1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2[a]He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him [b]not even one thing came into being that has come into being. 4In Him was life, and the life was the Light of mankind. 5And the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not [c]grasp it.

The Witness John the Baptist

6A man [d]came, one sent from God, and his name was John. 7[e]He came [f]as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. 8[g]He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

9[h]This was the true Light [i]that, coming into the world, enlightens every person. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, and yet the world did not [j]know Him. 11He came to His [k]own, and His own people did not [l]accept Him. 12But [m]as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who [n]believe in His name, 13who were [o]born, not of [p]blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.

The Word Made Flesh

14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John *testified about Him and called out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who is coming after me has proved to be [q]my superior, because He existed before me.’” 16For of His fullness [r]we have all received, and [s]grace upon grace. 17For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth [t]were realized through Jesus Christ. 18No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the [u]arms of the Father, He has [v]explained Him.

The Testimony of John the Baptist

19This is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” 20And he confessed and did not deny; and this is what he confessed: “I am not the [w]Christ.” 21And so they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” And he *said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22Then 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?” 23He said, “I am THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING [x]OUT IN THE WILDERNESS, ‘MAKE THE WAY OF THE LORD STRAIGHT,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

24And the messengers had been sent from the Pharisees. 25They asked him, and said to him, “Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the [y]Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26John answered them, saying, “I baptize [z]in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know. 27It is He who comes after me, of whom I am not worthy even to untie the strap of His sandal.” 28These things took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing people.

29The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is He in behalf of whom I said, ‘After me is coming a Man who has proved to be [aa]my superior, because He existed before me.’ 31And I did not recognize [ab]Him, but so that He would be revealed to Israel, I came baptizing [ac]in water.” 32And John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 33And I did not recognize [ad]Him, but He who sent me to baptize [ae]in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes [af]in the Holy Spirit.’ 34And I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the [ag]Son of God.”

Jesus’ Public Ministry; First Converts

35Again the next day John was standing [ah]with two of his disciples, 36and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” 37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38And Jesus turned and saw them following, and *said to them, “What are you seeking?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” 39He *said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying, and they stayed with Him that day; it was about the [ai]tenth hour. 40One of the two who heard John speak, and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41He first *found his own brother Simon and *said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means [aj]Christ). 42He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of [ak]John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated [al]Peter).

43The next day He [am]decided to go to Galilee, and He *found Philip. And Jesus *said to him, “Follow Me.” 44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45Philip *found Nathanael and *said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and the prophets also wrote: Jesus the son of Joseph, from Nazareth!” 46Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good be from Nazareth?” Philip *said to him, “Come and see.” 47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and *said of him, “Here is truly an Israelite, in whom there is no deceit!” 48Nathanael *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.” 49Nathanael answered Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel!” 50Jesus answered and said to him, “Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” 51And He *said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

[a] 2 Lit This one
[b] 3 One early ms nothing came into
[c] 5 Or overpower
[d] 6 Or came into being
[e] 7 Lit This one
[f] 7 Lit for testimony
[g] 8 Lit That one; i.e., John
[h] 9 I.e., the Word, Christ
[i] 9 Or that enlightens every person coming into the world
[j] 10 Or acknowledge
[k] 11 Or own things, possessions, domain
[l] 11 Or receive
[m] 12 Or all who received
[n] 12 Or trust in
[o] 13 Or fathered
[p] 13 Lit bloods
[q] 15 Lit before me
[r] 16 Lit we all received
[s] 16 Lit grace for grace
[t] 17 Lit came to be
[u] 18 Lit chest; or possibly lap
[v] 18 I.e., given a detailed account of
[w] 20 I.e., Messiah
[x] 23 Or out, In the wilderness make the way
[y] 25 I.e., Messiah
[z] 26 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
[aa] 30 Lit before me
[ab] 31 I.e., as the Messiah
[ac] 31 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
[ad] 33 I.e., as the Messiah
[ae] 33 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
[af] 33 The Gr here can be translated in, with, or by
[ag] 34 One early ms Chosen One of
[ah] 35 Lit and
[ai] 39 I.e., about 4 p.m.
[aj] 41 Gr Anointed One
[ak] 42 Gr Joannes
[al] 42 I.e., Rock or Stone in Gr
[am] 43 Or resolved