John 1
The Message
The Life-Light
1 1-2 The Word was first,
the Word present to God,
God present to the Word.
The Word was God,
in readiness for God from day one.
3-5 Everything was created through him;
nothing—not one thing!—
came into being without him.
What came into existence was Life,
and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
the darkness couldn’t put it out.
6-8 There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light.
9-13 The Life-Light was the real thing:
Every person entering Life
he brings into Light.
He was in the world,
the world was there through him,
and yet the world didn’t even notice.
He came to his own people,
but they didn’t want him.
But whoever did want him,
who believed he was who he claimed
and would do what he said,
He made to be their true selves,
their child-of-God selves.
These are the God-begotten,
not blood-begotten,
not flesh-begotten,
not sex-begotten.
14 The Word became flesh and blood,
and moved into the neighborhood.
We saw the glory with our own eyes,
the one-of-a-kind glory,
like Father, like Son,
Generous inside and out,
true from start to finish.
15 John pointed him out and called, “This is the One! The One I told you was coming after me but in fact was ahead of me. He has always been ahead of me, has always had the first word.”
16-18 We all live off his generous abundance,
gift after gift after gift.
We got the basics from Moses,
and then this exuberant giving and receiving,
This endless knowing and understanding—
all this came through Jesus, the Messiah.
No one has ever seen God,
not so much as a glimpse.
This one-of-a-kind God-Expression,
who exists at the very heart of the Father,
has made him plain as day.
Thunder in the Desert
19-20 When Jews from Jerusalem sent a group of priests and officials to ask John who he was, he was completely honest. He didn’t evade the question. He told the plain truth: “I am not the Messiah.”
21 They pressed him, “Who, then? Elijah?”
“I am not.”
“The Prophet?”
“No.”
22 Exasperated, they said, “Who, then? We need an answer for those who sent us. Tell us something—anything!—about yourself.”
23 “I’m thunder in the desert: ‘Make the road straight for God!’ I’m doing what the prophet Isaiah preached.”
24-25 Those sent to question him were from the Pharisee party. Now they had a question of their own: “If you’re neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, why do you baptize?”
26-27 John answered, “I only baptize using water. A person you don’t recognize has taken his stand in your midst. He comes after me, but he is not in second place to me. I’m not even worthy to hold his coat for him.”
28 These conversations took place in Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing at the time.
The God-Revealer
29-31 The very next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and yelled out, “Here he is, God’s Passover Lamb! He forgives the sins of the world! This is the man I’ve been talking about, ‘the One who comes after me but is really ahead of me.’ I knew nothing about who he was—only this: that my task has been to get Israel ready to recognize him as the God-Revealer. That is why I came here baptizing with water, giving you a good bath and scrubbing sins from your life so you can get a fresh start with God.”
32-34 John clinched his witness with this: “I watched the Spirit, like a dove flying down out of the sky, making himself at home in him. I repeat, I know nothing about him except this: The One who authorized me to baptize with water told me, ‘The One on whom you see the Spirit come down and stay, this One will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ That’s exactly what I saw happen, and I’m telling you, there’s no question about it: This is the Son of God.”
Come, See for Yourself
35-36 The next day John was back at his post with two disciples, who were watching. He looked up, saw Jesus walking nearby, and said, “Here he is, God’s Passover Lamb.”
37-38 The two disciples heard him and went after Jesus. Jesus looked over his shoulder and said to them, “What are you after?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
39 He replied, “Come along and see for yourself.”
They came, saw where he was living, and ended up staying with him for the day. It was late afternoon when this happened.
40-42 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s witness and followed Jesus. The first thing he did after finding where Jesus lived was find his own brother, Simon, telling him, “We’ve found the Messiah” (that is, “Christ”). He immediately led him to Jesus.
Jesus took one look up and said, “You’re John’s son, Simon? From now on your name is Cephas” (or Peter, which means “Rock”).
43-44 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. When he got there, he ran across Philip and said, “Come, follow me.” (Philip’s hometown was Bethsaida, the same as Andrew and Peter.)
