Johannes 1
1 In den beginne was het Woord, en het Woord was bij God, en het Woord was God.
The one who expresses [MET] ([God’s character/what God is like]) has always existed (from the beginning [MTY] [of everything/before everything began]). He has always existed with God, and he has God’s nature.
2 Dit was in den beginne bij God.
He always existed with God [before] he began [MTY] [to create anything].
3 Alle dingen zijn door Hetzelve gemaakt, en zonder Hetzelve is geen ding gemaakt, dat gemaakt is.
He is the one by whom [God] caused everything to exist. He is the one who created absolutely everything [LIT].
4 In Hetzelve was het Leven, en het Leven was het Licht der mensen.
He is the one who [caused everything to] live. He, who caused us people to live, [revealed to us the truth about God as] a light [MET] [reveals what is in the darkness].
5 En het Licht schijnt in de duisternis, en de duisternis heeft hetzelve niet begrepen.
People do not want him to reveal [that what they do is evil] [MET], just [like] darkness [is evil]. But [just like] darkness cannot put out light [MET], [evil people have never prevented the one who was like a light from revealing God’s truth] (OR, [evil people have never] understood the [one who was like] a light.)
6 Er was een mens van God gezonden, wiens naam was Johannes.
A man whose name was John was sent by God {God sent a man whose name was John}.
7 Deze kwam tot een getuigenis, om van het Licht te getuigen, opdat zij allen door hem geloven zouden.
He came to tell people [about the one who was like] [MET] a light. He came to show that everything that the [one who was like a light] [MET] said was true, in order that he could enable all people to believe [in the one who was like a light].
8 Hij was het Licht niet, maar was gezonden, opdat hij van het Licht getuigen zou.
John himself was not the [one who was like a] light [MET]. Instead, he came to tell others about that [one who was like a] light.
9 Dit was het waarachtige Licht, Hetwelk verlicht een iegelijk mens, komende in de wereld.
[While John was doing that], the one who was truly [like] a light was about to show himself to the world. He was the one who enables all people [to know about God, as] a light [MET] enables [people to know what is in the darkness].
10 Hij was in de wereld, en de wereld is door Hem gemaakt; en de wereld heeft Hem niet gekend.
Although the one [who was like a light] was [here] on the earth, and although he was the one whom [God] caused to create everything, [most] people [MTY, HYP] did not realize who he [was]. (OR, although he was the one whom [God] caused to create everything, [most] people did not accept him.)
11 Hij is gekomen tot het Zijne, en de Zijnen hebben Hem niet aangenomen.
Although he came to the land that belonged to him [because he created it, most of] his own people, [the Jews], rejected him (OR, did not accept him).
12 Maar zovelen Hem aangenomen hebben, dien heeft Hij macht gegeven kinderen Gods te worden, namelijk die in Zijn Naam geloven;
But those [of us who welcomed him, God] authorized [that we would have a relationship with] him [MET] [like] children [have a relationship with their father]. We were people who believed [that what he said] about himself [MTY] [was true].
13 Welke niet uit den bloede, noch uit den wil des vleses, noch uit den wil des mans, maar uit God geboren zijn.
We became [like God’s children], not because our ancestors [belonged to God], or because of someone’s sexual desires, nor because some man desired to have children like himself. Instead, we were caused by God {God caused us} to become [like] his children.
14 En het Woord is vlees geworden, en heeft onder ons gewoond (en wij hebben Zijn heerlijkheid aanschouwd, een heerlijkheid als des Eniggeborenen van den Vader), vol van genade en waarheid.
The one who expresses [MET] ([God’s character/what God is like]) became a human being, and he lived among us [for a while]. As a result, we saw how wonderful he is. He came from [God] his father, and there was no other person as wonderful as he. He was wonderful because he always acted (kindly toward us/in ways we did not deserve), and he always [spoke] truthfully to us [about God].
15 Johannes getuigt van Hem, en heeft geroepen, zeggende: Deze was het, van Welken ik zeide: Die na mij komt, is voor mij geworden, want Hij was eer dan ik.
[One day] when John was telling people about him, [he saw Jesus]. Then he shouted to them, “I told you [previously] that someone will come later who is more important than I am, since he existed [long] before me. This [is the man I was talking about]!”
16 En uit Zijn volheid hebben wij allen ontvangen, ook genade voor genade.
We have all benefited very much from what he has done. Again and again, he has acted in kind way toward us in ways we did not deserve.
17 Want de wet is door Mozes gegeven, de genade en de waarheid is door Jezus Christus geworden.
Moses proclaimed [God’s] laws [to our ancestors]. But what Jesus Christ did for us [was much better]. He acted in kindness toward us in ways we did not deserve and told us the truth [about God].
18 Niemand heeft ooit God gezien; de eniggeboren Zoon, Die in den schoot des Vaders is, Die heeft Hem ons verklaard.
No one has ever seen God. But God’s only Son, [Jesus], who has always had a very close relationship with God, has told us about God.
19 En dit is de getuigenis van Johannes, toen de Joden enige priesters en Levieten afzonden van Jeruzalem, opdat zij hem zouden vragen: Wie zijt gij?
