John 1

1 In the [very] beginning [from the first, before all time] was the Word [Logos, divine Expression], and the Word was with [in close relationship to] God [the one true deity], and the Word was God [having God’s nature, divine]. word study 2 He [this one, the Word] was [existed, had being] with [in the presence of, towards] God [the Father, the Almighty] in [at the start of, from the beginning of] the beginning [the origin, the starting point]. word study 3 Through [because of, by means of] Him [the Word, divine Agent] all things [everything, the universe] were made [created, brought into existence], and without [apart from, separately from] Him [the divine Source] nothing [not even one thing] was made [created, came into being] that has been made [exists, came into existence]. word study 4 In Him [within His being, as the source] was life [eternal existence, spiritual vitality], and that life [the divine nature] was the light [illumination, enlightenment] of men [humanity, people]. word study 5 The Light [true spiritual illumination, shining brightly] shines [radiates, appears] in the darkness [a lack of spiritual understanding, evil], and the darkness [the forces of evil, ignorance] has not [completely, utterly] overcome [grasped, seized] it [the Light, Jesus]. word study 6 There came [appeared, was sent forth] a man [human being, person] who was sent [appointed, dispatched] from [by, with] God [the one true deity, Creator] [having been given a mission]. His name [identity, character] was John [the Baptist, a prophet]. word study 7 He came [as a witness to explain] as a witness [for a testimony] to testify [to give evidence] about the Light [the divine illumination, the source of spiritual understanding], so that through him [because of his testimony] everyone [all people, every person] might believe [trust, have faith]. word study 8 He himself [was not the source] was not the Light [true illumination, spiritual enlightenment], but he came [was sent, with a specific purpose] to testify [bear witness, give evidence] about [concerning, regarding] the Light [the divine presence, Jesus Christ]. word study 9 The true [genuine, authentic] Light [spiritual illumination] who gives [enlightens, shines upon] light [understanding, wisdom] to every [all, each] man [human being, person] was coming [arriving, entering] into [toward, within] the world [the earthly realm, human society]. word study 10 He was [present and active] in the world [of humanity, the cosmos], and though the world [creation, the universe] was made [created, brought into being] through Him [as the divine Agent], the world [mankind, the earthly realm] did not recognize [know, acknowledge, or understand] Him [as the Messiah, the Savior]. word study 11 He came [to his own people, the Jews] to His own [private, personal domain], and His own [those who belonged to him] did not [completely, utterly] receive [take to their hearts, accept] Him. word study 12 But to all who did receive [accept, welcome] Him, to those who believed [trusted, had faith] in His name [character, authority], He gave [bestowed, granted] the right [authority, power] to become [be, come into being] children [sons, daughters] of God [the Father, Almighty]— word study 13 children born not of [physical heritage, bloodlines] blood, nor of the [human, fleshly] desire or [personal, intentional] will of man, but born [begotten, brought into being] of [the heavenly Father, divine source] God. word study 14 The Word [Logos, divine Expression] became flesh [human nature, physical body] and made His dwelling [tabernacled, resided] among us. We have seen His glory [divine presence, honor], the glory [radiant splendor] of the one and only [unique, one-of-a-kind] Son from the Father [God, heavenly Parent], full [complete, filled] of grace [unmerited favor, loving-kindness] and truth [reality, faithfulness]. word study 15 John [the Baptist, a prophet] testified [gave witness, bore record] concerning Him. He cried out [shouted, exclaimed], saying, “This is He [the Messiah, the Christ] of whom I said, ‘He who comes [will come, is coming] after me has surpassed [is preferred, become before] me because He was [existed, had being] before me [in existence, by nature].’” word study 16 From His [out of, originating from] fullness [fulness of God’s power and love, completeness] we have all [every one of us, collectively] received [taken, accepted] grace [unmerited favor, divine influence] upon [in place of, one after another] grace [graciousness, kindness]. word study 17 For the law [given by God, a set of rules] was given through Moses [the Hebrew lawgiver]; grace [unmerited favor, divine influence] and truth [reality, accuracy] came through Jesus Christ [the Messiah, God’s anointed]. word study 18 No one [none, nobody] has ever seen God [the one true deity], but the one and only [unique, one-of-a-kind] Son, who is Himself [having God’s nature] God and is at the Father’s [the male parent, the Creator] side, has made Him known [declared, told, revealed]. word study 19 And this [specific, particular] was John’s [the Baptist’s, a prophet’s] testimony [witness, evidence] when the Jews [people from Judah, Israelites] of Jerusalem [the holy city] sent [dispatched, commissioned] priests [spiritual leaders, mediators] and Levites [temple servants, assistants] to ask him, “Who [what kind of person, what is your identity] are you [who do you claim to be, what is your role]?” word study 20 He did not refuse [straightforwardly and without hesitation] to confess [acknowledge and agree], but openly [plainly and clearly] declared, “I am [exist as] not [completely and utterly] the Christ [anointed, the Messiah, God’s chosen king].” word study 21 “Then who are you [what is your identity]?” they inquired [asked, questioned]. “Are you Elijah [the prophet who was expected to return]?” He said, “I am not [I do not have that role].” “Are you the Prophet [the one who speaks for God, a messenger like Moses]?” He answered [replied, responded], “No [not at all, absolutely not].” word study 22 So they said to him, “Who [which one, what person] are you? We need an answer [a response, to give account] for those who sent [have been sent by] us. What do you say [declare, speak] about yourself [your own person, your identity]?” word study 23 John replied in the words of Isaiah [a prophet who spoke for God] the prophet: “I am a voice [a sound or noise] of one calling [crying out, shouting] in the wilderness [a deserted, uninhabited place], ‘Make straight [to straighten or guide] the way [a road or path] for the Lord [the supreme God, Master] [the One who has authority and power].’” word study 24 Then [And, at that time] the Pharisees [a Jewish sect, strict followers of the law] who had been sent [from, by the Pharisees, as their representatives] [out from, originating from] word study 25 asked him, “Why then [for what reason, therefore] do you baptize [immerse in water, perform a ritual cleansing], if you are not [are neither, claim not to be] the Christ [Messiah, anointed one], nor [neither] Elijah [the prophet], nor [neither] the Prophet [a spokesperson for God, one who speaks forth God’s will]?” word study 26 “I [the speaker himself] baptize [to immerse] with water [literal or figurative],” John [the Baptist] replied, “but among [in the midst of] you [directly addressing them] stands [in an upright position] One [a specific person] you [as individuals] do not know [are not aware of]. word study 27 He is the One [the Messiah, coming after me] who comes after me, the straps [leather thongs, cords] of whose sandals [footwear, shoes] I am not worthy [deserving, fit] to untie [loosen, release].” word study 28 All this [these things, these events] happened at Bethany [a village near Jerusalem] beyond [on the other side of] the Jordan [a river in Palestine], where [in the location] John [the Baptist, a prophet] was baptizing [immersing in water, performing ritual cleansing]. word study 29 The next day [following day, on the morrow] John saw Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] coming toward him and said, “Look [behold, see], the Lamb [a young sheep, symbol of Jesus] of God [the one true deity], who takes away [lifts up, removes] the sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards] of the world [the orderly arrangement, the world and its inhabitants]! word study 30 This is He [the Messiah, the Christ] of whom I said, ‘A man [an adult male, a husband] who comes [arrives, is sent] after me [behind me, following me] has surpassed [exceeded, gone beyond] me because He [as the eternal Son] was before [prior to, preceding] me [in existence, in time].’ word study 31 I myself [personally, as an individual] did not know [was unaware of, did not recognize] Him, but the reason [purpose, intention] I came baptizing [immersed, submerged] with water was that He might be revealed [made manifest, disclosed] to Israel [the chosen people, God’s nation].” word study 32 Then John [the Baptist, a witness to Jesus] testified, “I saw the Spirit [the vital principle or mental disposition] descending [coming down, from a higher place] from heaven [the sky and God’s home] like [in the manner of] a dove [a symbol of peace and innocence] and resting [staying, remaining] on Him [Jesus, the Messiah]. word study 33 I myself [personally, on my own] did not know Him [as the Messiah, the Christ], but the One [God, the Father] who sent me [as a messenger, an ambassador] to baptize [to immerse, to submerge] with water told me, ‘The man [the person, the individual] on whom you see [perceive, discern] the Spirit [the Holy Spirit, the divine Presence] descend [come down, alight] and rest [remain, abide] is He [the One, the Christ] who will baptize [immerse, fill] with the Holy [set apart, sanctified] Spirit [the Spirit of God, the divine Breath].’ word study 34 I have seen [with my own eyes, perceived] and testified [given witness, borne record] that this [specific person, Jesus] is the [unique, one and only] Son [child, offspring] of God [the Father, divine Creator]. ” word study 35 The next day [following day, after this] John [the Baptist, a prophet] was there again [standing, present once more] with two [a pair, a couple] of his disciples [learners, followers]. word study 36 When he saw [beheld, looked upon] Jesus [Joshua, God is salvation] walking by [passing by, walking behind], he said, “Look [behold, see], the [this, who] Lamb [young sheep, symbol of sacrifice] of God [the one true deity, Creator]!” word study 37 And when the two [a pair] disciples [learners, followers] heard [listened, understood, and obeyed] him say this, they followed [accompanied, walked with] Jesus [the Savior, God’s salvation]. word study 38 Jesus [the Greek name for Joshua, meaning God is salvation] turned [to change direction completely] and saw them following [accompanying Him as disciples]. “What do you want [to seek or look for]?” He asked [said or spoke]. They said to Him, “Rabbi [my master, a title of respect]” (which means [being interpreted] Teacher [an instructor or guide]), “where [in what location] are You staying [remaining or dwelling]?” word study 39 “Come [and follow] and see [perceive, experience],” He replied [said to them]. So they went [came, arrived] and saw [perceived, understood] where He was staying [dwelling, abiding], and spent [remained, stayed] that day [a period of 24 hours] with Him [in His presence, beside Him]. It was about [approximately, around] the tenth [the tenth position, sequence] hour [a specific time, a moment]. word study 40 Andrew [the brother of Simon, a manly figure], Simon Peter’s [the rock, a foundational apostle] brother, was one [a single individual, united with another] of the two [a pair, a duo] who heard [listened and understood, with spiritual ears] John’s [the Baptist, a prophet] testimony [a witness, a declaration of truth] and followed [accompanied, walked with, as a disciple] Jesus [the Messiah, the Christ]. word study 41 He first [at the very beginning, initially] found [discovered, met] his brother [fellow sibling, close relative] Simon and told [said, spoke to] him, “We have found [discovered, encountered] the Messiah [Christ, the Anointed One]” (which is [being interpreted as, means] translated as Christ [the chosen One, Savior]). word study 42 Andrew brought him to Jesus [the Messiah, God’s Anointed], who looked at him and said, “You are Simon [a Hebrew name meaning’hearing’] son of John [a Hebrew name meaning’God is gracious’]. You will be called Cephas [a rock or stone]” (which is translated as Peter). word study 43 The next day [following day, day after] Jesus decided [was minded, willed] to set out [go forth, leave] for Galilee [the region of Galilee, a district in Palestine]. Finding [and found] Philip, He told [said to] him, “Follow [be following, come after] Me [as a disciple, in faith].” word study 44 Now Philip [of the city, from the town] was from Bethsaida [the fishing-house, a place in Palestine], the same town [city, location] as Andrew [manly, a key figure] and Peter [a rock, a stone, the name given by Jesus]. word study 45 Philip found [discovered, met] Nathanael and told him, “We have found [encountered, discovered] the One Moses [the lawgiver, prophet] wrote about in the Law [the Torah, God’s instructions], the One the prophets [messengers of God, foretellers] foretold—Jesus [the Savior, God is salvation] of Nazareth [the city of Jesus’ upbringing], the son [offspring, descendant] of Joseph [a righteous man, Jesus’ earthly father].” word study 46 “Can anything [truly] good [beneficial, morally excellent] come from [out of, originating in] Nazareth [a small, insignificant town]?” Nathanael [Bartholomew, a sincere Israelite] asked. “Come [approach, draw near] and see [look, behold, perceive],” said Philip [a devoted disciple, one of Jesus’ twelve apostles]. word study 47 When Jesus [the Messiah, God’s salvation] saw Nathanael [a true Israelite, a descendant of Israel] approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true [genuine, authentic] Israelite [a child of God’s chosen people], in whom there is no [absolutely none, completely free from] deceit [guile, cunning, or trickery].” word study 48 “How [whence, from where] do You know [have understanding of, perceive] me?” Nathanael [a disciple of Jesus] asked. Jesus replied, “Before [prior to, when] Philip [one of Jesus’ twelve apostles] called [invited, summoned] you, I saw [perceived, had insight into] you under [beneath, in the shade of] the fig tree.” word study 49 “Rabbi [my Master, Teacher],” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son [having God’s nature] of God [the supreme Deity, Creator]! You are the King [Sovereign Ruler] of Israel [God’s chosen people]!” word study 50 Jesus [the Son of God, Joshua] said to him, “Do you believe [have faith, trust] just because I told you I saw [perceived, observed] you under [beneath, underneath] the fig tree? You will see [perceive, experience] greater [more remarkable, extraordinary] things than these [these events, circumstances].” word study 51 Then He declared, “Truly, truly [verily, I assure you], I tell you, you will all see [perceive, behold] heaven [the spiritual realm, the sky] open [unlocked, accessible] and the angels [messengers, heavenly beings] of God [the Almighty, Creator] ascending [going up, rising] and descending [coming down, falling] on the Son [the Messiah, the Anointed One] of Man [humanity, the human race].” word study