeared, sent by God, whose name was John.[e] 7 He came as a witness to give testimony to the light, so that through him all might come to believe. 8 He himself was not the light; his role was to bear witness to the light.
9 The true light that enlightens everyone
was coming into the world.
10 He was in the world,
the world had come into existence through him,
yet the world did not recognize him.
11 He came to his own,
but his own did not accept him.
12 However, to those who did accept him
and who believed in his name
he granted the power to become children of God,
13 who were born not from blood
or human desire or human will,
but from God.
14 And the Word became flesh
and dwelt among us.
And we saw his glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son,
full of grace and truth.
15 Jesus Christ, Fullness of Truth.[f] John testified to him, proclaiming, “This is the one of whom I said, ‘The one who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ ”
16 From his fullness we have all received,
grace upon grace.
17 For the Law was given through Moses,
but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God.
It is the only Son, God,
who is at the Father’s side,
who has made him known.
Jesus Is the Expected Messiah[g]
19 John the Baptist Is Not the Messiah.[h] This is the testimony offered by John when the Jews[i] 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.”[j] 21 Then they asked him, “Who then are you? Are you Elijah?”[k] He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 Therefore, they said to him, “Who are you, so we may have an answer to give to those who sent us? What do you have to say about yourself?” 23 He replied, in the words of the prophet Isaiah,
“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,
‘Make straight the way of the Lord.’ ”
24 Some Pharisees were present in this group, 25 and they asked him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water; but among you there is one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me. I am not worthy to loosen the strap of his sandal.” 28 This took place in Bethany, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 Behold, the Lamb of God, Who Takes Away the Sin of the World.[l] The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and he said,
“Behold, the Lamb of God,
who takes away the sin of the world.
30 This is the one of whom I said,
‘After me is coming one
who ranks ahead of me
because he existed before me.’
31 I myself did not know him,[m]
but the reason I came to baptize with water
was so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 John also gave this testimony, saying,
“I saw the Spirit
descending from heaven like a dove,
and it came to rest on him.[n]
33 I myself did not know him,
but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me,
‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest
is the one who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit.’[o]
34 And I myself have seen and have testified
that this is the Son of God.”
35 We Have Found the Messiah.[p] The next day John was standing there with two of his disciples, 36 and as he watched Jesus pass by, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” 37 On hearing him say this, the two disciples began to follow Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and saw them following him, he asked them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which, translated, is “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 He answered them, “Come and see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him for the rest of that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.[q]
40 One of the two who had heard John speak and had followed Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to seek out his brother Simon and say to him, “We have found the Messiah”[r] (which, translated, is “Christ”), 42 and he took him to Jesus. Jesus gazed at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas”[s] (which, translated, is “Peter”).
43 The next day Jesus[t] decided to go to Galilee. Encountering Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip came from the same town, Bethsaida,[u] as Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael[v] and said to him, “We have found the one about whom Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote—Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” 46 Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Philip replied, “Come and see.”
47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, “Behold, a true Israelite, in whom there is no deception.”[w] 48 Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip summoned you, when you were under the fig tree,[x] I saw you.” 49 Nathanael said to him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus responded, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that.” 51 Then he added, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see the heavens opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”[y]
Footnotes
- John 1:1 As believers contemplate Christ, they cannot but reflect on the fate of the universe and the destiny of the human race. They believe that creation is the work of God. In Jesus they see the Word who is of God and has come to renew creation. In the view of the evangelist, both the testimony of John the Baptist and the changing of water into wine at the wedding feast of Cana attest to this renewal.
These first texts seem to comprise a week in the life of Jesus, as if the author wanted to establish a parallel between the first week of creation and the new work of God in Jesus. - John 1:1 Rather than being an introduction, this well-known “Prologue of John” resembles an “overture.” The entire Gospel is summed up in a few lines and all its essential themes are brought together. The great conviction of faith is immediately proclaimed: Jesus is God who has entered into the world and history to save us. With this key in hand, it is possible to understand all that Jesus says and does. This majestic prelude, written in rhythmic prose, unfolds in three stages (1:1-5; 1:6-14; 1:15-18).
- John 1:1 In the first stage of the Prologue, we wonder at Jesus, the Word, whose person and existence infinitely transcend the world and history. We also call to mind creation, which is from the very outset an action of the Word, that is, of the creative Word of God, the divine Wisdom and source of life that makes the world exist (see Gen 1:1; Prov 8:22f.). At the same time, we proclaim the new creation, for the Word offers human beings a new life that comes from God and illumines their entire existence.
This Prologue is a hymn to the Word (in Latin, Verbum; in Greek, Logos). The term “Word” sums up and goes beyond everything that the Old Testament had glimpsed of the presence of God amid humanity by means of his Word; it includes and is superior to everything that the philosophy of the age could imagine regarding God’s reflection in the universe. - John 1:6 The second stage of the Prologue calls to mind the struggle of human beings against the light. John came, a man sent to announce the coming of the light to God’s own, that is, the people of Israel. But he was not the Messiah! In Jesus, and in Jesus alone, the very Word of God became flesh, in order that the gift of the Lord might be present among us, in our human existence.
- John 1:6 John, i.e., the Baptist.
- John 1:15 The third stage of the Prologue expresses our conviction. Human beings may await various messiahs and various revelations, but Jesus is the only true Christ foretold by the Law, that is, by the Old Testament. He is more than a new Moses, because in him the former covenant yields place to the new and definitive covenant. He is not only the extraordinary and only One Sent, but he is the Son, equal in every way to the Father (John gives us here the perfect formulation of the mystery of the incarnation).
- John 1:19 Right from the Prologue, Jesus Christ is present in this Gospel as the Word and the only-begotten Son of God. Jesus communicates his life to us and makes known to us his glory. We are present at a great trial. In this trial, Jesus appears as witness of the truth, he alone. John’s whole Gospel draws the reader, page after page, into this drama.