The Jewish [leaders] [SYN] in Jerusalem [city] sent some [Jewish] priests and (Levites/men who worked in the temple) to where John was, to ask him some questions. They said to him, “What do you [claim about] yourself?”
20 En hij beleed en loochende het niet; en beleed: Ik ben de Christus niet.
So John told them the truth, and he told them clearly [DOU]. He said, “[I] am not (the Messiah/God’s chosen king)!”
21 En zij vraagden hem: Wat dan? Zijt gij Elias? En hij zeide: Ik ben die niet. Zijt gij de profeet? En hij antwoordde: Neen.
Then they asked him, “Then what [do you say about yourself]? Are you [the prophet] Elijah [that was prophesied to return] {([someone/another prophet]) [prophesied would return]} [before the Messiah]?” He replied, “No, [I] am not.” Then they asked him, “Are you the prophet [like Moses that] ([we are waiting for/God promised to send])?” He replied, “No.”
22 Zij zeiden dan tot hem: Wie zijt gij? opdat wij antwoord geven mogen dengenen, die ons gezonden hebben; wat zegt gij van uzelven?
So they asked him, “Then who do you [claim to be]? [Tell us] so that we can [go back and] report to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 Hij zeide: Ik ben de stem des roependen in de woestijn: Maakt den weg des Heeren recht, gelijk Jesaja, de profeet, gesproken heeft.
John replied, “[I] am the one [the prophet Isaiah said] would proclaim [this new message] loudly [to the people who would pass by] in this desolate area: ‘Prepare [yourselves to receive] the Lord when he comes [MET], [just like people prepare] a road [for an important official].
24 En de afgezondenen waren uit de Farizeen;
Some of those people [who were questioning] John were ones who had been sent by the Pharisee [religious group] {whom the Pharisee [religious group] had sent}.
25 En zij vraagden hem en spraken tot hem: Waarom doopt gij dan, zo gij de Christus niet zijt, noch Elias, noch de profeet?
They asked John, “Since [you say] you are not the Messiah, nor [the prophet] Elijah, nor the prophet [like Moses], [what authority] do you have? [Furthermore], why are you baptizing [Jews, treating them as though they were non-Jews who wanted to become Jews]?”
26 Johannes antwoordde hun, zeggende: Ik doop met water, maar Hij staat midden onder ulieden, Dien gij niet kent;
John replied, “I am [just] baptizing people with water [to prepare them to welcome the Messiah]. But [right now] someone is among you whom you people do not know.
27 Dezelve is het, Die na mij komt, Welke voor mij geworden is, Wien ik niet waardig ben, dat ik Zijn schoenriem zou ontbinden.
He [will preach to you] after I [am gone]. [He is so important that] I am not worthy to [serve him as a slave] [MET] [by] untying his sandals.”
28 Deze dingen zijn geschied in Bethabara, over de Jordaan, waar Johannes was dopende.
Those things happened at [a place called] Bethany, on the [east] side of the Jordan [River], where John was baptizing people.
29 Des anderen daags zag Johannes Jezus tot zich komende, en zeide: Zie het Lam Gods, Dat de zonde der wereld wegneemt!
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. He said to the people, “Look! Here is the [man whom] God [has appointed to be a sacrifice] [MET], [like] the lambs [that the people of Israel sacrificed! By sacrificing himself] he will [make it possible for everyone in] the world to be no longer [guilty for having] sinned.
30 Deze is het, van Welken ik gezegd heb: Na mij komt een Man, Die voor mij geworden is, want Hij was eer dan ik.
He is the one about whom I said [before], ‘Someone will come later who is more important than I am, since he existed [long] before me.’
31 En ik kende Hem niet; maar opdat Hij aan Israel zou geopenbaard worden, daarom ben ik gekomen, dopende met het water.
I myself did not [previously] recognize that he [was the Messiah]. But [now I know who he is], and I have baptized people with water to enable [you people of] Israel to recognize who he is.”
32 En Johannes getuigde, zeggende: Ik heb den Geest zien nederdalen uit den hemel, gelijk een duif, en bleef op Hem.
John spoke clearly [what God had shown him about Jesus]. He said, “I saw [God’s] Spirit as he was descending from heaven in the form of a dove. The Spirit remained on Jesus.
33 En ik kende Hem niet; maar Die mij gezonden heeft, om te dopen met water, Die had mij gezegd: Op Welken gij den Geest zult zien nederdalen, en op Hem blijven, Deze is het, Die met den Heiligen Geest doopt.
I myself did not know [previously] that he [was the Messiah]. However, [God] sent me to baptize people with water, [people who said they wanted to turn from their sinful ways. While I was doing that], God told me, ‘The man on whom you will see my Spirit descend and remain is the one who will put the Holy Spirit within you [(pl) to truly change your lives].’
34 En ik heb gezien, en heb getuigd, dat Deze de Zoon van God is.
I saw [the Spirit descend on him], and I tell you that he is (the Son of God/the person who is both God and man).”
35 Des anderen daags wederom stond Johannes, en twee uit zijn discipelen.
The next day John was at the same place again (with two of us/with two of his disciples).
