John 1:1-23 ▼

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 by him; and without him was not one thing made that was made.

4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness did not comprehend it.

6 A man was sent from God, whose name was John.

7 He came for a witness, that he might bear testimony concerning the Light, that all men through him might believe.

8 He was not the Light, but sent that he should bear testimony concerning the Light.

9 He was that true Light, which illumines every man by his coming into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11 He came unto his peculiar people, and his peculiar people did not receive him.

12 But as many as did receive him, on them he bestowed authority to become children of God, even on those who believe on his name:

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 incarnate, and tabernacled with us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15 John bore witness concerning him, and cried, saying, This is he of whom I said, He that is coming after me, is before me: because before me he was.

16 And from his plenitude we all have received, even grace corresponding with his grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but the grace and the reality came by Jesus Christ.

18 No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath thoroughly described him.

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

20 And he confessed, and denied it not; but acknowledged, I am not the Messiah.

21 And they asked him, What then? art thou Elias? and he said, I am not. Art thou that prophet? and he answered, No.

22 Then said they to him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to those who sent us: What description givest thou of thyself?

23 He said, I am a voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way for the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah.