John 1

Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word

1In the beginning the Word already existed.

The Word was with God,

and the Word was God.

2He existed in the beginning with God.

3God created everything through him,

and nothing was created except through him.

4The Word gave life to everything that was created,*1:3-4 Or and nothing that was created was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything.

and his life brought light to everyone.

5The light shines in the darkness,

and the darkness can never extinguish it.*1:5 Or and the darkness has not understood it.

6God sent a man, John the Baptist,*1:6 Greek a man named John. 7to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. 8John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.

10He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. 11He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. 12But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. 13They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

14So the Word became human*1:14a Greek became flesh. and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.*1:14b Or grace and truth; also in 1:17. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.

15John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”

16From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.*1:16 Or received the grace of Christ rather than the grace of the law; Greek reads received grace upon grace. 17For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God,*1:18 Some manuscripts read But the one and only Son. is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.