- In the beginning (at the origin) was the Word, and the Word was (had been existing) with God, and the Word was (himself) God.
- The same was (had been existing) in the beginning with God.
- All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing (not even one thing) made that was made.
- In him was life; and the life was the light of men
- And the light shines in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
- There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
- The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe (have faith or trust in Christ who is the light).
- He, John, was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
- That was the true (genuine)Light, which lights (illumines) every man that comes into the world.
- He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
- He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
- But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name (or trust his character, for what he was known for)
- Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will (or desire) of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but (born) of God.
- And the Word was made flesh (became a human being) and dwelt (tabernacled) among us. And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten (the unique son) of the Father, full of grace and truth.
- John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that comes after me is preferred (in honor) before me: for he was before me (which means he was the foremost)
- And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace (grace upon grace)
- For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
- No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son (who is himself God) which is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared and revealed him.
- And this is the record or testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who are you?
- And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ, I am not the Messiah.
- And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you that Prophet?” And he answered, “No.”
- Then they said to him, “Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?”
- John said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.” as the prophet Isaiah said
- And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.
- And they asked him, and said unto him “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor that Prophet?”
- John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there stands one among you, whom you do not know
- He it is, who coming after me is preferred in honor before me, whose shoes latchet, I am not worthy to unloose.
- These things were done in Betha-bara (also known as Bethany) beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.
- The next day John sees Jesus coming unto him, and said, Behold! the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world.
- This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’
- And I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed and made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.”
- And John bare record, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode (remained) upon Him.
- And I knew him not, but He who sent me to baptize with water , the same said unto me, ‘Upon whom you shall see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, the same is He which baptizes with the Holy Ghost.’
- And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
- Again, the next day, John stood with two of his disciples.
- And looking upon Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!”
- And The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
- Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said unto them, What do you seek? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, when translated, Master or Teacher) where are you staying?
- He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where He was staying, and remained with Him that day for it was about the tenth hour.
- One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
- He first found his own brother Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is, being translated, the Christ, the anointed one).
- And he brought him to Jesus. Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, a stone or piece of rock).
- The next day Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and He finds Philip, and says unto him, “Follow me”.
- Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
- Philip finds Nathanael, and says unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
- And Nathanael said unto him, “Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said unto him, “Come and see.”
- Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite (a true descendent of Jacob) indeed, in whom is no guile!
- Nathanael says to Him, “From where do You know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
- Nathanael answered and said unto Him, “Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
- Jesus answered and said unto him, “Because I said unto you, ‘I saw you under the fig tree,’ do you believe? You shall see greater things than these.”
- And he said unto him, Verily, verily, (or Truly truly) I say unto you, Hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Frequently Asked Questions on John 1
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Who was the Word in John 1:1? What is the relationship between God and Word?
The Word was God – The One who existed in the beginning and who made all things)
The Word was made flesh, became human, and dwelt (tabernacled) among us (i.e., Jesus Christ).The Word = God = Lord Jesus Christ
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Who was John, the Baptist in John 1?
John, the Baptist was NOT the Messiah / Christ, Elijah or the prophet. He was, in his own words, “the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord.” (John 1:20-23). He came baptizing with water so that Christ would be revealed and made manifest to Israel. (John 1:31)
The Bible says John was a man sent from God (as an apostle / with a specific mission). He came to bear witness of the Light (Jesus Christ) that all men through him might believe (and have faith in Christ who is the Light).
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Did Jesus become God?
No – it is the opposite. God became man in Christ Jesus, our Lord.
John 1:14 says, God (who existed in the beginning, and who created all things) took on flesh and became a human being and dwelt (tabernacled / made his temporary dwelling) among us.
Philippians 2:6-9 answers the “why” question. The reason why God became a man.
Jesus Christ, who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped (held on to) but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness and being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross
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Why is the Book of John so important?
The Gospel of John is arguably the most important book in the world, as it explains the Gospel (the Good News) in such a way that even a child could understand.
John 3:16, most known Bible verse tell us “For God so loved the world that He sent his only begotten son that whosoever believes in Him (Christ) will not perish but have everlasting life“
John’s reason for penning this Book : “so that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. And that by believing, we might have life (eternal) through Christ (John 20:31).
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What does “full of grace and truth” mean in Verse 14?
The answer is found in the same chapter, in Verses 17 and 18. “The law was given by Moses but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man has seen God at any time, the only begotten son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared Him”
Era of the Law vs Era of “Grace & Truth”
The Israelites knew God through the Law given by Moses (i.e the first five books of the Bible). Their knowledge of God was that He’s the creator of heaven and earth and that he required them to follow a set of commandments and regulations. That’s a partial truth of who God is.
Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son, reveals the whole truth about who God is: that He is not only a law-giver but also gracious (loves the undeserving). And dispels the misconception that God does not love us but cares only about his laws. (for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten as a ransom for many)
Jesus Christ is not only the embodiment of God’s truth, but also the embodiment of God grace (the lamb of God who would die in our stead)
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Why did John call Jesus “The Lamb of God”? (John 1:29)
In the Old Testament, lambs were used as sacrificial animals and offered for the atonement of sins. These innocent animals paid the penalty for our sins; they died so that we might live.
By calling Jesus the ‘Lamb of God,’ John is identifying Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice, the one who takes away the sins of the world through His death. -
What is the meaning of John 1:51. “Hereafter you shall see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man”
This statement of Jesus is from His conversation with Nathaniel. The imagery used by Christ in this verse points to Jacob’s ladder (in Genesis 28:10-22).
1. The ladder connects heaven and earth. There is only one, not many.
2. Angels. The messengers of God ascending and descending suggest a continuous flow of communication between heaven and earth.
3. The ‘Son of Man’ is the ladder — the only connection between heaven and earth.All roads may lead to Rome, but there is ONLY ONE ladder that connects heaven to earth, and that is our Lord Jesus Christ.”