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1 In the beginning was the Word , and the Word was with God , and the Word was God . 2 The same was in the beginning with God . 3 All things were made through him . Without him , nothing was made that has been made . 4 In him was life , and the life was the light of men . 5 The light shines in the darkness , and the darkness hasn’t overcome* it .
6 There came a man sent from God , whose name was John . 7 The same came as a witness , that he might testify about the light , that all might believe through him . 8 He was not the light , but was sent that he might testify about the light . 9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world .
10 He was in the world , and the world was made through him , and the world didn’t recognize him . 11 He came to his own , and those who were his own didn’t receive him . 12 But as many as received him , to them he gave the right to become God’s children , to those who believe in his name : 13 who were born , not of blood , nor of the will of the flesh , nor of the will of man , but of God .
14 The Word became flesh and lived among us . We saw his glory , such glory as of the only born † Son of the Father , full of grace and truth . 15 John 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 .’ ” 16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace . 17 For the law was given through Moses . Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ .‡ 18 No one has seen God at any time . The only born§ Son ,* who is in the bosom of the Father , has declared him .
19 This is John’s testimony , when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him , “Who are you ?”
20 He declared, and didn’t deny , but he declared, “I am not the Christ .”
21 They asked him , “What then ? Are you Elijah ?”
“Are you the prophet ?”
22 They 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 ?”
23 He said , “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness , ‘Make straight the way of the Lord ,’✡ as Isaiah the prophet said .”
24 The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees . 25 They asked him , “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ , nor Elijah , nor the prophet ?”
26 John answered them , “I baptize in water , but among you stands one whom you don’t know . 27 He is the one who comes after me , who is preferred before me , whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.” 28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan , where John was baptizing .
29 The next day , he saw Jesus coming to him , and said , “Behold ,† the Lamb of God , who takes away the sin of the world ! 30 This is he of whom I said , ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me , for he was before me .’ 31 I didn’t know him , but for this reason I came baptizing in water , that he would be revealed to Israel .” 32 John testified , saying , “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven , and it remained on him . 33 I didn’t recognize him , but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me , ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit .’ 34 I have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God .”
35 Again , the next day , John was standing with two of his disciples , 36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked , and said , “Behold , the Lamb of God !” 37 The two disciples heard him speak , and they followed Jesus . 38 Jesus turned and saw them following , and said to them , “What are you looking for ?”
39 He said to them , “Come and see .”
43 On the next day , he was determined to go out into Galilee , and he found Philip . Jesus said to him , “Follow me .” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida , the city of Andrew and Peter . 45 Philip found Nathanael , and said to him , “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets , wrote : Jesus of Nazareth , the son of Joseph .”
46 Nathanael said to him , “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth ?”
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him , and said about him , “Behold , an Israelite indeed , in whom is no deceit !”
48 Nathanael said to him , “How do you know me ?”
49 Nathanael answered him , “Rabbi , you are the Son of God ! You are King of Israel !”
50 Jesus answered him , “Because I told you , ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree ,’ do you believe ? You will see greater things than these !” 51 He said to him , “Most certainly , I tell you all , hereafter you will see heaven opened , and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man .”
—John 1 (World English Bible)