John 1
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
The Word Was With God, And The Word Was God. He Is The Light Shining In The Darkness
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 This One was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came-into-being[a] through Him, and apart from Him not even one thing came into being which[b] has come-into-being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. 5 And the light is shining in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome[c] it.
John Was Sent By God To Bear Witness To The Light In Order That All Might Believe
6 There came-to-be[d] a man, having been sent-forth from God. The name for him was John. 7 This one came for a testimony— in order that he might testify concerning the Light, in order that all might believe through him. 8 That one was not the Light, but came in order that he might testify concerning the Light— 9 the true[e] Light which gives-light-to[f] every person was coming into the world.
The World Did Not Accept The Light, But All Who Did Became Children of God
10 He was in the world, and the world came-into-being through Him, and the world did not know[g] Him. 11 He came to His own things, and His own ones did not accept Him. 12 But all who did receive Him, He gave them— the ones believing in His name— the right[h] to become children of God, 13 who were born not of bloods[i], nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a husband, but of God[j].
The Word Became Flesh And We Saw His Unique Glory. John Bore Witness To Him
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt[k] among us, and we saw His glory— glory as of the only-born[l] from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John testifies concerning Him, and has cried-out saying, “This One was the One of Whom I said, ‘The One coming after me has become ahead of me, because He was before me’”.
We All Received From The Fullness of Grace And Truth He Brought
16 Because we all received from His fullness— even grace upon grace. 17 Because the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The Only-Born God Revealed The Father To Us
18 No one has ever seen God; the only-born[m] God, the One being[n] in the bosom of the Father— that One expounded[o] Him.
John Came Baptizing To Make Straight The Way of The Lord, As Isaiah Prophesied
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews from Jerusalem sent-out priests and Levites to him in order that they might ask him, “Who are you?”, 20 and he confessed and did not deny. And he confessed that “I am not the Christ”, 21 and they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he says, “I am not”. “Are you the[p] Prophet?” And he answered, “No”. 22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, in order that we may give an answer to the ones having sent us? What do you say about yourself ?” 23 He said, “I am the ‘voice of one shouting in the wilderness: “Make-straight the way of the Lord”’, just as Isaiah the prophet said [in Isa 40:3]”. 24 And they[q] had been sent-out from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26 John responded to them saying, “I am baptizing with[r] water. Amidst you stands One Whom you do not know— 27 the One coming after me, of Whom I am not worthy that I may untie the strap of His sandal”. 28 These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
John Identifies Jesus As The Son of God Sent To Take Away The Sin of The World
29 On the next day he sees Jesus coming toward him. And he says, “Look— the Lamb of God, the One taking-away the sin of the world. 30 This One is the One about Whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me Who has become ahead of me, because He was before me’. 31 And I did not know Him. But I came baptizing with water for this reason— that He might be revealed to Israel”. 32 And John testified, saying that “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven. And He remained upon Him. 33 And I did not know Him. But the One having sent me to baptize with water, that One said to me, ‘Upon whomever you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him— this One is the One baptizing with[s] the Holy Spirit’. 34 And I have seen, and have testified that this One is the Son of God”.
John Points His Disciples To The Lamb of God. Andrew And Peter Find The Messiah
35 On the next day John was again standing there, and two of his disciples. 36 And having looked at Jesus walking, he says, “Look— the Lamb of God”. 37 And the two disciples heard him speaking, and followed Jesus. 38 And Jesus, having turned and seen them following, says to them, “What are you seeking?” And the ones said to Him, “Rabbi (which being translated means “Teacher”), where are You staying?” 39 He says to them, “Come, and you will see”. So they went, and saw where He was staying, and stayed with Him that day. The hour was about the tenth[t]. 40 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two having heard it from John, and having followed Him. 41 This one first finds his own brother Simon, and says to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which being translated is “Christ”). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Having looked-at him, Jesus said, “You are Simon, the son of John. You will be called Cephas[u]” (which is translated “Peter”).
