Prologue

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

There was a man named John(K)
who was sent from God.
He came as a witness
to testify about the light,
so that all might believe through him.[d]
He was not the light,
but he came to testify(L) about the light.
The true light,(M) who gives light to everyone,
was coming into the world.[e](N)

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

14 The Word(AA) became flesh[k](AB)
and took up residence[l] among us.
We observed His glory,(AC)
the glory as the One and Only(AD) Son[m] 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) has surpassed me,(AF)
because He existed before me.’”)(AG)
16 Indeed, we have all received grace(AH) after 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.[n]
The One and Only(AK) Son[o]
the One who is at the Father’s(AL) side[p]
He has revealed Him.(AM)

John the Baptist’s Testimony

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

20 He did not refuse to answer, but he declared: “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?”[q](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(AT)[r]—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[s] water,”(AW) John answered them. “Someone stands among you, but you don’t know Him. 27 He is the One coming after me,[t](AX) whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to untie.”

28 All this happened in Bethany[u] across the Jordan,[v](AY) where John was baptizing.

The Lamb of God

29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is 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 has surpassed me, because He existed before me.’ 31 I didn’t know Him,(BB) but I came baptizing with[w] water so He might be revealed(BC) to Israel.”

32 And John testified, “I watched the Spirit(BD) descending from heaven like a dove, and He rested on Him.(BE) 33 I didn’t know Him, but He[x] who sent me to baptize with[y] water told me, ‘The One you see the Spirit descending and resting on—He is the One who baptizes with[z] the Holy Spirit.’(BF) 34 I have seen and testified that He is the Son of God!”[aa](BG)

35 Again the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look! The Lamb of God!”

37 The two disciples heard him say this and followed Jesus. 38 When Jesus turned and noticed them following Him, He asked them, “What are you looking for?”

They said to Him, “Rabbi”(BH) (which means “Teacher”), “where are You staying?”

39 “Come and you’ll see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day. It was about 10 in the morning.[ab]

40 Andrew,(BI) Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John and followed Him. 41 He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah!”[ac](BJ) (which means “Anointed(BK) One”), 42 and he brought Simon to Jesus.

When Jesus saw him, He said, “You are Simon, son of John.[ad] You will be called Cephas”(BL) (which means “Rock”).

Philip and Nathanael

43 The next day He[ae] decided to leave for Galilee. Jesus found Philip(BM) and told him, “Follow Me!”

44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida,(BN) the hometown of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael[af](BO) and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law (and so did the prophets(BP)): Jesus the son of Joseph,(BQ) from Nazareth!”(BR)

46 “Can anything good(BS) come out of Nazareth?” Nathanael asked him.

“Come and see,” Philip answered.

47 Then Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said about him, “Here is a true Israelite;(BT) no deceit is in him.”

48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked.

“Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you,” Jesus answered.

49 “Rabbi,”(BU) Nathanael replied, “You are the Son(BV) of God! You are the King of Israel!”(BW)

50 Jesus responded to him, “Do you believe only because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You[ag] will see greater things than this.” 51 Then He said, “I assure you: You[ah] will see heaven opened and the angels of God(BX) ascending and descending(BY) on the Son of Man.”(BZ)

