John 1
1 In [the] beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word.
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 He was in [the] beginning with God.
He always existed with God [before] he began [MTY] [to create anything].
3 All things through Him came into being, and without Him came into being not even one [thing] that has come into being.
He is the one by whom [God] caused everything to exist. He is the one who created absolutely everything [LIT].
4 In Him life was, and the life was the light of men,
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 And the Light in the darkness shines, and the darkness it not grasped [it].
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 There came a man sent from God, [the] name to Him [was] John.
A man whose name was John was sent by God {God sent a man whose name was John}.
7 He came as a witness that he may testify concerning the Light, that all may believe through him.
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 Not was He the Light, but that he may witness concerning the Light.
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 Was the Light true who enlightens every man coming into the world.
[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 In the world He was, and the world through Him came into being, and the world Him not knew.
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 To [His] own He came, and [His] own Him not received.
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 As many as however received Him, He gave to them authority children of God to be, to those believing in the name of Him,
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 who not [born] of blood nor [born] of will of flesh nor [born] of will of man but of God were born.
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 And the Word flesh became and He dwelt among us, and we beheld the glory of Him, a glory as of an only begotten from [the] Father, full of grace and truth.
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 John witnesses concerning Him and he has cried out saying; This was He (of whom I was saying; *NK(o)*) The [One] after me coming precedence over me has, because before me He was.’
[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 (For *N(K)O*) from the fullness of Him we ourselves all have received then grace for grace.
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 For the law through Moses was given, grace and truth through Jesus Christ came.
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 God no [one] has seen ever yet; (the *ko*) only begotten (God *N(K)O*) who is being in the bosom of the Father, He has made [Him] known.
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 And this is the testimony of John when sent (to him *no*) the Jews from Jerusalem priests and Levites that they may ask him; You yourself who are?
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 And he confessed and not denied but confessed that I myself not am the Christ.
So John told them the truth, and he told them clearly [DOU]. He said, “[I] am not (the Messiah/God’s chosen king)!”
21 And they asked him; What then? You yourself Elijah are And he says; Not I am. The prophet are you yourself? And he answered; No.
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 They said therefore to him; Who are you? That an answer we may give to those having sent us; what say you about yourself?
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 He was saying; I myself [am] a voice crying in the wilderness; do make straight the way of [the] Lord; even as said Isaiah the prophet.
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 And (those *k*) sent were out from the Pharisees
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 And they asked him and they said to him; Why then baptize you if you yourself not are the Christ (nor *N(k)O*) Elijah (nor *N(k)O*) the prophet?
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 Answered them John saying; I myself baptize with water; [in the] midst (now *k*) of you (he has stood *NK(o)*) whom you yourselves not know,
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 (he himself is *k*) the [One] after me coming, (who before me has been; *K*) of whom not am I myself worthy that I may untie of Him the strap of the sandal.
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 These things in (Bethany *N(k)O*) took place across the Jordan where was (*no*) John baptizing.
Those things happened at [a place called] Bethany, on the [east] side of the Jordan [River], where John was baptizing people.
29 On the next day he sees (John *k*) Jesus coming to him and says; Behold the Lamb of God, who is taking away the sin of the world.
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 He it is (concerning *N(k)O*) whom I myself said; After me comes a man who precedence over me has because before me He was.
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 And I myself And I myself not knew Him, but that He may be revealed to Israel, because of this came I myself with (*k*) water baptizing.
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 And bore witness John saying that I have beheld the Spirit descending (as *N(k)O*) a dove out of heaven, and it remained upon Him.
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 And I myself And I myself not knew Him, but the [One] having sent me to baptize with water, He to me said; Upon whom maybe you may see the Spirit descending and abiding on Him, He is the [One] baptizing with [the] Spirit Holy.
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 And I myself And I myself have seen and have borne witness that this is the (Son *NK(O)*) of God.
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 On the next day again had stood John and of the disciples of him two.
The next day John was at the same place again (with two of us/with two of his disciples).
36 And having looked at Jesus walking he says; Behold the Lamb of God!
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 And heard the two disciples of Him [Him] speaking and they followed Jesus.
(When we/those two disciples) heard John say this, we/they went with Jesus.
38 Having turned then Jesus and having beheld them following He says to them; What seek you? And they said to Him; Rabbi which is to say (meaning *N(k)O*) Teacher — where are You staying?
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 He says to them; do come and (you will behold. *N(k)O*) They went (therefore *NO*) and saw where He abides, and with Him they stayed the day that; [The] hour (now *k*) was about [the] tenth.
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 Was Andrew the brother of Simon Peter one of the two which having heard from John and having followed Him.
(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 Finds he (first *N(k)O*) the brother [his] own Simon and he says to him; We have found the Messiah, which is being translated (*k*) Christ.
[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 (and *k*) He led him to Jesus. Having looked at (now *k*) him Jesus said; You yourself are Simon the son (of John; *N(K)O*) You yourself will be called Cephas which means Peter.
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 On the next day He desired to go forth into Galilee And He finds Philip And says to him Jesus; do follow Me.
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 Was now Philip from Bethsaida, from the city of Andrew and Peter.
Philip and Andrew and Peter were all from Bethsaida [town].
45 Finds Philip Nathanael and says to him; [Him] whom wrote of Moses in the Law also the prophets, we have found, Jesus (*ko*) son of Joseph of 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 And said to him Nathanael; Out of Nazareth is able any good thing to be? Says to him (*no*) Philip; do come and do see.
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 Saw Jesus Nathanael coming to Him and He says concerning him; Behold truly an Israelite in whom deceit not there is.
When Jesus saw Nathaniel approaching, he said about Nathaniel, “Here is an example of a good Israelite! He never deceives anyone!”
48 Says to Him Nathanael; From where me know You? Answered (*k*) Jesus and said to him; Before you Philip calling being under the fig tree I saw you.
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 Answered to him Nathanael (and says: *k*) Rabbi, You yourself are the Son of God, You yourself (*k*) King are of Israel.
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 Answered Jesus and said to him; Because I said to you (that *no*) I saw you under the fig tree, believe you? Greater things than these You will see.
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 And He says to him; Amen Amen I say to all of you (from now *K*) you will behold the heaven having opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.
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.”