- John 1:19 At that time, there was lively expectation in Israel that the great personages of the past would reappear in order to prepare for the coming of the Messiah (in Greek: Christ) (see Deut 18:15; Sir 48:10-11; Mal 3:23).
The sudden popularity of John the Baptist alarms “the Jews,” i.e., all those who have authority. In the political circles of the priesthood, there is fear of uprisings; among the “pure,” i.e., the Pharisees, there is concern for the good observance of the practices of the Law. The response comes—public and confirmed by the prophet Isaiah (40:3): John is not the Messiah, but the Precursor who announces him. By contrast, here is a testimony to the unique role of Jesus. - John 1:19 The Jews: this phrase occurs more than 70 times in the fourth Gospel—sometimes in a favorable sense (Jn 4:20), others in a neutral sense, but most often in a pejorative sense referring to the leaders of the Jews who were hostile to Jesus (Jn 8:48, etc.). Here it means the delegation sent by the Sanhedrin to assess the activities of an unauthorized teacher.
- John 1:20 Christ: the Messiah, the anointed vicegerent of the Lord, usually regarded as the heir of David.
- John 1:21 Elijah: this prophet who had been carried away to heaven in a fiery chariot was expected to return to earth to announce the end time. The Prophet: i.e., the Prophet mentioned in Deut 18:15, 18, the one like Moses (see Acts 3:22), who was expected to be the Messiah and repeat the prodigies of the Exodus.
- John 1:29 John knows that he acts as a prophet gripped by the mission of God. And at the threshold of the Gospel, he presents the image of the lamb who will be evoked again at the end of the Passion. It is connected with the Jewish Passover and symbolizes the deliverance from Egypt (Ex 12:1-28); it also fits in with the portrait of the mysterious Servant of God, foretold by a prophet as an innocent victim led like a lamb to the slaughter, who was not only to atone for the sins of humanity but also to justify sinners (Isa 53:7, 11-12). It further recalls the great apocalyptic Lamb who would destroy evil in the world (Rev 5–7; 17:14).
- John 1:31 I myself did not know him: this may refer to the fact that John lived in the desert until he appeared publicly to Israel (see Lk 1:80) and thus did not know Jesus very well. It may also indicate that John did not know that Jesus was the Messiah until he saw the sign mentioned in vv. 32-33.
- John 1:32 For Jesus’ Baptism, see notes on Mt 3:13-17; 3:15; 3:17.
- John 1:33 The one who is to baptize with the Holy Spirit: John baptized with water, but Jesus would baptize with the Holy Spirit. We can see in this a reference to the sending of the Holy Spirit. In this Gospel that occurs on Easter Sunday (Jn 20:22).
- John 1:35 The movement of Jesus is separated from the movement of the Baptist. In the very first encounter, Jesus wins over Andrew, and perhaps the disciple who is not named was the beloved disciple, sufficiently interested in Andrew’s call to still remember the hour (v. 39). Jesus gives Simon a new name indicative of his future mission (see Mt 16:18); with authority he calls Philip, and he reads the heart of Nathanael. In this man so unexpected because of his lowly origin (v. 46), the disciples recognize the Messiah Israel expected. And Jesus unveils to them his mystery: Messiah of Israel, he is also the Son of Man who reunites heaven and earth in his kingdom. He is the sole mediator who gives access to the Father, as indicated in v. 51, an allusion to the dream of Jacob (see Gen 28:12).
The Gospel then offers us a meditation on the free gift and the happiness of being called by Jesus, a charter of the spiritual life. The dialogue with the first disciples lets us understand where Jesus leads those who follow him: there where he dwells at the side of the Father (see Jn 1:18). Intimacy with Christ, shared knowledge, and faith are the principal traits that describe the life of disciples. The Church must be the community where people share the certainty and the joy of having encountered Christ. - John 1:39 Four o’clock in the afternoon: literally, “the tenth hour” (from sunrise: 6:00 A.M.) in the Roman method of telling time.
- John 1:41 Messiah: Greek transliteration of the Hebrew word for “Anointed One,” which is used only here and in Jn 4:25 in this Gospel. The Greek translation Christos (“Christ”) appears everywhere else.
- John 1:42 Cephas in Aramaic signifies “stone, rock” (see Mt 16:18). It was not used at that time as a personal name. Peter: i.e., Petros, the Greek equivalent of Cephas.
- John 1:43 Jesus: literally, “he,” which could also refer to Peter.
- John 1:44 Bethsaida: on the northern shore of Lake Tiberias.
- John 1:45 Nathanael was certainly the apostle Bartholomew; see Mt 10:3.
- John 1:47 A true Israelite, in whom there is no deception: this phrase recalls the fact that Jacob was the first to bear the name “Israel” (Gen 32:29), but he was an “Israelite” in whom there was deception (Gen 27:35-36).
- John 1:48 Under the fig tree: a phrase signifying Messianic peace (see Mic 4:4; Zec 3:10).
- John 1:51 Son of Man: see note on Mt 8:20 for the use of this term in the New Testament. In John, it occurs 13 times and is commonly associated with themes of crucifixion and suffering (Jn 3:14; 8:28) and revelation (Jn 6:27, 53) as well as eschatological authority (Jn 5:27; 9:39).
John 1
Revised Standard Version
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God; 3 all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
9 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,[b] 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.
The Lamb of God
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness, “I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
The First Disciples of Jesus
35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter[c]).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Beth-sa′ida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathan′a-el, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathan′a-el said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathan′a-el coming to him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” 48 Nathan′a-el said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathan′a-el answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”
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The Holy Bible, New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.