1 I n the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

In the beginning was the Word ( Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.

2 T he same was in the beginning with God.

He was present originally with God.

3 A ll things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.

4 I n him was life; and the life was the light of men.

In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men.

5 A nd the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it.

6 T here was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.

7 T he same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

This man came to witness, that he might testify of the Light, that all men might believe in it through him.

8 H e was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

He was not the Light himself, but came that he might bear witness regarding the Light.

9 T hat was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

There it was—the true Light coming into the world that illumines every person.

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

He came into the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.

11 H e came unto his own, and his own received him not.

He came to that which belonged to Him, and they who were His own did not receive Him and did not welcome Him.

12 B ut as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

But to as many as did receive and welcome Him, He gave the authority (power, privilege, right) to become the children of God, that is, to those who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) His name—

13 w hich were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Who owe their birth neither to bloods nor to the will of the flesh nor to the will of man, but to God.

14 A nd the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.

15 J ohn bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

John testified about Him and cried out, This was He of Whom I said, He Who comes after me has priority over me, for He was before me.

16 A nd of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift upon gift.

17 F or the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

For while the Law was given through Moses, grace ( unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 N o man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

No man has ever seen God at any time; the only unique Son, or the only begotten God, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

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

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

20 A nd he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

He confessed (admitted the truth) and did not try to conceal it, but acknowledged, I am not the Christ!

21 A nd they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

They asked him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he said, I am not! Are you the Prophet? And he answered, No!

22 T hen said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

Then 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?

23 H e said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

He said, I am the voice of one crying aloud in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said.

24 A nd they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

The messengers had been sent from the Pharisees.

25 A nd they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

And they asked him, Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?

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

John answered them, I baptize in (with) water. Among you there stands One Whom you do not recognize and with Whom you are not acquainted and of Whom you know nothing.

27 h e it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

It is He Who, coming after me, is preferred before me, the string of Whose sandal I am not worthy to unloose.

28 T hese things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

These things occurred in Bethany (Bethabara) across the Jordan '> at the Jordan crossing], where John was then baptizing.

29 T he next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God, Who takes away the sin of the world!

30 T his is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

This is He of Whom I said, After me comes a Man Who has priority over me because He was before me and existed before I did.

31 A nd I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

And I did not know Him and did not recognize Him; but it is in order that He should be made manifest and be revealed to Israel that I came baptizing in (with) water.

32 A nd John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

John gave further evidence, saying, I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and it dwelt on Him.

33 A nd I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

And I did not know Him nor recognize Him, but He Who sent me to baptize in (with) water said to me, Upon Him Whom you shall see the Spirit descend and remain, that One is He Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

34 A nd I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

And I have seen and my testimony is that this is the Son of God!

35 A gain the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples,

36 a nd looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

And he looked at Jesus as He walked along, and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God!

37 A nd the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Him.

38 T hen Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

But Jesus turned, and as He saw them following Him, He said to them, What are you looking for? And they answered Him, Rabbi—which translated is Teacher—where are You staying?

39 H e saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

He said to them, Come and see. So they went and saw where He was staying, and they remained with Him that day. It was then about the tenth hour (about four o’clock in the afternoon).

40 O ne of the two which heard John speak, 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 H e first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

He first sought out and found his own brother Simon and said to him, We have found (discovered) the Messiah!—which translated is the Christ (the Anointed One).

42 A nd he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Andrew then led (brought) Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, You are Simon son of John. You shall be called Cephas—which translated is Peter.

43 T he day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

The next day Jesus desired and decided to go into Galilee; and He found Philip and said to him, Join Me as My attendant and follow Me.

44 N ow Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the same city as Andrew and Peter.

45 P hilip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Philip sought and found Nathanael and told him, We have found (discovered) the One Moses in the Law and also the Prophets wrote about—Jesus from Nazareth, the son of Joseph!

46 A nd Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Nathanael answered him, Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip replied, Come and see!

47 J esus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward Him and said concerning him, See! Here is an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile nor deceit nor falsehood nor duplicity!

48 N athanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Nathanael said to Jesus, How do You know me? Jesus answered him, Before Philip called you, when you were still under the fig tree, I saw you.

49 N athanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Nathanael answered, Teacher, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!

50 J esus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

Jesus replied, Because I said to you, I saw you beneath the fig tree, do you believe in and rely on and trust in Me? You shall see greater things than this!

51 A nd he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Then He said to him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you all, you shall see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man!