John 1 Bible in Basic English
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
1 From the first he was the Word, and the Word was in relation with God and was God.
1 EN el principio era el Verbo, y el Verbo era con Dios, y el Verbo era Dios.
2 This Word was from the first in relation with God.
2 Este era en el principio con Dios.
3 All things came into existence through him, and without him nothing was.
3 Todas las cosas por él fueron hechas; y sin él nada de lo que es hecho, fué hecho.
4 What came into existence in him was life, and the life was the light of men.
4 En él estaba la vida, y la vida era la luz de los hombres.
5 And the light goes on shining in the dark; it is not overcome by the dark.
5 Y la luz en las tinieblas resplandece; mas las tinieblas no la comprendieron.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
6 Fué un hombre enviado de Dios, el cual se llamaba Juan.
7 He came for witness, to give witness about the light, so that all men might have faith through him.
7 Este vino por testimonio, para que diese testimonio de la luz, para que todos creyesen por él.
8 He himself was not the light: he was sent to give witness about the light.
8 No era él la luz, sino para que diese testimonio de la luz.
9 The true light, which gives light to every man, was then coming into the world.
9 [Aquél] era la luz verdadera, que alumbra á todo hombre que viene á este mundo.
10 He was in the world, the world which came into being through him, but the world had no knowledge of him.
10 En el mundo estaba, y el mundo fué hecho por él; y el mundo no le conoció.
11 He came to the things which were his and his people did not take him to their hearts.
11 A lo suyo vino, y los suyos no le recibieron.
12 To all those who did so take him, however, he gave the right of becoming children of God — that is, to those who had faith in his name:
12 Mas á todos los que le recibieron, dióles potestad de ser hechos hijos de Dios, á los que creen en su nombre:
13 Whose birth was from God and not from blood, or from an impulse of the flesh and man's desire.
13 Los cuales no son engendrados de sangre, ni de voluntad de carne, ni de voluntad de varón, mas de Dios.
14 And so the Word became flesh and took a place among us for a time; and we saw his glory — such glory as is given to an only son by his father — saw it to be true and full of grace.
14 Y aquel Verbo fué hecho carne, y habitó entre nosotros (y vimos su gloria, gloria como del unigénito del Padre), lleno de gracia y de verdad.
15 John gave witness about him, crying, This is he of whom I said, He who is coming after me is put over me because he was in existence before me.
15 Juan dió testimonio de él, y clamó diciendo: Este es del que [yo] decía: El que viene tras mí, es antes de mí: porque es primero que yo.
16 From his full measure we have all been given grace on grace.
16 Porque de su plenitud tomamos todos, y gracia por gracia.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and the true way of life are ours through Jesus Christ.
17 Porque la ley por Moisés fué dada: [mas] la gracia y la verdad por Jesucristo fué hecha.
18◆ No man has seen God at any time; the only Son, who is on the breast of the Father, he has made clear what God is.
18 A Dios nadie le vió jamás: el unigénito Hijo, que está en el seno del Padre, él [le] declaró.
19 And this is the witness of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to him with the question, Who are you?
19 Y éste es el testimonio de Juan, cuando los Judíos enviaron de Jerusalem sacerdotes y Levitas, que le preguntasen: ¿Tú, quién eres?
20 He said quite openly and straightforwardly, I am not the Christ.
20 Y confesó, y no negó; mas declaró: No soy yo el Cristo.
21 And they said to him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he said, I am not. Are you the prophet? And his answer was, I am not.
21 Y le preguntaron: ¿Qué pues? ¿Eres tú Elías? Dijo: No soy. ¿Eres tú el profeta? Y respondió: No.
22 So they said to him, Who are you then? We have to give some answer to those who sent us. What have you to say about yourself?
22 Dijéronle: ¿Pues quién eres? para que demos respuesta á los que nos enviaron. ¿Qué dices de ti mismo?
23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the waste land, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.
