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Christ Comes to the World

In the beginning [Gen. 1:1] ·there was the Word [the Word already existed; C the Word refers to Christ, God’s revelation of himself]. The Word was ·with [in the presence of; in intimate relationship with] God [C the Father], and the Word was [fully] God. He was ·with [in the presence of; in intimate relationship with] God in the beginning. All things ·were made [were created; came to be] ·by [through] him, and nothing ·was made [came to be] without him [Prov. 8:22–31]. ·In him there was life [or What was made through him was life], and that life was the light of all people. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not ·overpowered [defeated; or understood; comprehended] it.

There was a man named John [C the Baptist; Matt. 3; Luke 3] who was sent by God. He came to ·tell people the truth [testify; bear witness] about the Light so that ·through him all people could hear about the Light and believe [L everyone might believe through him]. John was not the Light, but he came to ·tell people the truth [testify; bear witness] about the Light. * The true Light that ·gives light to [shines on; illuminates; enlightens] all [people] was coming into the world! [or The true Light gives light to all who have come into the world.]

10 ·The Word [L He] was in the world, and the world ·was made [was created; came into being] ·by [through] him, but the world did not ·know [recognize] him. 11 He came to ·the world that was his own [or his own country; L that which was his own], but his own people did not ·accept [receive] him. 12 But to all who did ·accept [receive] him and believe ·in him [L in his name; C the name indicating the character of the person] he gave the ·right [power; authority] to become children of God. 13 They did not become his children ·in any human way [by natural descent; by physical birth; L by blood]—by ·any human parents [human passion/decision; L desire/will of the flesh] or ·human desire [a husband’s decision; L desire/will of a man/husband]. They were born of God.

14 The Word became ·a human [T flesh] and ·lived [made his home; pitched his tabernacle; C God’s glorious presence dwelt in Israel’s tabernacle in the wilderness] among us. We saw his ·glory [majesty]—the glory that belongs to the ·only Son [one and only; T only begotten] ·of [who came from] the Father—and he was full of ·grace and truth [God’s gracious love and faithfulness; Ex. 34:5–7]. 15 John ·tells the truth about [testifies concerning; witnesses about] him and cries out, saying, “This is the One I told you about: ‘The One who comes after me [C in time] is greater than I am, because he ·was living [existed] before me [C a reference to Christ’s preexistence; 1:1–2].’”

16 ·Because he was full of grace and truth [L From his fullness; 1:14], from him we all received ·one gift after another [L grace for grace; C this could mean abundant grace or that the grace under Christ replaced grace under the law]. 17 The law was given through Moses [Ex. 19—24], but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God [C God the Father, who is pure spirit; 4:24]. But ·God the only Son[a] [God the one and only; the only Son who is himself God; T God the only begotten] is ·very close to [by the side of; close to the heart of; T in the bosom of] the Father, and he has ·shown us what God is like [made him known].

John the Baptist Tells People About Jesus(A)

19 Here is the ·truth John told [testimony John gave; witness of John; 1:6] when the ·leaders [Jewish leadership; L Jews; C John often uses the term “Jews” to refer to the religious leaders in opposition to Jesus, rather than to the Jewish people generally] in Jerusalem sent ·priests and Levites [C the religious authorities; priests oversaw temple worship; Levites were members of the tribe of Levi who assisted them; 1 Chr. 23:24–32] to ask him, “Who are you?”

20 John ·spoke freely [confessed] and did not ·refuse to answer [deny it]. He said, “I am not the ·Christ [Messiah].”

21 So they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” [C Elijah, an OT prophet, was expected to come back before the Messiah; 1 Kin. 17—2 Kin. 2; Mal. 4:5–6.]

He answered, “No, I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?” [C the Prophet like Moses predicted in Deut. 18:15–19] 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 [wilderness]:
‘Make ·the road straight [a clear path] for the Lord [Is. 40:3].’”

24 Some Pharisees [C a religious party which strictly observed OT laws and later customs] who had been sent asked John: 25 “If you are not the ·Christ [Messiah] or Elijah or the Prophet [1:21], 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 [recognize]. 27 He is the One who comes after me. I am not ·good enough [worthy; fit] to untie the ·strings [straps] of his sandals.” [C Removing sandals was the task of a slave.]

28 This all happened at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan River [C a site east of the Jordan River, not the Bethany near Jerusalem], where John was baptizing people.

