John 1
New Living Translation
Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word
1 In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He existed in the beginning with God.
3 God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4 The Word gave life to everything that was created,[a]
and his life brought light to everyone.
5 The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.[b]
6 God sent a man, John the Baptist,[c] 7 to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8 John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9 The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11 He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12 But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13 They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.
14 So the Word became human[d] and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.[e] And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”
16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.[f] 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God,[g] is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
The Testimony of John the Baptist
19 This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants[h] from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” 20 He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 “Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”
“No,” he replied.
“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”[i]
“No.”
22 “Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?”
23 John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:
“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,
‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”[j]
24 Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25 asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?”
26 John told them, “I baptize with[k] water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. 27 Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.”
28 This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.
Jesus, the Lamb of God
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.”
32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.[l]”
The First Disciples
35 The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. 36 As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” 37 When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus.
38 Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them.
They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
39 “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. 41 Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ”[m]).
42 Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter”[n]).
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” 44 Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown.
45 Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses[o] and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.”
46 “Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?”
“Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied.
47 As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.”
48 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked.
Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.”
49 Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” 51 Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.[p]”
Footnotes
- 1:3-4 Or and nothing that was created was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything.
- 1:5 Or and the darkness has not understood it.
- 1:6 Greek a man named John.
- 1:14a Greek became flesh.
- 1:14b Or grace and truth; also in 1:17.
- 1:16 Or received the grace of Christ rather than the grace of the law; Greek reads received grace upon grace.
- 1:18 Some manuscripts read But the one and only Son.
- 1:19 Greek and Levites.
- 1:21 Greek Are you the Prophet? See Deut 18:15, 18; Mal 4:5-6.
- 1:23 Isa 40:3.
- 1:26 Or in; also in 1:31, 33.
- 1:34 Some manuscripts read the Son of God.
- 1:41 Messiah (a Hebrew term) and Christ (a Greek term) both mean “anointed one.”
- 1:42 The names Cephas (from Aramaic) and Peter (from Greek) both mean “rock.”
- 1:45 Greek Moses in the law.
- 1:51 Greek going up and down on the Son of Man; see Gen 28:10-17. “Son of Man” is a title Jesus used for himself.
John 1
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament
1 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. 2 He houtos was eimi in en the beginning archē with pros · ho God theos. 3 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. 4 In en him autos was eimi life zōē, and kai that ho life zōē was eimi the ho light phōs of ho men anthrōpos. 5 · 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.
6 There came ginomai on the scene a man anthrōpos sent apostellō from para God theos, whose autos name onoma was John Iōannēs. 7 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. 8 He ekeinos was eimi not ou the ho light phōs, but alla came to hina bear testimony martyreō about peri the ho light phōs. 9 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.”
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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