John 1:1-34

Christian Standard Bible

Prologue

1 In the beginning^(A) was the Word,^(B) and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.^{(C) 2} He was with God in the beginning.^{(D) 3} All things were created^(E) through him,^(F) and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. ⁴ In him was life,^[a](G) and that life was the light^(H) of men. ⁵ That light shines^(I) in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome^[b] it.^(J)

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John.^{(K) 7} He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe through him.^{[c] 8} He was not the light, but he came to testify^(L) about the light. ⁹ The true light^(M) that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.^[d](N)

¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was created^(O) through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive^(P) him,^(Q) he gave them the right^(R) to be^[e] children^(S) of God,^(T) to those who believe^(U) in his name,^{(V) 13} who were born,^(W) not of natural descent,^[f] or of the will^(X) of the flesh,^(Y) or of the will of man,^[g] but of God.^(Z)

¹⁴ The Word^(AA) became flesh^(AB) and dwelt^[h] among us. We observed his glory,^(AC) the glory as the one and only^(AD) Son^[i] from the Father, full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me^(AE) ranks ahead of me,^(AF) because he existed before me.’”)^{(AG) 16} Indeed, we have all received grace^(AH) upon^[j] grace from his fullness, ¹⁷ for the law was given through Moses;^(AI) grace and truth^(AJ) came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God. The one and only^(AK) Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s^(AL) side^[k]—he has revealed him.^(AM)

John the Baptist’s Testimony

¹⁹ This was John’s testimony when the Jews from Jerusalem^(AN) sent priests^(AO) and Levites^(AP) to ask him, “Who are you?”

²⁰ He didn’t deny it but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”^(AQ)

²¹ “What then?” they asked him. “Are you Elijah?” ^(AR)

“I am not,” he said.

“Are you the Prophet?” ^(AS)

“No,” he answered.

²² “Who are you, then?” they asked. “We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What can you tell us about yourself?”

²³ He said, “I am a voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord^[l](AT)—just as Isaiah^(AU) the prophet said.”

²⁴ Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.^{(AV) 25} So they asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you aren’t the Messiah, or Elijah, or the Prophet?”

²⁶ “I baptize with^[m] water,”^(AW) John answered them. “Someone stands among you, but you don’t know him. ²⁷ He is the one coming after me,^[n](AX) whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie.” ²⁸ All this happened in Bethany^[o] across the Jordan,^(AY) where John was baptizing.

The Lamb of God

²⁹ The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God,^(AZ) who takes away the sin^(BA) of the world! ³⁰ This is the one I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ³¹ I didn’t know him,^(BB) but I came baptizing with water so that he might be revealed^(BC) to Israel.” ³² And John testified, “I saw the Spirit^(BD) descending from heaven like a dove, and he rested on him.^{(BE) 33} I didn’t know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The one you see the Spirit descending and resting on—he is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’^{(BF) 34} I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”^[p](BG)