36 En ziende op Jezus, daar wandelende, zeide hij: Ziet, het Lam Gods!
When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look! There is the man God [has appointed to be a sacrifice, like] the lambs [MET] [the people of Israel have sacrificed!]”
37 En die twee discipelen hoorden hem dat spreken, en zij volgden Jezus.
(When we/those two disciples) heard John say this, we/they went with Jesus.
38 En Jezus Zich omkerende, en ziende hen volgen, zeide tot hen: Wat zoekt gij? En zij zeiden tot Hem: Rabbi! (hetwelk is te zeggen, overgezet zijnde, Meester) waar woont Gij?
Jesus turned around and saw us/them coming behind him. So he asked us/them, “What do you want?” We/They replied, “Teacher, [tell us] where you are staying, [because we want to talk with you].”
39 Hij zeide tot hen: Komt en ziet! Zij kwamen en zagen, waar Hij woonde, en bleven dien dag bij Hem. En het was omtrent de tiende ure.
He replied, “Come [with me], and you will see [where I am staying]!” So we/they went with him and saw where he was staying. We/They stayed with him until about 4 o’clock (OR, from about 4 PM until the next day).
40 Andreas, de broeder van Simon Petrus, was een van de twee, die het van Johannes gehoord hadden, en Hem gevolgd waren.
(One of us/One of the two men) who heard what John had said and who went with Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s [younger] brother.
41 Deze vond eerst zijn broeder Simon, en zeide tot hem: Wij hebben gevonden den Messias, hetwelk is, overgezet zijnde, de Christus.
[After Andrew left Jesus], the first thing he did was to find his own [older] brother Simon and say to him, “We have found the Messiah!”
42 En hij leidde hem tot Jezus. En Jezus, hem aanziende, zeide: Gij zijt Simon, de zoon van Jonas; gij zult genaamd worden Cefas, hetwelk overgezet wordt Petrus.
Then he took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked intently at him, and then said, “You are Simon. Your father’s name is John. You will be given {[I] will give you} the name Cephas.” [Cephas is an Aramaic name that means ‘solid rock’. It] means [the same in Greek as the name] Peter.
43 Des anderen daags wilde Jezus heengaan naar Galilea, en vond Filippus, en zeide tot hem: Volg Mij.
The next day [Jesus] decided to leave [the Jordan River valley]. He went to Galilee [district] and (OR, on the way there he) found a man named Philip. Jesus said to him, “Come with me!”
44 Filippus nu was van Bethsaida, uit de stad van Andreas en Petrus.
Philip and Andrew and Peter were all from Bethsaida [town].
45 Filippus vond Nathanael en zeide tot hem: Wij hebben Dien gevonden, van Welken Mozes in de wet geschreven heeft, en de profeten, namelijk Jezus, den zoon van Jozef, van Nazareth.
Then Philip [searched for] Nathaniel and found him, and said to him, “We have met [the Messiah], the one Moses [wrote about]! The prophets also [prophesied that he would come]. He is Jesus, from Nazareth [town]. His father’s name is Joseph.”
46 En Nathanael zeide tot hem: Kan uit Nazareth iets goeds zijn? Filippus zeide tot hem: Kom en zie.
Nathaniel replied, “Nazareth? (Nothing good can come from [such an unimportant place]!/Can anything good come from [such an unimportant place]?) [RHQ]” Philip replied, “Come and see!”
47 Jezus zag Nathanael tot Zich komen, en zeide van hem: Zie, waarlijk een Israeliet, in welken geen bedrog is.
When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said about Nathaniel, “Here is an example of a good Israelite! He never deceives anyone!”
48 Nathanael zeide tot Hem: Van waar kent Gij mij? Jezus antwoordde en zeide tot hem: Eer u Filippus riep, daar gij onder den vijgeboom waart, zag Ik u.
Nathaniel asked him, “How do you know what I [am like]?” Jesus replied, “I saw you before Philip called you, when you were [by yourself] under the fig tree.”
49 Nathanael antwoordde en zeide tot Hem: Rabbi! Gij zijt de Zone Gods, Gij zijt de Koning Israels.
Then Nathaniel declared, “Teacher, you [must be] (the Son of God/the person who is both God and man)! You are the King of Israel [we have been waiting for]!”
50 Jezus antwoordde en zeide tot hem: Omdat Ik u gezegd heb: Ik zag u onder de vijgeboom, zo gelooft gij; gij zult grotere dingen zien dan deze.
Jesus replied to him, “You [RHQ] believe [those things about me] because I told you I saw you when you were under the fig tree. [I was able to see you supernaturally even though I was far away from you]. But you will see [me do] things that are more surprising than that!”
51 En Hij zeide tot hem: Voorwaar, voorwaar zeg Ik ulieden: Van nu aan zult gij den hemel zien geopend, en de engelen Gods opklimmende en nederdalende op den Zoon des mensen.
Then Jesus said to him, “This is the absolute truth: [Just like what your ancestor Jacob saw long ago in a vision], some day you [(pl)] will see heaven opened up, and you will see God’s angels ascending from me and descending on me, the one who came from heaven.”