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. John said, “Look, the Lamb of God [C lambs were used for sacrifice; Gen. 22:8], who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the One I was talking about [1:15] when I said, ‘A man will come after me, but he is greater than I am, because he ·was living [existed] before me.’ 31 Even I did not ·know [recognize] who he was, although I came baptizing with water so that ·the people of Israel would know who he is [he might be revealed to Israel].”

Then John ·said [testified; bore witness], “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven in the form of a dove and ·rest [remain] on him. Until then I did not know ·who the Christ was [or he was the one; L him]. But the God who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘You will see the Spirit come down and ·rest [remain] 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 [testify; bear witness]: This man is the Son of God.”[b]

The First Followers of Jesus

35 The next day John [C the Baptist; 1:6] was [standing] there again with two of his ·followers [disciples]. 36 When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God [see 1:29]!”

37 The two ·followers [disciples] 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 [L the tenth hour; C hours were counted from dawn, about 6 AM].

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.”) [C Both Hebrew Mashiach (Messiah) and Greek Christos (Christ) mean “Anointed One.”]

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.”) [C Both Aramaic Cephas and Greek Petros mean “rock.”]

43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee [C a region about 50 miles north of Jerusalem]. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me [C as a disciple].”

44 Philip was from the town of Bethsaida [C a town just to the north of the Sea of Galilee], 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. [C The law and the prophets refer to the OT Scriptures.] He is Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth [C a village a few miles southwest of the Sea of Galilee].”

46 But Nathanael said to Philip, “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” [C This is because of its insignificance and lack of mention in the OT.]

Philip answered, “Come and see.”

47 As Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said, “Here is truly an Israelite. There is ·nothing false [no deceit; no guile] 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 [L called you].”

49 Then Nathanael said to Jesus, “Teacher [L Rabbi], 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 [L Truly, truly I say to you], you will all see heaven open and ‘angels of God going up and coming down’ [C a reference to Jacob’s dream in Gen. 28:12] on the Son of Man [C a title for the Messiah; Dan. 7:13–14].”

Footnotes

  1. John 1:18 But … Father Some Greek copies read “But the only Son.”
  2. John 1:34 the Son of God Some Greek copies read “God’s Chosen One.”

In en the beginning archē was eimi the ho Word logos, and kai the ho Word logos was eimi with pros · ho God theos, and kai the ho Word logos was eimi God theos. He houtos was eimi in en the beginning archē with pros · ho God theos. All pas things were created ginomai by dia him autos, and kai apart chōris from him autos not oude a single thing heis was created ginomai that hos has been created ginomai. In en him autos was eimi life zōē, and kai that ho life zōē was eimi the ho light phōs of ho men anthrōpos. · kai The ho light phōs shines on phainō in en the ho darkness skotia, and kai the ho darkness skotia has katalambanō not ou understood katalambanō it autos.

There came ginomai on the scene a man anthrōpos sent apostellō from para God theos, whose autos name onoma was John Iōannēs. He houtos came erchomai as eis a witness martyria to hina bear testimony martyreō about peri the ho light phōs so that hina everyone pas might believe pisteuō through dia him autos. He ekeinos was eimi not ou the ho light phōs, but alla came to hina bear testimony martyreō about peri the ho light phōs. The ho true alēthinos light phōs, · ho which hos enlightens phōtizō everyone pas anthrōpos, was eimi coming erchomai into eis the ho world kosmos.

10 He was eimi in en the ho world kosmos, and kai the ho world kosmos was created ginomai by dia him autos, but kai the ho world kosmos did ginōskō not ou know ginōskō him autos. 11 He came erchomai to eis that ho which was his idios own , but kai his ho own idios people did paralambanō not ou accept paralambanō him autos. 12 But de as many hosos as did accept lambanō him autos, to them autos he gave didōmi the right exousia to become ginomai children teknon of God theos, to those ho who believe pisteuō in eis · ho his autos name onoma, 13 who hos were born gennaō, not ou from ek human haima stock or oude from ek a physical sarx impulse thelēma or oude by ek a husband’ s anēr decision thelēma, but alla by ek God theos.