Jesus Finds Philip, Who Finds Nathanael. They Follow The Son of God, The King of Israel
43 On the next day He wanted[v] to go forth to Galilee. And He finds Philip. And Jesus says to him, “Be following Me”. 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip finds Nathanael and says to him, “We have found the One of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and the Prophets wrote— Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth”. 46 And Nathanael said to him, “Is anything good able to be out of Nazareth?” Philip says to him, “Come and see”. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and says about him, “Look— truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit”. 48 Nathanael says to Him, “From where do You know me?” Jesus responded and said to him, “Before Philip called you, while being[w] under the fig tree, I saw you”. 49 Nathanael responded to Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel”. 50 Jesus responded and said to him, “Do[x] you believe because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these!” 51 And He says to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you[y] all, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man”.
Footnotes
- John 1:3 Or, became existent, were made.
- John 1:3 being which has. Or, being. What has come-into-being in Him was life.
- John 1:5 Or, overtake, overpower. All the forces of darkness did not overcome the Light. Or, grasp, comprehend. The darkness (unbelieving people) did not understand the Light.
- John 1:6 Or, arose.
- John 1:9 Light— the true Light. Or, Light. There was the true Light which, coming into the world, gives-light-to every person.
- John 1:9 Or, illuminates.
- John 1:10 Or, recognize, acknowledge.
- John 1:12 Or, authority, capability.
- John 1:13 That is, bloodlines, human parents.
- John 1:13 That is, in a second birth.
- John 1:14 Or, lived.
- John 1:14 Or, one-and-only, one-of-his-kind, unique one. He had a unique glory. The emphasis may be on His glory as God’s eternal Son, or as God’s incarnate Son.
- John 1:18 That is, the unique, one-of-a-kind Deity, the Word who was God (v 1) who became flesh (v 14), the only God-man, expounded the Father to us. The emphasis is on His self-identity. ‘Only-born Son’ (3:16, 18) emphasizes His unique relationship to His Father. Or, ‘the unique One, [Himself] God.’
- John 1:18 That is, presently; or, eternally.
- John 1:18 Or, described, explained.
- John 1:21 That is, the one like Moses, Deut 18:15-19.
- John 1:24 Or, some.
- John 1:26 Or, in.
- John 1:33 Or, in.
- John 1:39 That is, 4 p.m. Jewish time; or, 10 a.m. Roman time.
- John 1:42 This Aramaic name means ‘rock’, as does the Greek name ‘Peter’.
- John 1:43 Or, intended.
- John 1:48 That is, while you (Nathanael) were.
- John 1:50 Or, You believe... tree!
- John 1:51 This word is plural.
John 1
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
1 In the beginning [before all time] was the Word ([a]Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God [b]Himself.(A)
2 He was present originally with God.
3 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.
4 In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.
5 And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].
6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.(B)
7 This man came to witness, that he might testify of the Light, that all men might believe in it [adhere to it, trust it, and rely upon it] through him.
8 He was not the Light himself, but came that he might bear witness regarding the Light.
9 There it was—the true Light [was then] coming into the world [the genuine, perfect, steadfast Light] that illumines every person.(C)
10 He came into the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him [did not know Him].
11 He came to that which belonged to Him [to His own—His domain, creation, things, world], and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him.
12 But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—(D)
13 Who owe their birth neither to [c]bloods nor to the will of the flesh [that of physical impulse] nor to the will of man [that of a natural father], but to God. [They are born of God!]
14 And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.(E)
15 John testified about Him and cried out, This was He of Whom I said, He Who comes after me has priority over me, for He was before me. [He takes rank above me, for He existed before I did. He has advanced before me, because He is my Chief.]
16 For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.
17 For while the Law was given through Moses, grace ([d]unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.(F)
18 No man has ever seen God at any time; the only [e]unique Son, or [f]the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom [in the intimate presence] of the Father, He has declared Him [He has revealed Him and brought Him out where He can be seen; He has interpreted Him and He has made Him known].(G)
19 And this is the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you?
20 He confessed (admitted the truth) and did not try to conceal it, but acknowledged, I am not the Christ!
21 They asked him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he said, I am not! Are you the Prophet? And he answered, No!(H)
22 Then they said to him, Who are you? Tell us, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?
23 He said, I am the voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness [the voice of one shouting in the desert], Prepare the way of the Lord [level, straighten out, the path of the Lord], as the prophet Isaiah said.(I)
24 The messengers had been sent from the Pharisees.
25 And they asked him, Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?
26 John answered them, I [only] baptize [g]in (with) water. Among you there stands One Whom you do not recognize and with Whom you are not acquainted and of Whom you know nothing.(J)
27 It is He Who, coming after me, is preferred before me, the string of Whose sandal I am not worthy to unloose.
28 These things occurred in Bethany (Bethabara) across the Jordan [[h]at the Jordan crossing], where John was then baptizing.
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!(K)
30 This is He of Whom I said, After me comes a Man Who has priority over me [Who takes rank above me] because He was before me and existed before I did.
31 And I did not know Him and did not recognize Him [myself]; but it is in order that He should be made manifest and be revealed to Israel [be brought out where we can see Him] that I came baptizing [i]in (with) water.
32 John gave further evidence, saying, I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and it dwelt on Him [never to depart].
33 And I did not know Him nor recognize Him, but He Who sent me to baptize [j]in (with) water said to me, Upon Him Whom you shall see the Spirit descend and remain, that One is He Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.
34 And I have seen [that happen—I actually did see it] and my testimony is that this is the Son of God!
35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,
36 And he looked at Jesus as He walked along, and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God!
37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Him.
38 But Jesus turned, and as He saw them following Him, He said to them, What are you looking for? [And what is it you wish?] And they answered Him, Rabbi—which translated is Teacher—where are You staying?
39 He said to them, Come and see. So they went and saw where He was staying, and they remained with Him [k] that day. It was then about the tenth hour (about four o’clock in the afternoon).
40 One of the two who heard what John said and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
41 He first sought out and found his own brother Simon and said to him, We have found (discovered) the Messiah!—which translated is the Christ (the Anointed One).
42 Andrew then led (brought) Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, You are Simon son of John. You shall be called Cephas—which translated is Peter [Stone].
43 The next day Jesus desired and decided to go into Galilee; and He found Philip and said to him, Join Me as My attendant and follow Me.
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the same city as Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip sought and found Nathanael and told him, We have found (discovered) the One Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote about—Jesus from Nazareth, the [legal] son of Joseph!
46 Nathanael answered him, [Nazareth!] Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip replied, Come and see!
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said concerning him, See! Here is an Israelite indeed [a true descendant of Jacob], in whom there is no guile nor deceit nor falsehood nor duplicity!
48 Nathanael said to Jesus, How do You know me? [How is it that You know these things about me?] Jesus answered him, Before [ever] Philip called you, when you were still under the fig tree, I saw you.
49 Nathanael answered, Teacher, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!
50 Jesus replied, Because I said to you, I saw you beneath the fig tree, do you believe in and rely on and trust in Me? You shall see greater things than this!
51 Then He said to him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you all, you shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man!(L)
Footnotes
- John 1:1 In John’s vision (Rev. 19), he sees Christ returning as Warrior-Messiah-King, and “the title by which He is called is The Word of God... and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:13, 16).
- John 1:1 Charles B. Williams, The New Testament: A Translation in the Language of the People: “God” appears first in the Greek word order in this phrase, denoting emphasis—so “God Himself.”
- John 1:13 Literal translation.
- John 1:17 Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament.
- John 1:18 James Moulton and George Milligan, The Vocabulary of the Greek Testament.
- John 1:18 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies in the New Testament: This reading is supported by “a great mass of ancient evidence.”
- John 1:26 The Greek can be translated “with” or “in;” also in verses 31 and 33. The kjv prefers “with,” while the asv prefers “in.”
