The Beginning (Genesis 1:1–2; Hebrews 11:1–3)
2 WBS The same was in the beginning with God. BSB BSB: He was with God in the beginning.
4 WBS 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 WBS And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. BSB BSB: The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The Witness of John 7 WBS The same came for a witness, to bear testimony of the Light, that all men through him might believe. BSB BSB: He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
8 WBS He was not that Light, but was sent to bear testimony of that Light. BSB BSB: He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.
9 WBS That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.BSB BSB: The true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
10 WBS He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. BSB BSB: He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.
11 WBS He came to his own, and his own received him not. BSB BSB: He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
12 WBS But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on 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 WBS Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of 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 WBS John testified concerning him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spoke, He that cometh after me, is preferred before 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 WBS And of his fullness have we all received, and grace for grace. BSB BSB: From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.
17 WBS For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by 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 WBS And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem, to ask him, Who art thou? BSB BSB: And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”
20 WBS And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. BSB BSB: He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.”
22 WBS Then said they to him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 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 WBS He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaiah. 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 WBS And they who were sent were of the Pharisees. BSB BSB: Then the Pharisees who had been sent
25 WBS And they asked him, and said to him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou art not that Christ, nor Elijah, neither that prophet? BSB BSB: asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 WBS John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not; BSB BSB: “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know.
27 WBS He it is, who coming after me, is preferred before me, whose shoes' latchet I am not worthy to unloose. BSB BSB: He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”
28 WBS These things were done in Bethabara beyond 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 WBS The next day John seeth Jesus coming to him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, who taketh 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 WBS This is he of whom I said, after me cometh a man who is preferred before 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 WBS And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with 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 WBS And John bore testimony, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him. BSB BSB: Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.
33 WBS And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said to me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizeth with 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 WBS And I saw and bore testimony, 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 WBS Again the next day after, John stood, and two of his disciples; BSB BSB: The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.
36 WBS And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God! BSB BSB: When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37 WBS And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. BSB BSB: And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
38 WBS Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith to them, What seek ye? They said to him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Master) where dwellest thou? 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 WBS He saith to them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for 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 WBS One of the two who heard John speak , and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. BSB BSB: Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed Jesus.
41 WBS He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith to him, We have found the Messiah; which is, being interpreted, the Christ. BSB BSB: He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ).
42 WBS And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas; which is, by interpretation, a stone. 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 WBS The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith to him, follow me. BSB BSB: The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”
45 WBS Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith to him, We have found him described by Moses in the law, and by the prophets, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 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 WBS And Nathanael said to him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith to him, Come and see. BSB BSB: “Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.
47 WBS Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! BSB BSB: When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.”
48 WBS Nathanael saith to him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said to him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig-tree, I saw thee. BSB BSB: “How do You know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”
49 WBS Nathanael answered and said to him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel. BSB BSB: “Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”
50 WBS Jesus answered and said to him, Because I said to thee, I saw thee under the fig-tree, dost thou believe? thou shalt 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 WBS And he saith to him, Verily, verily, I say to you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, 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.”