45-46 Philip went and found Nathanael and told him, “We’ve found the One Moses wrote of in the Law, the One preached by the prophets. It’s Jesus, Joseph’s son, the one from Nazareth!” Nathanael said, “Nazareth? You’ve got to be kidding.”
But Philip said, “Come, see for yourself.”
47 When Jesus saw him coming he said, “There’s a real Israelite, not a false bone in his body.”
48 Nathanael said, “Where did you get that idea? You don’t know me.”
Jesus answered, “One day, long before Philip called you here, I saw you under the fig tree.”
49 Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi! You are the Son of God, the King of Israel!”
50-51 Jesus said, “You’ve become a believer simply because I say I saw you one day sitting under the fig tree? You haven’t seen anything yet! Before this is over you’re going to see heaven open and God’s angels descending to the Son of Man and ascending again.”
Juan 1
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
Prólogo
1 En el principio(A) ya existía[a] el Verbo[b](B), y el Verbo estaba con Dios(C), y el Verbo era Dios(D). 2 Él[c] estaba en el principio con Dios. 3 Todas las cosas fueron hechas por medio de Él(E), y sin Él nada de lo que ha sido hecho, fue hecho. 4 En Él estaba la vida(F), y la vida era la Luz de los hombres(G). 5 La Luz brilla en las tinieblas(H), y las tinieblas no la comprendieron.
6 Vino al mundo un[d] hombre enviado por Dios, cuyo nombre era Juan(I). 7 Este vino como testigo(J) para testificar de la Luz, a fin de que todos creyeran por medio de él(K). 8 No era él[e] la Luz(L), sino que vino para dar testimonio de la Luz.
9 Existía[f] la Luz verdadera(M) que, al venir al mundo, alumbra a todo hombre[g].
10 Él estaba en el mundo, y el mundo fue hecho por medio de Él(N), y el mundo no lo conoció. 11 A lo Suyo vino, y los Suyos no lo recibieron. 12 Pero a todos los que lo recibieron, les dio el derecho de llegar a ser hijos de Dios(O), es decir, a los que creen en Su nombre(P), 13 que no nacieron[h] de sangre[i], ni de la voluntad de la carne, ni de la voluntad del hombre, sino de Dios(Q).
El Verbo se hace carne
14 El Verbo(R) se hizo carne(S), y habitó entre nosotros(T), y vimos Su gloria(U), gloria como del unigénito del Padre, lleno de gracia(V) y de verdad(W). 15 Juan dio* testimonio de Él(X) y clamó: «Este era del que yo decía: “El que viene después de mí(Y), es antes de mí[j], porque era primero que yo(Z)”». 16 Pues de Su plenitud(AA) todos hemos recibido, y gracia sobre gracia. 17 Porque la ley fue dada por medio de Moisés(AB); la gracia(AC) y la verdad(AD) fueron hechas realidad por medio de Jesucristo[k]. 18 Nadie ha visto jamás a Dios(AE); el unigénito Dios[l](AF), que está en el seno del Padre(AG), Él lo ha dado a conocer(AH).
Testimonio de Juan el Bautista
19 Este es el testimonio(AI) de Juan, cuando los judíos(AJ) enviaron sacerdotes y levitas de Jerusalén(AK) a preguntarle: «¿Quién eres tú?». 20 Y él confesó y no negó, pero confesó: «Yo no soy el Cristo[m](AL)». 21 «¿Entonces, qué?», le preguntaron, «¿Eres Elías(AM)?». Y él dijo*: «No lo soy». «¿Eres el Profeta(AN)?». «No», respondió Juan. 22 Entonces le preguntaron: «¿Quién eres? Ya que tenemos que dar respuesta a los que nos enviaron. ¿Qué dices de ti mismo?». 23 Juan les respondió: «Yo soy la voz del que clama en el desierto: “Enderecen el camino del Señor(AO)”, como dijo el profeta Isaías(AP)».
24 Los que habían sido enviados eran de los fariseos, 25 y le preguntaron: «Entonces, ¿por qué bautizas, si tú no eres el Cristo[n], ni Elías, ni el Profeta(AQ)?».
