John 1
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
In the beginning the Word was; and the Word was with God; and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
He was in the beginning with God;
3 All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made.
through him all things came into being, and nothing came into being apart from him.
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
That which came into being in him was life; and the life was the light of humanity;
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.
and the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness never overpowered it.
6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.
There appeared a man sent from God, whose name was John;
7 The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.
he came as a witness – to bear witness to the light so that through him everyone might believe.
8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.
He was not the light, but he came to bear witness to the light.
9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.
That was the true light which enlightens everyone coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognise him.
He was in the world; and through him the world came into being – yet the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him.
He came to his own – yet his own did not receive him.
12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:
But to all who did receive him he gave power to become children of God – to those who believe in 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.
For not to natural conception, nor to human instincts, nor to human will did they owe the new life, but to God.
14 The Word became flesh and lived amongst us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
And the Word became human, and lived among us, (We saw his glory – the glory of the Only Son sent from the Father), full of love and truth.
15 John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’”
(John bears witness to him; he cried aloud – for it was he who spoke – ‘He who is coming after me is now before me, for he was ever first’);
16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.
out of his fullness we have all received gift after gift of love;
17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realised through Jesus Christ.
for the Law was given through Moses, love and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has seen God at any time. The only born Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.
No one has ever yet seen God; God the only Son, who is ever with the Father – he has revealed him.
19 This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
When the religious authorities in Jerusalem sent some Priests and Levites to ask John – ‘Who are you?’,
20 He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”
he told them clearly and simply, ‘I am not the Christ.’
21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”
‘What then?’ they asked. ‘Are you Elijah?’ ‘No,’ he said, ‘I am not.’ ‘Are you “the prophet”?’ He answered, ‘No.’
22 They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
‘Who then are you?’ they continued. ‘Tell us so that we have an answer to give to those who have 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 Isaiah the prophet said.”
‘I,’ he answered, ‘am – “The voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness: make a straight road for the Lord”, as the prophet Isaiah said.’
24 The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.
These men had been sent from the Pharisees;
25 They asked him, “Why then do you baptise if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”
and their next question was, ‘Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ or Elijah or “the prophet”?’
26 John answered them, “I baptise in water, but amongst you stands one whom you don’t know.
John’s answer was – ‘I baptize with water, but among you stands one whom you do not know;
27 He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.”
he is coming after me, yet I am not worthy even to unfasten his sandal.’
28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptising.
This happened at Bethany, across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
The next day John saw Jesus coming towards him, and exclaimed, ‘Here is 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 is preferred before me, for he was before me.’
I was talking about him when I said “After me there is coming a man who ranks ahead of me, because before I was born he already was.”
31 I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptising in water, that he would be revealed to Israel.”
I did not know who he was, but I have come baptizing with water to make him known to Israel.’
32 John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.
John also said: ‘I saw the Spirit come down from heaven like a dove and rest on him.
33 I didn’t recognise him, but he who sent me to baptise in water said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptises in the Holy Spirit.’
I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water, he said to me “He on whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him – he it is who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.”
34 I have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
This I have seen myself, and I have declared my belief that he is the Son of God.’
35 Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples,
The next day, when John was standing with two of his disciples,
36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
he looked at Jesus as he passed and exclaimed, ‘There is the Lamb of God!’
37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
The two disciples heard him say this, and followed Jesus.
38 Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you staying?”
But Jesus turned round, and saw them following. ‘What are you looking for?’ he asked. ‘Rabbi,’ they answered (or, as we should say, “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. It was about the tenth hour.
‘Come, and you will see,’ he replied. So they went, and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was then about four in the afternoon.
40 One of the two who heard John and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
One of the two, who heard what John said and followed Jesus, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
41 He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ).
He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah!’ (a word which means “Christ,” or “Consecrated”.)
42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter).
Then he brought him to Jesus. Looking straight at him, Jesus said, ‘You are Simon, the son of John; you will be called Cephas’ (which means “Peter,” or “Rock”).
43 On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
The following day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. He found Philip, and said to him, ‘Follow me.’
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip found Nathanael, 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.”
He found Nathanael and said to him, ‘We have found him of whom Moses wrote in the Law, and of whom the prophets also wrote – Jesus of Nazareth, Joseph’s son!’
46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
‘Can anything good come out of Nazareth?’ asked Nathanael. ‘Come and see,’ replied Philip.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming towards him, he said, ‘Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit!’
48 Nathanael 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.”
‘How do you know me?’ asked Nathanael. ‘Even before Philip called you,’ replied Jesus, ‘when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.’
49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!”
‘Rabbi,’ Nathanael exclaimed, ‘you are the Son of God, you are king of Israel!’
50 Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!”
‘Do you believe in me,’ asked Jesus, ‘because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than those!
51 He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you all, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
In truth I tell you,’ he added, ‘you will all see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.’
