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

The Word (Christ) was in the beginning. The Word was with God. The Word was God.

2 T he same was in the beginning with God.

He was with God in the beginning.

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

He made all things. Nothing was made without Him making it.

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

Life began by Him. His Life was the Light for men.

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

The Light shines in the darkness. The darkness has never been able to put out the Light. John the Baptist Tells of the Coming of Christ

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

There was 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.

He came to tell what he knew about the Light so that all men might believe through him.

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

John was not the Light, but he was sent to tell about the Light.

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

This true Light, coming into the world, gives light to every man.

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. The world was made by Him, but it did not know Him.

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

He came to His own, but His own did not receive 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:

He gave the right and the power to become children of God to those who received Him. He gave this to those who put their trust in 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.

These children of God were not born of blood and of flesh and of man’s desires, but they were born of 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.

Christ became human flesh and lived among us. We saw His shining-greatness. This greatness is given only to a much-loved Son from His Father. He was full of loving-favor and truth. John the Baptist Makes the Way Ready for Jesus Christ

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 told about Christ and said, “I have been telling you about this One. I said, ‘He is coming after me. He is more important than I because He lived before me.’”

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

From Him Who has so much we have all received loving-favor, one loving-favor after another.

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

The Law was given through Moses, but loving-favor 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.

The much-loved Son is beside the Father. No man has ever seen God. But Christ has made God known to us.

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

The Jews sent their religious leaders and men from the family group of Levi to ask John, “Who are you?”

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

He told them without holding back any words, “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, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not!” Then they asked, “Are you the special One Who was to come to speak for God?” John said, “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 asked him, “Who are you? We must tell 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.

John said, “I am the voice of one crying in the desert. ‘Make the road straight for the Lord,’ as the early preacher Isaiah said.”

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

Those who had been sent were from the proud religious law-keepers.

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?

They asked John again, “Then why do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or that special One Who was to come to speak for God?”

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

John answered, “I baptize with water. But there is One standing among you Whom you do not know.

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

He is the One Who is coming after me. I am not good enough to get down and help Him take off His shoes.”

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

All this happened when John was baptizing in the town of Bethany. He was on the other side of the Jordan River. The Baptism of Jesus

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 the Baptist saw Jesus coming to him. He said, “See! 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.

I have been talking about Him. I said, ‘One is coming after me Who is more important than I, because He lived before I was born.’

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

I did not know who He was, but I have come to baptize with water so the Jews might know about Him.”

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

Then John said, “I saw the Holy Spirit come down on Jesus as a dove from heaven. The Holy Spirit stayed 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.

I did not know Him then. But God sent me to baptize with water. God said to me, ‘The Holy Spirit will come down and stay on Him. He is the One Who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’

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

I saw this happen. I am now saying that Jesus is the Son of God.” Jesus Calls Andrew and Peter

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

The next day John the Baptist was standing with two of his own followers.

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

Jesus walked by. John looked at Him and said, “See! The Lamb of God.”

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

John’s two followers heard him say this and followed Jesus.

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?

Jesus turned around and saw them following. He said to them, “What are you looking for?” They answered, “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.” They followed Him and saw where He lived. They stayed with Him that day. It was 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.

Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who had heard John’s words and had followed Jesus.

41 H e first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

The first thing he did was to find his brother Simon. He said to him, “We have found the Christ!”

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 took Simon to Jesus. When Jesus saw Simon, He said, “You are Simon, the son of John. Your name will be Cephas.” The name Cephas means Peter, or a rock. Jesus Calls Philip And Nathanael

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

The next day Jesus wanted to go to the country of Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow Me.”

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

Philip was from the town of Bethsaida. Andrew and Peter were from this town also.

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 found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law. He is the One the early preachers wrote about. He is Jesus of 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 said, “Can anything good come out of the town of Nazareth?” Philip said, “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 to Him and said, “See! There is a true Jew. There is nothing false in him.”

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 talked to you, I saw you under the fig tree.”

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

Nathanael said to Him, “Teacher, You are the Son of God. You are the King of the Jews.”

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 said to him, “Do you believe because I said I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than that.

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.

For sure, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and God’s angels going up and coming and down on the Son of Man.”