Berean Study Bible | New Living Translation |
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. | 1In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. |
2He was with God in the beginning. | 2He existed in the beginning with God. |
3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. | 3God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. |
4In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. | 4The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. |
5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. | 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it. |
6There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John. | 6God sent a man, John the Baptist, |
7He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe. | 7to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. |
8He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. | 8John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. |
9The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world. | 9The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. |
10He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. | 10He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. |
11He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. | 11He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. |
12But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— | 12But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. |
13children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God. | 13They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. |
14The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. | 14So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. |
15John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ ” | 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 fullness we have all received grace upon grace. | 16From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. |
17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. | 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 one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known. | 18No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. The Testimony of John the Baptist |
19And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” | 19This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” |
20He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.” | 20He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.” |
21“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” | 21“Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?” “No,” he replied. “Are you the Prophet we are expecting?” “No.” |
22So they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” | 22“Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?” |
23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ” | 23John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah: “I am a voice shouting in the wilderness, ‘Clear the way for the LORD’s coming!’” |
24Then the Pharisees who had been sent | 24Then the Pharisees who had been sent |
25asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” | 25asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?” |
26“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know. | 26John told them, “I baptize with water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. |
27He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” | 27Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.” |
28All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. | 28This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing. Jesus, the Lamb of God |
29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! | 29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! |
30This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ | 30He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ |
31I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.” | 31I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” |
32Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him. | 32Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. |
33I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ | 33I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ |
34I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” | 34I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God. ” The First Disciples |
35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. | 35The following day John was again standing with two of his disciples. |
36When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” | 36As Jesus walked by, John looked at him and declared, “Look! There is the Lamb of God!” |
37And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. | 37When John’s two disciples heard this, they followed Jesus. |
38Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?” | 38Jesus looked around and saw them following. “What do you want?” he asked them. They replied, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” |
39“Come and see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour. | 39 “Come and see,” he said. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day. |
40Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed Jesus. | 40Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of these men who heard what John said and then followed Jesus. |
41He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ). | 41Andrew went to find his brother, Simon, and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which means “Christ” ). |
42Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter). | 42Then Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus. Looking intently at Simon, Jesus said, “Your name is Simon, son of John—but you will be called Cephas” (which means “Peter” ). |
43The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.” | 43The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Come, follow me.” |
44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter. | 44Philip was from Bethsaida, Andrew and Peter’s hometown. |
45Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” | 45Philip went to look for Nathanael and told him, “We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth.” |
46“Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. | 46“Nazareth!” exclaimed Nathanael. “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” “Come and see for yourself,” Philip replied. |
47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.” | 47As they approached, Jesus said, “Now here is a genuine son of Israel—a man of complete integrity.” |
48“How do You know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.” | 48“How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” |
49“Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” | 49Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!” |
50Jesus said to him, “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” | 50Jesus asked him, “Do you believe this just because I told you I had seen you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than this.” |
51Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.” | 51Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth. ” |
|