The Beginning (Genesis 1:1–2; Hebrews 11:1–3)
2 ULT He was in the beginning with God. BSB BSB: He was with God in the beginning.
4 ULT In him was life, and the life was the light of men. BSB BSB: In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.
5 ULT And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. BSB BSB: The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The Witness of John 7 ULT He came as a witness in order that he might testify about the light, so that all might believe through him. BSB BSB: He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
8 ULT That one was not the light, but{ came} so that he might testify about the light. BSB BSB: He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 ULT The true light, which gives light to all men, was coming into the world. BSB BSB: The true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 ULT He was in the world, and the world came into being through him, and the world did not know him. BSB BSB: He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.
11 ULT He came to his own, and his own did not receive him. BSB BSB: He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
12 ULT But as many as received him, he gave to them the authority to become children of God, to the ones believing in his name, BSB BSB: But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
13 ULT the ones not born from bloods, nor from the will of the flesh, nor from the will of a man, but from God. BSB BSB: children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.
The Word Became Flesh (Psalm 84:1–12)
15 ULT John testifies about him and has cried out, saying,“This was the one of whom I said,‘The one coming after me has become greater than me, for he was before me.’” BSB BSB: John 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.’”
16 ULT For from his fullness we have all received even grace after grace. BSB BSB: From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.
17 ULT For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. BSB BSB: For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The Mission of John the Baptist (Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20)
19 ULT And this is the testimony of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem so that they might ask him,“Who are you?” BSB BSB: And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 ULT And he confessed— and he did not deny, but confessed—“I am not the Christ.” BSB BSB: He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.”
22 ULT Then they said to him,“Who are you, so that we might give an answer to the ones having sent us? What do you say about yourself?” BSB BSB: So they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 ULT He said,“I am a voice, crying out in the wilderness:‘Make the way of the Lord straight,’ just as Isaiah the prophet said.” BSB BSB: John 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.’”
24 ULT And the ones that had been sent were from the Pharisees, BSB BSB: Then the Pharisees who had been sent
25 ULT and they asked him and said to him,“Why do you baptize then if you are not the Christ nor Elijah nor the Prophet?” BSB BSB: asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 ULT John answered them, saying,“I baptize in water. In the midst of you stands one you do not know, BSB BSB: “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know.
27 ULT the one coming after me, of whom I am not worthy that I might untie the strap of his sandal.” BSB BSB: He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
28 ULT These things came about in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. BSB BSB: All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
Jesus the Lamb of God (Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22)
29 ULT The next day he sees Jesus coming to him and says,“Behold, the Lamb of God, the one taking away the sin of the world! BSB BSB: The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
30 ULT This is he concerning whom I said,‘After me comes a man who has become greater than me, for he was before me.’ BSB BSB: This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’
31 ULT And I did not know him, but so that he might be revealed to Israel, because of this, I came baptizing in water.” BSB BSB: I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”
32 ULT And John testified, saying,“I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained upon him. BSB BSB: Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.
33 ULT And I did not recognize him, but the one having sent me to baptize in water, that one said to me,‘Upon whomever you might see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, he is the one baptizing in the Holy Spirit.’ BSB BSB: I 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.’
34 ULT And I have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” BSB BSB: I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”
The First Disciples (Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11)
35 ULT The next day, John was standing again with two of his disciples, BSB BSB: The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.
36 ULT and having seen Jesus walking by, he says,“Behold, the Lamb of God!” BSB BSB: When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37 ULT And his two disciples heard{ him} speaking, and they followed Jesus. BSB BSB: And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
38 ULT But Jesus, having turned and having seen them following, says to them,“What do you seek?” And they said to him,“Rabbi(which being translated means Teacher), where are you staying?” BSB BSB: Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?”
39 ULT He says to them,“Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he is staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour. BSB BSB: “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.
40 ULT One of the two having heard from John and having followed him was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. BSB BSB: Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed Jesus.
41 ULT This one first finds his own brother Simon and says to him,“We have found the Messiah”(which is translated“Christ”). BSB BSB: He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ).
42 ULT He brought him to Jesus. Jesus, having looked at him, said,“You are Simon, the son of John. You will be called Cephas”(which is translated“Peter”). BSB BSB: Andrew 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).
Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael 43 ULT The next day Jesus wanted to go away to Galilee, and he finds Philip and says to him,“Follow me.” BSB BSB: The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”
45 ULT Philip finds Nathaniel and says to him,“We have found the one whom Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets— Jesus son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” BSB BSB: Philip 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.”
46 ULT And Nathaniel said to him,“Is any good thing able to be from Nazareth?” Philip says to him,“Come and see.” BSB BSB: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
47 ULT Jesus saw Nathaniel coming to him and says about him,“Behold, a true Israelite, in whom is no deceit!” BSB BSB: When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.”
48 ULT Nathaniel says to him,“How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him,“Before Philip called you, being under the fig tree, I saw you.” BSB BSB: “How do You know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
49 ULT Nathaniel replied to him,“Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!” BSB BSB: “Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
50 ULT Jesus replied and said to him,“Because I said to you that I saw you underneath the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.” BSB BSB: Jesus 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.”
51 ULT And he says to him,“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.” BSB BSB: Then 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.”