John 1
1 The one who expresses [MET] ([God’s character/what God is like]) has always existed (from the beginning [MTY] [of everything/before everything began]). He has always existed with God, and he has God’s nature.
Originally, was, the Word, and, the Word, was, with God; and, the Word, was, God.
2 He always existed with God [before] he began [MTY] [to create anything].
The same, was originally, with God.
3 He is the one by whom [God] caused everything to exist. He is the one who created absolutely everything [LIT].
All things, through him, came into existence, and, without him, came into existence, not even one thing: that which hath come into existence,
4 He is the one who [caused everything to] live. He, who caused us people to live, [revealed to us the truth about God as] a light [MET] [reveals what is in the darkness].
in him, was, life, and, the life, was, the light of men.—
5 People do not want him to reveal [that what they do is evil] [MET], just [like] darkness [is evil]. But [just like] darkness cannot put out light [MET], [evil people have never prevented the one who was like a light from revealing God’s truth] (OR, [evil people have never] understood the [one who was like] a light.)
And, the light, in the darkness, shineth; and, the darkness, thereof, laid not hold.
6 A man whose name was John was sent by God {God sent a man whose name was John}.
There arose a man, sent from God, whose name was, John:
7 He came to tell people [about the one who was like] [MET] a light. He came to show that everything that the [one who was like a light] [MET] said was true, in order that he could enable all people to believe [in the one who was like a light].
The same, came, for a witness, That he might bear witness, concerning the light, that, all, might believe, through him.
8 John himself was not the [one who was like a] light [MET]. Instead, he came to tell others about that [one who was like a] light.
He, was not the light, —but, that he might bear witness concerning the light,
9 [While John was doing that], the one who was truly [like] a light was about to show himself to the world. He was the one who enables all people [to know about God, as] a light [MET] enables [people to know what is in the darkness].
It, was—The real light that enlighteneth every man—Coming into the world.
10 Although the one [who was like a light] was [here] on the earth, and although he was the one whom [God] caused to create everything, [most] people [MTY, HYP] did not realize who he [was]. (OR, although he was the one whom [God] caused to create everything, [most] people did not accept him.)
In the world, he was, and, the world, through him, came into existence, and, the world, knew him not.
11 Although he came to the land that belonged to him [because he created it, most of] his own people, [the Jews], rejected him (OR, did not accept him).
Into his own possessions, he came, and, his own people, received him not home.
12 But those [of us who welcomed him, God] authorized [that we would have a relationship with] him [MET] [like] children [have a relationship with their father]. We were people who believed [that what he said] about himself [MTY] [was true].
But, as many as did receive him, he gave, unto them, authority, children of God, to become, —unto them who were believing on his name:
13 We became [like God’s children], not because our ancestors [belonged to God], or because of someone’s sexual desires, nor because some man desired to have children like himself. Instead, we were caused by God {God caused us} to become [like] his children.
Who—not of bloods, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but—of God, were born.
14 The one who expresses [MET] ([God’s character/what God is like]) became a human being, and he lived among us [for a while]. As a result, we saw how wonderful he is. He came from [God] his father, and there was no other person as wonderful as he. He was wonderful because he always acted (kindly toward us/in ways we did not deserve), and he always [spoke] truthfully to us [about God].
And, the Word, became, flesh, and pitched his tent among us, and we gazed upon his glory, —a glory, as an Only-begotten from his Father. Full of favour and truth.
15 [One day] when John was telling people about him, [he saw Jesus]. Then he shouted to them, “I told you [previously] that someone will come later who is more important than I am, since he existed [long] before me. This [is the man I was talking about]!”
(John beareth witness concerning him, and hath cried aloud, saying—the same, was he that said—He who, after me, was coming, before me, hath advanced; because, my Chief, was he.)
16 We have all benefited very much from what he has done. Again and again, he has acted in kind way toward us in ways we did not deserve.
Because, out of his fulness, we all, received, even favour over against favour.
17 Moses proclaimed [God’s] laws [to our ancestors]. But what Jesus Christ did for us [was much better]. He acted in kindness toward us in ways we did not deserve and told us the truth [about God].
Because, the law, through Moses, was given, favour and truth, through Jesus Christ, came into existence.
18 No one has ever seen God. But God’s only Son, [Jesus], who has always had a very close relationship with God, has told us about God.
No one, hath seen, God, at any time: An Only Begotten God, The One existing within the bosom of the Father, He, hath interpreted [him].