23 Dijo: Yo soy la voz del que clama en el desierto: Enderezad el camino del Señor, como dijo Isaías profeta.
24 Those who had been sent came from the Pharisees.
24 Y los que habían sido enviados eran de los Fariseos.
25 And they put this question to him, saying, Why then are you giving baptism if you are not the Christ, or Elijah, or the prophet?
25 Y preguntáronle, y dijéronle: ¿Por qué pues bautizas, si tú no eres el Cristo, ni Elías, ni el profeta?
26 John's answer was: I give baptism with water; but there is one among you of whom you have no knowledge;
26 Y Juan les respondió, diciendo: Yo bautizo con agua; mas en medio de vosotros ha estado á quien vosotros no conocéis.
27 It is he who is coming after me; I am not good enough to undo his shoes.
27 Este es el que ha de venir tras mí, el cual es antes de mí: del cual yo no soy digno de desatar la correa del zapato.
28 These things took place at Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, where John was giving baptism.
28 Estas cosas acontecieron en Betábara, de la otra parte del Jordán, donde Juan bautizaba.
29 The day after, John sees Jesus coming to him and says, See, here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
29 El siguiente día ve Juan á Jesús que venía á él, y dice: He aquí el Cordero de Dios, que quita el pecado del mundo.
30 This is he of whom I said, One is coming after me who is put over me because he was in existence before me.
30 Este es del que dije: Tras mí viene un varón, el cual es antes de mí: porque era primero que yo.
31 I myself had no knowledge of him, but I came giving baptism with water so that he might be seen openly by Israel.
31 Y yo no le conocía; más para que fuese manifestado á Israel, por eso vine yo bautizando con agua.
32 And John gave this witness, saying, I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove and resting on him.
32 Y Juan dió testimonio, diciendo: Vi al Espíritu que descendía del cielo como paloma, y reposó sobre él.
33 I had no knowledge who he was, but he who sent me to give baptism with water said to me, The one on whom you see the Spirit coming down and resting, it is he who gives baptism with the Holy Spirit.
33 Y yo no le conocía; mas el que me envió á bautizar con agua, aquél me dijo: Sobre quien vieres descender el Espíritu, y que reposa sobre él, éste es el que bautiza con Espíritu Santo.
34 This I saw myself and my witness is that he is the Son of God.
34 Y yo [le] vi, y he dado testimonio que éste es el Hijo de Dios.
35 The day after, John was there again with two of his disciples;
35 El siguiente día otra vez estaba Juan, y dos de sus discípulos.
36 And looking at Jesus while he was walking he said, See, there is the Lamb of God!
36 Y mirando á Jesús que andaba por [allí], dijo: He aquí el Cordero de Dios.
37 Hearing what he said, the two disciples went after Jesus.
37 Y oyéronle los dos discípulos hablar, y siguieron á Jesús.
38 And Jesus, turning round, saw them coming after him and said to them, What are you looking for? They said to him, Rabbi (which is to say, Master), where are you living?
38 Y volviéndose Jesús, y viéndolos seguir[le], díceles: ¿Qué buscáis? Y ellos le dijeron: Rabbí (que declarado quiere decir Maestro) ¿dónde moras?
39 He said to them, Come and see. They went with him then and saw where he was living; and they were with him all that day: it was then about the tenth hour of the day.
39 Díceles: Venid y ved. Vinieron, y vieron donde moraba, y quedáronse con él aquel día: porque era como la hora de las diez.
40 Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, was one of the two men who, hearing what John said, went after Jesus.
40 Era Andrés, hermano de Simón Pedro, uno de los dos que habían oído de Juan, y le habían seguido.
41 Early in the morning he came across his brother and said to him, We have made discovery! It is the Messiah! (which is to say, the Christ).
41 Este halló primero á su hermano Simón, y díjole: Hemos hallado al Mesías (que declarado es, el Cristo).
42 And he took him to Jesus. Looking at him fixedly Jesus said, You are Simon, the son of John; your name will be Cephas (which is to say, Peter).
