Readings for Celebrating Advent

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

⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men,

⁵ and the light in the darkness did shine, and the darkness did not perceive it.

⁶ There came a man -- having been sent from God -- whose name [is] John,

⁷ this one came for testimony, that he might testify about the Light, that all might believe through him;

⁸ that one was not the Light, but -- that he might testify about the Light.

⁹ 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.