19 The Jewish [leaders] [SYN] in Jerusalem [city] sent some [Jewish] priests and (Levites/men who worked in the temple) to where John was, to ask him some questions. They said to him, “What do you [claim about] yourself?”
And, this, is the witness of John, when the Jews sent forth unto him, out of Jerusalem, priests and Levites, —that they might question him—Who art, thou?
20 So John told them the truth, and he told them clearly [DOU]. He said, “[I] am not (the Messiah/God’s chosen king)!”
and he confessed, and did not deny, —and he confessed—I, am not, the Christ;
21 Then they asked him, “Then what [do you say about yourself]? Are you [the prophet] Elijah [that was prophesied to return] {([someone/another prophet]) [prophesied would return]} [before the Messiah]?” He replied, “No, [I] am not.” Then they asked him, “Are you the prophet [like Moses that] ([we are waiting for/God promised to send])?” He replied, “No.”
and they questioned him—What then? Art, thou, Elijah? and he saith—I am not; The prophet, art, thou? and he answered—No!
22 So they asked him, “Then who do you [claim to be]? [Tell us] so that we can [go back and] report to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
So they said unto him—Who, art thou? that, an answer, we may give, unto them who sent us, —What sayest thou, concerning thyself?
23 John replied, “[I] am the one [the prophet Isaiah said] would proclaim [this new message] loudly [to the people who would pass by] in this desolate area: ‘Prepare [yourselves to receive] the Lord when he comes [MET], [just like people prepare] a road [for an important official].
He said—I, am a Voice, of one crying aloud; —In the desert, make ye straight, the way of the Lord: according as said Isaiah the prophet.
24 Some of those people [who were questioning] John were ones who had been sent by the Pharisee [religious group] {whom the Pharisee [religious group] had sent}.
And they had been sent forth from among the Pharisees;
25 They asked John, “Since [you say] you are not the Messiah, nor [the prophet] Elijah, nor the prophet [like Moses], [what authority] do you have? [Furthermore], why are you baptizing [Jews, treating them as though they were non-Jews who wanted to become Jews]?”
and they questioned him, and said unto him—Why, then, dost thou immerse, —if, thou, art not, the Christ, nor Elijah, nor, the Prophet?
26 John replied, “I am [just] baptizing people with water [to prepare them to welcome the Messiah]. But [right now] someone is among you whom you people do not know.
John answered them, saying—I, immerse, in water. In the midst of you, standeth one, whom, ye, know not; —
27 He [will preach to you] after I [am gone]. [He is so important that] I am not worthy to [serve him as a slave] [MET] [by] untying his sandals.”
after me, coming: —Of whom, I, am not worthy that I should unloose the thong of the sandal.
28 Those things happened at [a place called] Bethany, on the [east] side of the Jordan [River], where John was baptizing people.
These things, in Bethany, came to pass, beyond the Jordan, where John was, immersing.
29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. He said to the people, “Look! Here is the [man whom] God [has appointed to be a sacrifice] [MET], [like] the lambs [that the people of Israel sacrificed! By sacrificing himself] he will [make it possible for everyone in] the world to be no longer [guilty for having] sinned.
On the morrow, he beholdeth Jesus, coming unto him, and saith—See! the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world.
30 He is the one about whom I said [before], ‘Someone will come later who is more important than I am, since he existed [long] before me.’
This, is he, of whom, I, said—After me, cometh a man, who, before me, hath advanced, because, my Chief, was he.
31 I myself did not [previously] recognize that he [was the Messiah]. But [now I know who he is], and I have baptized people with water to enable [you people of] Israel to recognize who he is.”
And, I, knew him not, but, that he might be manifested unto Israel, therefore, came, I, in water, immersing.
32 John spoke clearly [what God had shown him about Jesus]. He said, “I saw [God’s] Spirit as he was descending from heaven in the form of a dove. The Spirit remained on Jesus.
And John bare witness, saying—I have gazed upon the Spirit, descending like a dove, out of heaven, —and it abode upon him.
33 I myself did not know [previously] that he [was the Messiah]. However, [God] sent me to baptize people with water, [people who said they wanted to turn from their sinful ways. While I was doing that], God told me, ‘The man on whom you will see my Spirit descend and remain is the one who will put the Holy Spirit within you [(pl) to truly change your lives].’
And, I, knew him not, —but, he that sent me to immerse in water, he, unto me, said—Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending and abiding upon him, the same, is he that immerseth in Holy Spirit.
34 I saw [the Spirit descend on him], and I tell you that he is (the Son of God/the person who is both God and man).”
I, therefore, have seen, and borne witness—That, this, is, the, Son of God.