14 And kai the ho Word logos became ginomai flesh sarx and kai dwelt skēnoō among en us hēmeis, and kai we gazed theaomai on · ho his autos glory doxa, glory doxa as hōs of the only monogenēs Son from para the Father patēr, full plērēs of grace charis and kai truth alētheia. 15 John Iōannēs testified martyreō about peri him autos and kai cried krazō out , saying legō, “ This houtos is eimi he of whom hos I said legō, ‘ He ho who comes erchomai after opisō me egō is ginomai greater emprosthen than I egō, because hoti he existed eimi before prōtos me egō.’” 16 For hoti from ek · ho his autos fulness plērōma we hēmeis have all pas received lambanō · kai one gracious charis gift after anti another charis. 17 For hoti the ho law nomos was given didōmi through dia Moses Mōysēs; · ho grace charis and kai · ho truth alētheia came ginomai through dia Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos. 18 No one oudeis has horaō ever pōpote seen horaō God theos. The only monogenēs Son , himself God theos, the ho one who is eimi in eis the ho bosom kolpos of the ho Father patēr, he ekeinos has made him known exēgeomai.

19 And kai this houtos is eimi the ho testimony martyria of ho John Iōannēs, when hote the ho Jews Ioudaios sent apostellō priests hiereus and kai Levites Leuitēs to pros him autos from ek Jerusalem Hierosolyma to hina ask erōtaō him autos, “ Who tis are eimi you sy?” 20 · kai He confessed homologeō and kai did not ou deny arneomai, but kai confessed homologeō, “ I egō am eimi not ou the ho Christ Christos.” 21 So kai they asked erōtaō him autos, “ Then oun who tis are you sy? Are you eimi Elijah ēlias?” And kai he said legō, “ I am eimi not ou.” “ Are eimi you sy the ho Prophet prophētēs?” And kai he replied apokrinomai, “ No ou.” 22 Then oun they said legō to him autos, “ Who tis are eimi you ? Tell us so hina we can give didōmi an answer apokrisis to those ho who sent pempō us hēmeis. What tis do you say legō about peri yourself seautou?” 23 He said phēmi, “ I egō am the voice phōnē of one crying boaō out in en the ho wilderness erēmos, ‘ Make straight euthunō the ho way hodos for the Lord kyrios,’ as kathōs Isaiah ēsaias the ho prophet prophētēs said legō.”

24 Now kai those who had been eimi sent apostellō out included some ek · ho Pharisees Pharisaios. 25 So kai they asked erōtaō him autos, · kai saying legō, “ Why tis then oun are you baptizing baptizō, if ei you sy are eimi not ou the ho Christ Christos, nor oude Elijah ēlias, nor oude the ho Prophet prophētēs?” 26 John Iōannēs answered apokrinomai them autos, · ho saying legō, “ I egō baptize baptizō with en water hydōr, but there stands stēkō among mesos you hymeis one whom hos you hymeis do not ou know oida, 27 the ho one coming erchomai after opisō me egō; I egō am eimi not ou worthy axios to hina untie lyō the ho thong himas of ho his autos sandals hypodēma.” 28 This houtos took place ginomai in en Bethany Bēthania on the far peran side of the ho Jordan Iordanēs where hopou John Iōannēs was eimi · ho baptizing baptizō.

29 On the ho following epaurion day John saw blepō · ho Jesus Iēsous coming erchomai toward pros him autos and kai said legō, “ Behold ide, the ho Lamb amnos of ho God theos, the ho one who takes airō away the ho sin hamartia of the ho world kosmos! 30 This houtos is eimi he of hyper whom hos I egō said legō, ‘ After opisō me egō comes erchomai a man anēr who hos is ginomai greater emprosthen than I egō, because hoti he existed eimi before prōtos me egō.’ 31 I kagō myself did not ou know oida him autos; but alla I egō came erchomai baptizing baptizō with en water hydōr for dia this reason houtos, that hina he might be revealed phaneroō to ho Israel Israēl.” 32 Then kai John Iōannēs testified martyreō, saying legō, “ I saw theaomai the ho Spirit pneuma coming katabainō down as hōs a dove peristera from ek heaven ouranos, and kai it remained menō on epi him autos. 33 I kagō myself did not ou know oida him autos, but alla the ho one who sent pempō me egō to baptize baptizō with en water hydōr said legō to me egō, ‘The one on epi whom hos you see the ho Spirit pneuma descending katabainō and kai remaining menō on epi him autos, it is eimi he houtos who ho will baptize baptizō with en the Holy hagios Spirit pneuma.’ 34 I kagō myself saw horaō it, and kai I bear witness martyreō that hoti this houtos man is eimi the ho Chosen One eklektos of ho God theos.”