26 Juan les respondió: «Yo bautizo en[o] agua(AR), pero entre ustedes está Uno a quien ustedes no conocen. 27 Él es el que viene después de mí(AS), a quien yo no soy digno de desatar la correa de la sandalia(AT)».
28 Estas cosas sucedieron en Betania[p], al otro lado del Jordán, donde Juan estaba bautizando(AU).
El Cordero de Dios
29 Al día siguiente Juan vio* a Jesús que venía hacia él, y dijo*: «Ahí está el Cordero de Dios(AV) que quita el pecado del mundo(AW). 30 Este es Aquel de quien yo dije: “Después de mí viene un Hombre(AX) que es antes de mí[q] porque era primero que yo(AY)”. 31 Yo no lo conocía[r], pero para que Él fuera manifestado a Israel, por esto yo vine bautizando en[s] agua».
32 Juan también dio testimonio(AZ), diciendo: «He visto al Espíritu que descendía del cielo como paloma(BA), y se posó sobre Él. 33 Yo no lo conocía[t], pero el que me envió a bautizar en[u] agua me dijo: “Aquel sobre quien veas al Espíritu descender y posarse sobre Él, Este es el que bautiza en[v] el Espíritu Santo(BB)”. 34 Y yo lo he visto y he dado testimonio de que Este es el Hijo de Dios(BC)».
Los primeros discípulos
35 Al día siguiente(BD) Juan estaba otra vez allí con[w] dos de sus discípulos, 36 y vio a Jesús que pasaba, y dijo*: «Ahí está el Cordero de Dios(BE)». 37 Y los dos discípulos le oyeron hablar, y siguieron a Jesús. 38 Jesús se volvió, y viendo que lo seguían, les dijo*: «¿Qué buscan?». Y ellos le dijeron: «Rabí(BF) (que traducido quiere decir Maestro), ¿dónde te hospedas?». 39 «Vengan y verán», les dijo* Jesús. Entonces fueron y vieron dónde se hospedaba; y se quedaron con Él aquel día, porque eran como las cuatro de la tarde[x].
40 (BG)Uno de los dos que oyeron a Juan y siguieron a Jesús, era Andrés, hermano de Simón Pedro. 41 Él encontró* primero a su hermano Simón, y le dijo*: «Hemos hallado al Mesías(BH)» (que traducido quiere decir, Cristo). 42 Entonces lo trajo a Jesús. Jesús mirándolo, dijo: «Tú eres Simón, hijo de Juan[y](BI); tú serás llamado Cefas(BJ)», que quiere decir Pedro[z](BK).
Felipe y Natanael
43 Al día siguiente(BL) Jesús se propuso salir para Galilea(BM), y encontró* a Felipe(BN), y le dijo*: «Sígueme(BO)». 44 Felipe(BP) era de Betsaida(BQ), de la ciudad de Andrés y de Pedro. 45 Felipe(BR) encontró* a Natanael(BS) y le dijo*: «Hemos hallado a Aquel de quien escribió Moisés en la ley, y también los profetas(BT), a Jesús de Nazaret(BU), el hijo de José(BV)». 46 Y Natanael le dijo: «¿Puede algo bueno salir de Nazaret(BW)?». «Ven, y ve», le dijo* Felipe(BX).
47 Jesús vio venir a Natanael y dijo* de él: «Ahí tienen a un verdadero israelita(BY)en quien no hay engaño». 48 Natanael le preguntó*: «¿Cómo es que me conoces?». Jesús le respondió: «Antes de que Felipe(BZ)te llamara, cuando estabas debajo de la higuera, te vi». 49 «Rabí(CA), Tú eres el Hijo de Dios(CB), Tú eres el Rey de Israel(CC)», respondió Natanael.
50 Jesús le contestó: «¿Porque te dije que te vi debajo de la higuera, crees? Cosas mayores que estas verás». 51 También le dijo*: «En verdad les digo que verán el cielo abierto(CD)y a los ángeles de Dios subiendo y bajando(CE)sobre el Hijo del Hombre(CF)».