42 Y le trajo á Jesús. Y mirándole Jesús, dijo: Tú eres Simón, hijo de Jonás: tú serás llamado Cephas (que quiere decir, Piedra).
43 The day after this, Jesus had a desire to go into Galilee. He came across Philip and said to him, Come and be my disciple.
43 El siguiente día quiso Jesús ir á Galilea, y halla á Felipe, al cual dijo: Sígueme.
44 Now Philip's town was Beth-saida, where Andrew and Peter came from.
44 Y era Felipe de Bethsaida, la ciudad de Andrés y de Pedro.
45 Philip came across Nathanael and said to him, We have made a discovery! It is he of whom Moses, in the law, and the prophets were writing, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
45 Felipe halló á Natanael, y dícele: Hemos hallado á aquel de quien escribió Moisés en la ley, y los profetas: á Jesús, el hijo de José, de Nazaret.
46 Nazareth! said Nathanael, Is it possible for any good to come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him, Come and see.
46 Y díjole Natanael: ¿De Nazaret puede haber algo de bueno? Dícele Felipe: Ven y ve.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and said of him, See, here is a true son of Israel in whom there is nothing false.
47 Jesús vió venir á sí á Natanael, y dijo de él: He aquí un verdadero Israelita, en el cual no hay engaño.
48 Nathanael said to him, Where did you get knowledge of me? In answer Jesus said, Before Philip was talking with you, while you were still under the fig-tree, I saw you.
48 Dícele Natanael: ¿De dónde me conoces? Respondió Jesús, y díjole: Antes que Felipe te llamara, cuando estabas debajo de la higuera te vi.
49 Nathanael said to him, Rabbi, you are the Son of God, you are King of Israel!
49 Respondió Natanael, y díjole: Rabbí, tú eres el Hijo de Dios; tú eres el Rey de Israel.
50 In answer Jesus said to him, You have faith because I said to you, I saw you under the fig-tree. You will see greater things than these.
50 Respondió Jesús y díjole: ¿Porque te dije, te vi debajo de la higuera, crees? cosas mayores que éstas verás.
51 And he said to him, Truly I say to you all, You will see heaven opening and God's angels going up and coming down on the Son of man.
51 Y dícele: De cierto, de cierto os digo: De aquí adelante veréis el cielo abierto, y los ángeles de Dios que suben y descienden sobre el Hijo del hombre.
People & places in this chapter
From this site's family tree and Bible maps, only where those guides cite this chapter.
People
Andrew
Simon Peter's brother, a disciple of John the Baptist who first followed Jesus and brought Peter to him, from Bethsaida, and one of the Twelve.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 10:2; Mark 3:18; John 1:40
Jesus
The Son of God, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:35): the promised Son of David and Son of Abraham, 'the Word became flesh.' Joseph,…
Cited in the guide: Matt. 1:1, 16-17; Luke 3:23-38; John 1:14; Rom. 1:3
Jonah
The father of Simon Peter, named Jonah in Matthew 16:17 and John in John 1:42 and 21:15.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 16:17; John 1:42; John 21:15
Nathanael
Brought to Jesus by Philip, called by Jesus a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit, who confessed Him Son of God and King of Israel, and later fished with the disciples; he…
Cited in the guide: John 1:45; John 1:47; John 1:49
Philip
Found by Jesus and told 'Follow Me', from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter, who brought Nathanael to Jesus and is listed among the Twelve.
Cited in the guide: Matthew 10:3; John 1:43; John 1:44
Places
Nazareth
A small agricultural village never named in the Old Testament. Jesus spent his childhood and early life here before beginning his public ministry.
Cited in the guide: Luke 2:39-40; Matthew 2:23; John 1:46
Cross references (50)
Related passages for each verse, from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge as collected and ranked by readers at OpenBible.info.
