John 1:1-28 ▼

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2 The same was in the beginning with God.

3 By Him were all things made, and without Him was not any 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 attained it not.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John:

7 this man came for witness, that he might testify concerning the light, that through him all might believe.

8 He was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of the light.

9 The true light was that which enlightneth every man that cometh into the world.

10 He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and yet the world knew Him not:

11 yea, He came to his own peculiar right, and even his own people received Him not.

12 But as many as received Him, to them granted He the privilege to become the children of God, even to them that 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 was made flesh, and dwelt among us, being full of grace and truth: and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only-begotten of the Father.

15 Of Him did John bare witness, and publicly declared, saying, This was He of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me; for He was before me.

16 And of his fulness have we all received, even grace for grace.

17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ:

18 and though no one hath ever seen God, or can see Him: yet the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, hath made Him known.

19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him, Who art thou?

20 he confessed, and denied not; but declared openly, I am not the Christ.

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

22 Therefore said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us: What dost thou say of thy self?

23 and he said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, "Make straight the way of the Lord," according to Esaias the prophet.

24 Now they that were sent, were of the pharisees:

25 and they asked him, and said to him, Why then dost thou baptize, if thou art not the Christ, nor Elias, nor a prophet?

26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

27 that cometh after me, but is preferred before me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose.

28 These things passed at Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.