Footnotes

  1. John 1:1 The Word (Gk Logos) is a title for Jesus as the communication and the revealer of God the Father; Jn 1:14,18; Rv 19:13.
  2. John 1:4 Other punctuation is possible: . . . not one thing was created. What was created in Him was life
  3. John 1:5 Or grasp, or comprehend, or overtake; Jn 12:35
  4. John 1:7 Or through it (the light)
  5. John 1:9 Or The true light who comes into the world gives light to everyone, or The true light enlightens everyone coming into the world.
  6. John 1:11 The same Gk adjective is used twice in this verse: the first refers to all that Jesus owned as Creator (to His own); the second refers to the Jews (His own people).
  7. John 1:11 The same Gk adjective is used twice in this verse: the first refers to all that Jesus owned as Creator (to His own); the second refers to the Jews (His own people).
  8. John 1:12 Or become
  9. John 1:13 Lit bloods; the pl form of blood occurs only here in the NT. It may refer either to lineal descent (that is, blood from one’s father and mother) or to the OT sacrificial system (that is, the various blood sacrifices). Neither is the basis for birth into the family of God.
  10. John 1:13 Or not of human lineage, or of human capacity, or of human volition
  11. John 1:14 The eternally existent Word (vv. 1-2) took on full humanity but without sin; Heb 4:15.
  12. John 1:14 Or and dwelt in a tent; lit and tabernacled; this word occurs only here in John. A related word, referring to the Festival of Tabernacles, occurs only in 7:2; Ex 40:34-38.
  13. John 1:14 Son is implied from the reference to the Father and from Gk usage.
  14. John 1:18 Since God is an infinite being, no one can see Him in His absolute essential nature; Ex 33:18-23.
  15. John 1:18 Other mss read God
  16. John 1:18 Lit is in the bosom of the Father
  17. John 1:21 Probably the Prophet in Dt 18:15
  18. John 1:23 Is 40:3
  19. John 1:26 Or in
  20. John 1:27 Other mss add who came before me
  21. John 1:28 Other mss read in Bethabara
  22. John 1:28 Another Bethany, near Jerusalem, was the home of Lazarus, Martha, and Mary; Jn 11:1.
  23. John 1:31 Or in
  24. John 1:33 He refers to God the Father, who gave John a sign to help him identify the Messiah. Vv. 32-34 indicate that John did not know that Jesus was the Messiah until the Spirit descended upon Him at His baptism.
  25. John 1:33 Or in
  26. John 1:33 Or in
  27. John 1:34 Other mss read is the Chosen One of God
  28. John 1:39 Lit about the tenth hour. Various methods of reckoning time were used in the ancient world. John probably used a different method from the other 3 Gospels. If John used the same method of time reckoning as the other 3 Gospels, the translation would be: It was about four in the afternoon.
  29. John 1:41 In the NT, the word Messiah translates the Gk word Christos (“Anointed One”), except here and in Jn 4:25 where it translates Messias.
  30. John 1:42 Other mss read Simon, son of Jonah
  31. John 1:43 Or he, referring either to Simon Peter (vv. 41-42) or Andrew (vv. 40-41)
  32. John 1:45 Probably the Bartholomew of the other Gospels and Acts
  33. John 1:50 In Gk, the word you is sg and refers to Nathanael.
  34. John 1:51 In Gk, the word you is pl and refers to Nathanael and the other disciples.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him; and without him [a]was not anything made that hath been made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness [b]apprehended it not. There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light. [c]There was the true light, even the light which lighteth [d]every man, coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto [e]his own, and they that were his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 who were [f]born, not of [g]blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh, and [h]dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of [i]the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth. 15 John beareth witness of him, and crieth, saying, [j]This was he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is become before me: for he was [k]before me. 16 For of his fulness we all received, and [l]grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No man hath seen God at any time; [m]the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

19 And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent unto him from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No. 22 They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as [n]said Isaiah the prophet. 24 [o]And they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why then baptizest thou, if thou art not the Christ, neither Elijah, neither the prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize [p]in water: in the midst of you standeth one whom ye know not, 27 even he that cometh after me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in [q]Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that [r]taketh away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man who is become before me: for he was [s]before me. 31 And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause came I baptizing [t]in water. 32 And John bare witness, saying, I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize [u]in water, he said unto me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him, the same is he that baptizeth [v]in the Holy Spirit. 34 And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.

35 Again on the morrow John was standing, and two of his disciples; 36 and he looked upon Jesus as he walked, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 And Jesus turned, and beheld them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? And they said unto him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), where abidest thou? 39 He saith unto them, Come, and ye shall see. They came therefore and saw where he abode; and they abode with him that day: it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two that heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He findeth first his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah (which is, being interpreted, [w]Christ). 42 He brought him unto Jesus. Jesus looked upon him, and said, Thou art Simon the son of [x]John: thou shalt be called Cephas (which is by interpretation, [y]Peter).

43 On the morrow he was minded to go forth into Galilee, and he findeth Philip: and Jesus saith unto him, Follow me. 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel. 50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee underneath the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. 51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Footnotes

  1. John 1:3 Or, was not anything made. That which hath been made was life in him; and the life etc.
  2. John 1:5 Or, overcame. See 12:35 (Greek).
  3. John 1:9 Or, the true light, which lighteth every man, was coming
  4. John 1:9 Or, every man as he cometh
  5. John 1:11 Greek his own things.
  6. John 1:13 Or, begotten
  7. John 1:13 Greek bloods.
  8. John 1:14 Greek tabernacled.
  9. John 1:14 Or, an only begotten from a father. Compare Heb. 11:17.
  10. John 1:15 Some ancient authorities read (this was he that said).
  11. John 1:15 Greek first in regard of me.
  12. John 1:16 Or, grace upon grace
  13. John 1:18 Many very ancient authorities read God only begotten.
  14. John 1:23 Isa. 40:3.
  15. John 1:24 Or, And certain had been sent from among the Pharisees.
  16. John 1:26 Or, with
  17. John 1:28 Many ancient authorities read Bethabarah, some Betharabah. Compare Josh. 15:6, 61; 18:22.
  18. John 1:29 Or, beareth the sin
  19. John 1:30 Greek first in regard of me.
  20. John 1:31 Or, with
  21. John 1:33 Or, with
  22. John 1:33 Or, with
  23. John 1:41 That is, Anointed. Compare Ps. 2:2.
  24. John 1:42 Greek Joanes: called in Mt. 16:17 Jonah.
  25. John 1:42 That is, Rock or Stone.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God;

this one was in the beginning with God;

all things through him did happen, and without him happened not even one thing that hath happened.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men,

and the light in the darkness did shine, and the darkness did not perceive it.