- 1 Genesis 1:1; John 17:5; Revelation 19:13; Colossians 1:17; John 1:14
- 3 Colossians 1:16–17; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Revelation 4:11; Psalm 33:6; Genesis 1:26
- 4 John 8:12; John 12:46; John 5:26; 1 John 1:5–7; John 9:5
- 5 John 3:19–20; John 12:36–40; 1 Corinthians 2:14; Job 24:13–17; John 1:10
- 6 Malachi 3:1; John 3:28; Isaiah 40:3–5; John 1:33; Acts 13:24
- 7 Acts 19:4; John 5:33–35; John 1:12; John 1:32–34; John 1:36
- 8 John 1:20; John 3:28; Acts 19:4
- 9 John 12:46; John 1:4; 1 John 2:8; Isaiah 49:6; John 1:7
- 10 John 17:25; 1 John 3:1; 1 Corinthians 2:8; 1 Corinthians 1:21; Matthew 11:27
- 11 Luke 19:14; Isaiah 53:2–3; John 3:32; Acts 7:51–52; Luke 20:13–15
- 12 Galatians 3:26; Romans 8:14; 1 John 3:1; 2 Corinthians 6:17–18; Galatians 4:6
- 13 1 John 3:9; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 Peter 1:3; John 3:5–8
- 14 1 John 4:9; 1 Timothy 3:16; Galatians 4:4; John 1:1; Isaiah 40:5
- 15 Matthew 3:11; Colossians 1:17; John 1:29–34; John 3:26–36; John 1:1–2
- 16 Colossians 1:19; Romans 5:2; Ephesians 2:5–10; Ephesians 4:7–13; Colossians 2:9–10
- 17 Romans 6:14; John 14:6; Romans 3:19–26; Romans 5:20–21; John 1:14
- 18 Colossians 1:15; John 6:46; Matthew 11:27; Luke 10:22; 1 John 4:12
- 19 John 10:24; Luke 3:15–18; Acts 19:4; Acts 13:25; John 5:33–36
- 20 Matthew 3:11–12; Mark 1:7–8; Luke 3:15–17; John 3:28–36
- 21 Deuteronomy 18:15–18; Malachi 4:5; Matthew 11:14; John 1:25; Matthew 17:10–12
- 22 2 Samuel 24:13
- 23 Isaiah 40:3–5; Mark 1:3; Matthew 3:3; Luke 1:76–79; John 3:28
- 24 Matthew 23:13–15; Luke 11:39–44; Luke 11:53; John 3:1–2; Luke 7:30
- 25 Deuteronomy 18:18; Deuteronomy 18:15; John 1:20–22; Acts 5:28; Matthew 21:23
- 26 Acts 1:5; Luke 3:16; John 1:10–11; Mark 1:8; Matthew 3:11
- 27 Luke 3:16; Mark 1:7; Matthew 3:11; John 1:30; John 1:15
- 28 John 10:40; John 3:23; Judges 7:24; John 3:26
- 29 Isaiah 53:7; 1 John 2:2; 1 Peter 1:19; 1 John 3:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21
- 30 John 1:27; John 1:15; Luke 3:16
- 31 Malachi 3:1; Luke 1:17; John 1:33; John 1:7; Mark 1:3–5
- 32 Luke 3:22; Mark 1:10; Matthew 3:16; John 1:7; John 5:32
- 33 Acts 1:5; Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; Titus 3:5–6; Acts 19:2–6
- 34 Psalm 2:7; John 1:49; Matthew 4:3; 1 John 5:20; Psalm 89:26–27
- 35 Malachi 3:16; John 3:25–26
- 36 John 1:29; 1 Peter 1:19–20; Isaiah 65:1–2; Hebrews 12:2; Isaiah 45:22
- 37 Romans 10:17; John 1:43; Revelation 22:17; Zechariah 8:21; John 4:39–42
- 38 John 18:7; John 3:2; John 1:49; Proverbs 8:34; John 18:4
- 39 Luke 24:29; Matthew 11:28–30; John 6:37; John 4:40; John 1:46
- 40 Mark 1:16–20; Matthew 4:18–22; John 1:40–42; Luke 5:2–11; Matthew 10:2
- 41 John 4:25; John 1:45; Acts 13:32–33; Isaiah 2:3–5; Psalm 89:20
- 42 1 Corinthians 3:22; John 21:15–17; 1 Corinthians 15:5; 1 Corinthians 1:12; Matthew 16:17–18
- 43 Matthew 9:9; Isaiah 65:1; John 14:8; Matthew 4:18–21; John 12:21
- 44 John 12:21; Matthew 11:21; Mark 6:45; Luke 10:13; Mark 8:22
- 45 Deuteronomy 18:18–22; Micah 5:2; Luke 24:27; Matthew 2:23; Luke 24:44
- 46 John 7:52; John 7:41–42; John 4:29; 1 Thessalonians 5:21; Luke 12:57
- 47 Revelation 14:5; Psalm 32:2; Psalm 73:1; Romans 9:4; John 8:39
- 48 Isaiah 65:24; Matthew 6:6; Psalm 139:1–2; John 2:25; Revelation 2:18–19
- 49 Zephaniah 3:15; Matthew 27:42; Zechariah 9:9; Luke 19:38; Matthew 2:2
- 50 John 20:29; John 11:40; Luke 1:45; Matthew 25:29; Matthew 13:12
- 51 Genesis 28:12; Acts 7:56; Luke 22:43; Mark 1:10; Matthew 16:27–28
Cross references: OpenBible.info (CC BY), drawn mainly from the public-domain Treasury of Scripture Knowledge. · Sources & licences
Why does my Bible say something different?
- John 1:18: “the only-begotten Son” or “the only-begotten God”?
The Patriarchal Text, the KJV and most manuscripts read “the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father.” The oldest papyri and great codices read “only-begotten God.” Both readings come from the early centuries, and both confess the same Christ. Neither reading favours a lower view of the Son.
What the Fathers said
Passages from the Church Fathers that expound or quote this chapter, verbatim from the public-domain Schaff edition (19th-century English translations).
How these were chosen
“Commentary” is the opening of a homily or exposition on this chapter (John Chrysostom’s homilies, Augustine’s tractates, sermons and expositions of the Psalms). “Quotes” are sentences where the edition’s own footnotes identify a quotation of a verse here, kept only when the wording matches the verse. Only works whose authorship is not in doubt are used. Psalms follow the Hebrew/English numbering (Augustine numbers them as the Septuagint does: his Psalm 50 is Psalm 51 here).
The section of the Gospel which has been read, most dearly beloved brethren, looketh for the pure eye of the heart. For from John's Gospel we have understood our Lord Jesus Christ according to His Divinity for the creating of the whole creation, and according to His Humanity for the recovery of the creature fallen.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 6 (1888)
It is fitting, brethren, that as far as possible we should treat of the text of Holy Scripture, and especially of the Holy Gospel, without omitting any portion, that both we ourselves may derive nourishment according to our capacity, and may minister to you from that source from which we have been nourished.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 7 (1888)
Were John about to converse with us, and to say to us words of his own, we needs must describe his family, his country, and his education. But since it is not he, but God by him, that speaks to mankind, it seems to me superfluous and distracting to enquire into these matters.
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 14 (1889)
And he expresses himself thus: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God; the same was in the beginning with God." Having first of all distinguished these three--God, the Beginning, and the Word --he again unites them, that he may exhibit the production of each of them, that is, of the …
"For Thou wilt light my candle; the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness; and "of His fulness have all we received," for "that was the true Light which lighted every man that cometh into the world;" for in Thee there is "no variableness, neither shadow of turning."
Read in context · Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, series 1, vol. 1 (1886)