35 The next day John was at the same place again (with two of us/with two of his disciples).
On the morrow, again, was John standing, and, from among his disciples, two;
36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look! There is the man God [has appointed to be a sacrifice, like] the lambs [MET] [the people of Israel have sacrificed!]”
and, looking at Jesus walking, he saith—See! the Lamb of God!
37 (When we/those two disciples) heard John say this, we/they went with Jesus.
and the two disciples hearkened unto him speaking, and they followed Jesus.
38 Jesus turned around and saw us/them coming behind him. So he asked us/them, “What do you want?” We/They replied, “Teacher, [tell us] where you are staying, [because we want to talk with you].”
But Jesus, turning, and looking at them following, saith unto them—What seek ye? And, they, said unto him—Rabbi! which meaneth, when translated, Teacher, Where abidest thou?
39 He replied, “Come [with me], and you will see [where I am staying]!” So we/they went with him and saw where he was staying. We/They stayed with him until about 4 o’clock (OR, from about 4 PM until the next day).
He saith unto them—Be coming, and ye shall see. They came, therefore, and saw where he abode, and, with him, they abode that day. It was about the tenth, hour.
40 (One of us/One of the two men) who heard what John had said and who went with Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s [younger] brother.
One of the two that heard from John and followed him, was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter.
41 [After Andrew left Jesus], the first thing he did was to find his own [older] brother Simon and say to him, “We have found the Messiah!”
The same findeth, first, his own brother Simon, and saith unto him—We have found the Messiah! which is, when translated, Anointed.
42 Then he took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked intently at him, and then said, “You are Simon. Your father’s name is John. You will be given {[I] will give you} the name Cephas.” [Cephas is an Aramaic name that means ‘solid rock’. It] means [the same in Greek as the name] Peter.
He led him unto Jesus. Jesus, looking at him, said—Thou, art Simon, the son of John, —thou, shalt be called, Cephas; which is to be translated, Peter.
43 The next day [Jesus] decided to leave [the Jordan River valley]. He went to Galilee [district] and (OR, on the way there he) found a man named Philip. Jesus said to him, “Come with me!”
On the morrow, he desired to go forth into Galilee. And Jesus findeth Philip, and saith unto him—Be following me!
44 Philip and Andrew and Peter were all from Bethsaida [town].
Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Then Philip [searched for] Nathaniel and found him, and said to him, “We have met [the Messiah], the one Moses [wrote about]! The prophets also [prophesied that he would come]. He is Jesus, from Nazareth [town]. His father’s name is Joseph.”
Philip, findeth, Nathanael, and saith unto him—Him, of whom wrote Moses in the law, and the Prophets, have we found.—Jesus, son of Joseph, him from Nazareth!
46 Nathaniel replied, “Nazareth? (Nothing good can come from [such an unimportant place]!/Can anything good come from [such an unimportant place]?) [RHQ]” Philip replied, “Come and see!”
And Nathanael said unto him—Out of Nazareth, can any good thing come? Philip saith unto him—Come, and see!
47 When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said about Nathaniel, “Here is an example of a good Israelite! He never deceives anyone!”
Jesus saw Nathanael coming unto him, and saith concerning him—See! Truly, an Israelite, in whom is no guile.
48 Nathaniel asked him, “How do you know what I [am like]?” Jesus replied, “I saw you before Philip called you, when you were [by yourself] under the fig tree.”
Nathanael saith unto him—Whence, dost thou, know, me? Jesus answered, and said unto him—Before Philip called thee, —when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee.
49 Then Nathaniel declared, “Teacher, you [must be] (the Son of God/the person who is both God and man)! You are the King of Israel [we have been waiting for]!”
Nathanael answered him—Rabbi! thou, art, the Son of God: Thou, art, King, of Israel.
50 Jesus replied to him, “You [RHQ] believe [those things about me] because I told you I saw you when you were under the fig tree. [I was able to see you supernaturally even though I was far away from you]. But you will see [me do] things that are more surprising than that!”
Jesus answered, and said unto him—Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree, believest thou? A greater thing than these, shalt thou see!
51 Then Jesus said to him, “This is the absolute truth: [Just like what your ancestor Jacob saw long ago in a vision], some day you [(pl)] will see heaven opened up, and you will see God’s angels ascending from me and descending on me, the one who came from heaven.”
And he saith unto him—Verily, verily, I say unto you: Ye shall see heaven—when set open, and, the messengers of God, ascending and descending unto the Son of Man.
