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 through him. Without him was not anything made that has been 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 T he light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.

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 came 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 as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.

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

8 H e was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.

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

9 T he true light that enlightens everyone was coming 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 through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.

He came into the world. The world was made by Him, but it did not know Him.

11 H e came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him.

He came to His own, but His own did not receive Him.

12 B ut as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in 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 ho 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 T he Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son 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 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 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 F rom his fullness we all received grace upon 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 through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

The Law was given through Moses, but loving-favor and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 N o one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has 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 T his is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

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

20 H e declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”

He told them without holding back any words, “I am not the Christ!”

21 T hey asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” 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 hey 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?”

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 Isaiah the prophet said.”

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 T he ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.

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

25 T hey asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the 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, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know.

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

27 H e is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.”

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 Bethany beyond the 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, 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 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 comes a man who 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 I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.”

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

32 J ohn testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on 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 I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’

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 I have seen, and have testified 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, John was standing with two of his disciples,

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

36 a nd he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

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

37 T he two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

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

38 J esus 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?”

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 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.

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 who heard John, 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 found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ ).

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

42 H e 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).

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 O n the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to 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 from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.

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

45 P hilip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: 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 N athanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to 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 said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him and said, “See! There is a true Jew. There is nothing false in him.”

48 N athanael 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.”

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 him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are 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 him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will 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 H e said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on 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.”