- John 1:28 George M. Lamsa, The New Testament According to the Ancient Text.
- John 1:31 See footnote on John 1:26.
- John 1:33 See footnote on John 1:26.
- John 1:39 George M. Lamsa, Gospel Light from the Aramaic: In accordance with Oriental hospitality, the guests would be invited to remain that night also.
John 1
New King James Version
The Eternal Word(A)
1 In the beginning (B)was the Word, and the (C)Word was (D)with God, and the Word was (E)God. 2 (F)He was in the beginning with God. 3 (G)All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 (H)In Him was life, and (I)the life was the light of men. 5 And (J)the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not [a]comprehend it.
John’s Witness: The True Light
6 There was a (K)man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a (L)witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might (M)believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that (N)Light. 9 (O)That[b] was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and (P)the world did not know Him. 11 (Q)He came to His [c]own, and His [d]own did not receive Him. 12 But (R)as many as received Him, to them He gave the [e]right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 (S)who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
The Word Becomes Flesh
14 (T)And the Word (U)became (V)flesh and dwelt among us, and (W)we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, (X)full of grace and truth.
15 (Y)John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, (Z)‘He who comes after me [f]is preferred before me, (AA)for He was before me.’ ”
16 [g]And of His (AB)fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For (AC)the law was given through Moses, but (AD)grace and (AE)truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 (AF)No one has seen God at any time. (AG)The only begotten [h]Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
A Voice in the Wilderness(AH)
19 Now this is (AI)the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 (AJ)He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.”
21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?”
He said, “I am not.”
“Are you (AK)the Prophet?”
And he answered, “No.”
22 Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
23 He said: (AL)“I am
(AM)‘The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
“Make straight the way of the Lord,” ’
as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24 Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, saying, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 John answered them, saying, (AN)“I baptize with water, (AO)but there stands One among you whom you do not know. 27 (AP)It is He who, coming after me, [i]is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose.”
28 These things were done (AQ)in [j]Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
The Lamb of God(AR)
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! (AS)The Lamb of God (AT)who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who [k]is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ 31 I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, (AU)therefore I came baptizing with water.”
32 (AV)And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. 33 I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, (AW)this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and testified that this is the (AX)Son of God.”
The First Disciples
35 Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples. 36 And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, (AY)“Behold the Lamb of God!”
37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they (AZ)followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus turned, and seeing them following, said to them, “What do you seek?”
They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, when translated, Teacher), “where are You staying?”
39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day (now it was about the tenth hour).
40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was (BA)Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the [l]Messiah” (which is translated, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus.
Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of [m]Jonah. (BB)You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, [n]A Stone).
Philip and Nathanael
43 The following day Jesus wanted to go to Galilee, and He found (BC)Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.” 44 Now (BD)Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found (BE)Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom (BF)Moses in the law, and also the (BG)prophets, wrote—Jesus (BH)of Nazareth, the (BI)son of Joseph.”
46 And Nathanael said to him, (BJ)“Can anything good come out of Nazareth?”
Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him, and said of him, “Behold, (BK)an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
48 Nathanael said to Him, “How do You know me?”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
49 Nathanael answered and said to Him, “Rabbi, (BL)You are the Son of God! You are (BM)the King of Israel!”
50 Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51 And He said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, (BN)hereafter[o] you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”
Footnotes
- John 1:5 Or overcome
- John 1:9 Or That was the true Light which, coming into the world, gives light to every man.
- John 1:11 His own things or domain
- John 1:11 His own people
- John 1:12 authority
- John 1:15 ranks higher than I
- John 1:16 NU For
- John 1:18 NU God
- John 1:27 ranks higher than I
- John 1:28 NU, M Bethany
- John 1:30 ranks higher than I
- John 1:41 Lit. Anointed One
- John 1:42 NU John
- John 1:42 Gr. Petros, usually translated Peter
- John 1:51 NU omits hereafter
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