There came a man -- having been sent from God -- whose name [is] John,

this one came for testimony, that he might testify about the Light, that all might believe through him;

that one was not the Light, but -- that he might testify about the Light.

He was the true Light, which doth enlighten every man, coming to the world;

10 in the world he was, and the world through him was made, and the world did not know him:

11 to his own things he came, and his own people did not receive him;

12 but as many as did receive him to them he gave authority to become sons of God -- to those believing in his name,

13 who -- not of blood nor of a will of flesh, nor of a will of man but -- of God were begotten.

14 And the Word became flesh, and did tabernacle among us, and we beheld his glory, glory as of an only begotten of a father, full of grace and truth.

15 John doth testify concerning him, and hath cried, saying, `This was he of whom I said, He who after me is coming, hath come before me, for he was before me;'

16 and out of his fulness did we all receive, and grace over-against grace;

17 for the law through Moses was given, the grace and the truth through Jesus Christ did come;

18 God no one hath ever seen; the only begotten Son, who is on the bosom of the Father -- he did declare.

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent out of Jerusalem priests and Levites, that they might question him, `Who art thou?'

20 and he confessed and did not deny, and confessed -- `I am not the Christ.'

21 And they questioned him, `What then? Elijah art thou?' and he saith, `I am not.' -- `The prophet art thou?' and he answered, `No.'

22 They said then to him, `Who art thou, that we may give an answer to those sending us? what dost thou say concerning thyself?'

23 He said, `I [am] a voice of one crying in the wilderness: Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.'

24 And those sent were of the Pharisees,

25 and they questioned him and said to him, `Why, then, dost thou baptize, if thou art not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?'

26 John answered them, saying, `I baptize with water, but in midst of you he hath stood whom ye have not known, this one it is who is coming after me, who hath been before me,

27 of whom I am not worthy that I may loose the cord of his sandal.'

28 These things came to pass in Bethabara, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing,

29 on the morrow John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, `Lo, the Lamb of God, who is taking away the sin of the world;

30 this is he concerning whom I said, After me doth come a man, who hath come before me, because he was before me:

31 and I knew him not, but, that he might be manifested to Israel, because of this I came with the water baptizing.

32 And John testified, saying -- `I have seen the Spirit coming down, as a dove, out of heaven, and it remained on him;

33 and I did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water, He said to me, On whomsoever thou mayst see the Spirit coming down, and remaining on him, this is he who is baptizing with the Holy Spirit;

34 and I have seen, and have testified, that this is the Son of God.'

35 On the morrow, again, John was standing, and two of his disciples,

36 and having looked on Jesus walking, he saith, `Lo, the Lamb of God;'

37 and the two disciples heard him speaking, and they followed Jesus.

38 And Jesus having turned, and having beheld them following, saith to them, `What seek ye?' and they said to them, `Rabbi, (which is, being interpreted, Teacher,) where remainest thou?'

39 He saith to them, `Come and see;' they came, and saw where he doth remain, and with him they remained that day and the hour was about the tenth.

40 Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard from John, and followed him;

41 this one doth first find his own brother Simon, and saith to him, `We have found the Messiah,' (which is, being interpreted, The Anointed,)

42 and he brought him unto Jesus: and having looked upon him, Jesus saith, `Thou art Simon, the son of Jonas, thou shalt be called Cephas,' (which is interpreted, A rock.)

43 On the morrow, he willed to go forth to Galilee, and he findeth Philip, and saith to him, `Be following me.'

44 And Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter;

45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith to him, `Him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and the prophets, we have found, Jesus the son of Joseph, who [is] from Nazareth;'

46 and Nathanael said to him, `Out of Nazareth is any good thing able to be?' Philip said to him, `Come and see.'

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming unto him, and he saith concerning him, `Lo, truly an Israelite, in whom guile is not;'

48 Nathanael saith to him, `Whence me dost thou know?' Jesus answered and said to him, `Before Philip's calling thee -- thou being under the fig-tree -- I saw thee.'

49 Nathanael answered and saith to him, `Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art the king of Israel.'

50 Jesus answered and said to him, `Because I said to thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree, thou dost believe; greater things than these thou shalt see;'

51 and he saith to him, `Verily, verily, I say to you, henceforth ye shall see the heaven opened, and the messengers of God going up and coming down upon the Son of Man.'