Footnotes
- 1:1 O era.
- 1:1 O la Palabra, y así en el resto del cap.
- 1:2 Lit. Este.
- 1:6 O Hubo un.
- 1:8 Lit. aquel.
- 1:9 O Había, o Era.
- 1:9 O que alumbra a todo hombre que viene al mundo.
- 1:13 O no fueron engendrados.
- 1:13 Lit. de sangres.
- 1:15 O tiene un rango más elevado que yo.
- 1:17 Heb. el Señor salva; gr. Cristo i.e. el Ungido.
- 1:18 Algunos mss. dicen: Hijo.
- 1:20 I.e. el Mesías.
- 1:25 I.e. el Mesías.
- 1:26 Aquí el gr. puede traducirse: por, en o con.
- 1:28 Algunos mss. posteriores dicen: Betábara.
- 1:30 O tiene un rango más elevado que yo.
- 1:31 I.e. como el Mesías.
- 1:31 Aquí el gr. puede traducirse: por, en o con.
- 1:33 I.e. como el Mesías.
- 1:33 Aquí el gr. puede traducirse: por, en o con.
- 1:33 Aquí el gr. puede traducirse: por, en o con.
- 1:35 Lit. y.
- 1:39 I.e. la hora décima.
- 1:42 Gr. Joannes, llamado Jon. en Mat. 16:17.
- 1:42 I.e. Piedra.
John 1
Wycliffe Bible
1 In the beginning was the word, and the word was at God, and God was the word. [In the beginning was the word, that is, God's Son, and the word was at God, and God was the word.]
2 This was in the beginning at God.
3 All things were made by him, and without him was made nothing [nought], that thing that was made.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men;
5 and the light shineth in darknesses, and [the] darknesses comprehended not it.
6 A man was sent from God, to whom the name was John.
7 This man came into witnessing, that he should bear witnessing of the light, that all men should believe by him.
8 He was not that light, but that he should bear witnessing of the light.
9 There was a very light, which lighteneth each man that cometh into this world [that lighteth each man coming into this world].
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
11 He came into his own things, and his received him not.
12 But how many ever received him, he gave to them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name;
13 the which not of bloods [which not of bloods], neither of the will of flesh, neither of the will of man, but be born of God.
14 And the word was made man, and dwelled among us, and we have seen the glory of him, as the glory of the one begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and of truth. [And the word, that is, God's Son, is made flesh, or man, and hath dwelled in us, and we have seen the glory of him, the glory as of the one begotten of the Father, the Son full of grace and truth.]
15 John beareth witnessing of him, and crieth, and saith, This is he of whom I said, He that shall come after me, is made before me [saying, This it was, whom I said, He that cometh after me, is made before me], for he was before me;
16 and of the plenty of him we all have taken, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses; but grace and truth is made by Jesus Christ.
18 No man saw ever God [No man ever saw God], but the one begotten Son, that is in the bosom of the Father, he hath told out.
19 And this is the witnessing of John, when Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and deacons to him, that they should ask him, Who art thou?
20 [And] He acknowledged, and denied not, and he acknowledged, For I am not Christ.
21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he said, I am not. Art thou a prophet [Art thou the prophet]? And he answered, Nay.
22 Therefore they said to him, Who art thou? That we give an answer to these that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?
23 He said, I am a voice of a crier in desert [I am a voice of a man crying in desert], Dress ye the way of the Lord, as Esaias, the prophet, said.
24 And they that were sent, were of the Pharisees.
25 And they asked him, and said to him, What then baptizest thou, if thou art not Christ, neither Elias, neither a prophet?
26 John answered to them, and said [saying], I baptize in water, but in the middle of you hath stand one, that ye know not [whom ye know not];
27 he it is, that shall come after me [he it is, that is to coming after me], that was made before me, of whom I am not worthy to loose the thong of his shoe.
28 These things were done in Bethany beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 Another day John saw Jesus coming to him, and he said, Lo! the lamb of God; lo! he that doeth away the sins of the world.[a]
30 This is he, that I said of, After me is come a man [This is he, of whom I said, After me cometh a man], which was made before me; for he was rather than I.