35 Again palin, on the ho following epaurion day , John Iōannēs was standing histēmi · ho there with kai two dyo of ek · ho his autos disciples mathētēs. 36 · kai Looking emblepō intently at · ho Jesus Iēsous as he walked peripateō about , John said legō, “ Behold ide, the ho Lamb amnos of ho God theos!” 37 · kai The ho two dyo disciples mathētēs heard akouō him autos say laleō this, and kai they followed akoloutheō · ho Jesus Iēsous. 38 When Jesus Iēsous turned strephō around · de · ho and kai saw theaomai them autos following akoloutheō him, he said legō to them autos, “ What tis do you want zēteō?” They ho · de said legō to him autos, “ Rabbi rhabbi” ( which hos translated methermēneuō means legō Teacher didaskalos”), “ where pou are you staying menō?” 39 He said legō to them autos, “ Come erchomai and kai you will see horaō.” So oun they went erchomai and kai saw where pou he was staying menō, and kai they remained menō with para him autos · ho that ekeinos day hēmera, for it was eimi about hōs the tenth dekatos hour hōra. 40 Andrew Andreas, the ho brother adelphos of Simon Simōn Peter Petros, was eimi one heis of ek the ho two dyo disciples who ho heard akouō John Iōannēs and kai followed akoloutheō Jesus autos. 41 The first thing prōton he houtos did was to find heuriskō · ho his own idios brother adelphos · ho Simon Simōn and kai say legō to him autos, “ We have found heuriskō the ho Messiah Messias!” ( which hos is eimi translated methermēneuō Christ Christos”). 42 He brought agō him autos to pros · ho Jesus Iēsous. Jesus Iēsous looked emblepō at him autos · ho intently and said legō, “ You sy are eimi Simon Simōn, the ho son hyios of John Iōannēs; you sy will be called kaleō Cephas Kēphas” ( which hos is translated hermēneuō Peter Petros”).

43 The ho following epaurion day Jesus decided thelō to go exerchomai to eis · ho Galilee Galilaia, and kai he met heuriskō Philip Philippos. And kai Jesus Iēsous said legō to him autos, · ho Follow akoloutheō me egō.” 44 Now de Philip Philippos was eimi · ho from apo Bethsaida Bēthsaida, the ho town polis of Andrew Andreas and kai Peter Petros. 45 Philip Philippos found heuriskō · ho Nathanael Nathanaēl and kai told legō him autos, “ We have found heuriskō the one of whom hos Moses Mōysēs wrote graphō in en the ho law nomos, and kai of whom the ho prophets prophētēs wrote— Jesus Iēsous, the son hyios of ho Joseph Iōsēph, a man ho from apo Nazareth Nazaret.” 46 And kai Nathanael Nathanaēl said legō to him autos, “ Can dynamai anything tis good agathos come eimi out ek of Nazareth Nazaret?” Philip Philippos said legō to him autos, · ho Come erchomai and kai see ide.” 47 Jesus Iēsous saw · ho · ho Nathanael Nathanaēl coming erchomai toward pros him autos and kai said legō of peri him autos, “ Here ide is a true alēthōs Israelite Israēlitēs, one in en whom hos there is eimi no ou deceit dolos!” 48 Nathanael Nathanaēl asked legō him autos, “ How pothen did you get to know ginōskō me egō?” Jesus Iēsous answered apokrinomai him autos, · kai saying legō, “ Before pro · ho Philip Philippos called phōneō you sy, while you were eimi still under hypo the ho fig sykē tree , I saw you sy.” 49 Nathanael Nathanaēl declared apokrinomai to him autos, “ Rabbi rhabbi, you sy are eimi the ho Son hyios of ho God theos! You sy are eimi the king basileus of ho Israel Israēl!” 50 Jesus Iēsous responded apokrinomai, · kai saying legō to him autos, “Is it because hoti I told legō you sy that hoti I saw you sy under hypokatō the ho fig sykē tree that you believe pisteuō? You will see horaō greater megas things than that houtos.” 51 Then kai he said legō to him autos, “ I tell legō you hymeis the solemn amēn truth amēn: you will see horaō · ho heaven ouranos standing anoigō open and kai the ho angels angelos of ho God theos ascending anabainō and kai descending katabainō on epi the ho Son hyios of ho Man anthrōpos.”