31 And I knew him not, but that he be showed in Israel, therefore I came baptizing in water.
32 And John bare witnessing, and said, I saw the Spirit coming down as a culver from heaven, and dwelled on him. [And John bare witnessing, saying, For I saw the Spirit coming down, as a culver from heaven, and dwelling upon him.]
33 And I knew him not; but he that sent me to baptize in water, said to me, On whom thou seest the Spirit coming down [Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit coming down], and dwelling on him, this is he, that baptizeth in the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare witnessing, that this is the Son of God.
35 Another day John stood [Again John stood in another day], and two of his disciples;
36 and he beheld Jesus walking, and saith [and he beholding Jesus walking, saith], Lo! the lamb of God.
37 And two disciples heard him speaking, and [they] followed Jesus.
38 And Jesus turned, and saw them following him, and saith to them, What seek ye? And they said to him, Rabbi, that is to say [that is interpreted], Master, where dwellest thou?
39 And he saith to them, Come ye, and see. And they came, and saw where he dwelled [He saith to them, Come, and see ye. They came, and saw where he dwelt]; and dwelt with him that day. And it was as the tenth hour.
40 And Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the twain, that heard of John, and had followed him.
41 This found first his brother Simon, and he said to him, We have found Messias, that is to say, Christ; [This found first his brother Simon, and he saith to him, We have found Messias, that is interpreted Christ;]
42 and he led him to Jesus. And Jesus beheld him, and said, Thou art Simon, the son of Jona; thou shalt be called Cephas, that is to say [that is interpreted], Peter.
43 And on the morrow he would go out into Galilee, and he found Philip; and he saith to him [and Jesus saith to him], Follow thou me.
44 Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and of Peter [the city of Andrew and Peter].
45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him [and he saith to him], We have found Jesus, the son of Joseph, of Nazareth, whom Moses wrote in the law and the prophets.
46 And Nathanael said to him, Of Nazareth may some good thing be? Philip said to him [Philip saith to him], Come, and see.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said of him [and saith of him], Lo! verily a man of Israel, in whom is no guile.
48 Nathanael said to him [Nathanael saith to him], Whereof hast thou known me? Jesus answered, and said to him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou were under the fig tree, I saw thee.
49 Nathanael answered to him, and said [and saith], Rabbi, thou art the Son of God, thou art king of Israel.
50 Jesus answered, and said to him, For I said to thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, thou believest; thou shalt see more than these things [thou shalt see more things than these].
51 And he said to them, Truly, truly, I say to you, ye shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending up and coming down on man's Son [and the angels of God ascending up and coming down upon man's Son].
Footnotes
- John 1:29 And another day John saw Jesus coming to him, and he saith, Lo! the lamb of God; lo! which doeth away the sins of the world.
John 1
Revised Standard Version
The Word Became Flesh
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God; 3 all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. 4 In him was life,[a] and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
9 The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. 11 He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. 12 But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. 15 (John bore witness to him, and cried, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.’”) 16 And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only Son,[b] who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.
The Testimony of John the Baptist
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they asked him, “What then? Are you Eli′jah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 They said to him then, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 They asked him, “Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Eli′jah, nor the prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
The Lamb of God
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who ranks before me, for he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him; but for this I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 And John bore witness, “I saw the Spirit descend as a dove from heaven, and it remained on him. 33 I myself did not know him; but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.”
The First Disciples of Jesus
35 The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples; 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37 The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. 38 Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What do you seek?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying; and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two who heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He first found his brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means Christ). 42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter[c]).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. And he found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Beth-sa′ida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathan′a-el, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 Nathan′a-el said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathan′a-el coming to him, and said of him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!” 48 Nathan′a-el said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathan′a-el answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” 50 Jesus answered him, “Because I said to you, I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.” 51 And he said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.”
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson
Nueva Biblia de las Américas™ NBLA™ Copyright © 2005 por The Lockman Foundation
2001 by Terence P. Noble
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1946, 1952, and 1971 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.