1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and God was the Word. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were made through Him, and nothing that was made was made without Him. 4 Life was in Him, and Life was the light of men. 5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 6 There was a man sent by God, whose name was John. 7 He arrived as a witness to offer testimony about the Light, so that all would believe through him. 8 He was not the Light, but he was to offer testimony about the Light. 9 The true Light, which illuminates every man, was coming into this world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not recognize him. 11 He went to his own, and his own did not accept him. 12 Yet whoever did accept him, those who believed in his name, he gave them the power to become the sons of God. 13 These are born, not of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh, and he lived among us, and we saw his glory, glory like that of an only-begotten Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 John offers testimony about him, and he cries out, saying: “This is the one about whom I said: ‘He who is to come after me, has been placed ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ ” 16 And from his fullness, we all have received, even grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18◆ No one ever saw God; the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he himself has described him. 19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to him, so that they might ask him, “Who are you?” 20 And he confessed it and did not deny it; and what he confessed was: “I am not the Christ.” 21 And they questioned him: “Then what are you? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” And he answered, “No.” 22 Therefore, they said to him: “Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?” 23 He said, “I am a voice crying out in the desert, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ just as the prophet Isaiah said.” 24 And some of those who had been sent were from among the Pharisees. 25 And they questioned him and said to him, “Then why do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the Prophet?” 26 John answered them by saying: “I baptize with water. But in your midst stands one, whom you do not know. 27 The same is he who is to come after me, who has been placed ahead of me, the laces of whose shoes I am not worthy to loosen.” 28 These things happened in Bethania, across the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 On the next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him, and so he said: “Behold, the Lamb of God. Behold, he who takes away the sin of the world. 30 This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me arrives a man, who has been placed ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ 31 And I did not know him. Yet it is for this reason that I come baptizing with water: so that he may be made manifest in Israel.” 32 And John offered testimony, saying: “For I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove; and he remained upon him. 33 And I did not know him. But he who sent me to baptize with water said to me: ‘He over whom you will see the Spirit descending and remaining upon him, this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 And I saw, and I gave testimony: that this one is the Son of God.” 35 The next day again, John was standing with two of his disciples. 36 And catching sight of Jesus walking, he said, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” 37 And two disciples were listening to him speaking. And they followed Jesus. 38 Then Jesus, turning around and seeing them following him, said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi (which means in translation, Teacher), where do you live?” 39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They went and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about the tenth hour. 40 And Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who had heard about him from John and had followed him. 41 First, he found his brother Simon, and he said to him, “We have found the Messiah,” (which is translated as the Christ). 42 And he led him to Jesus. And Jesus, gazing at him, said: “You are Simon, son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas,” (which is translated as Peter). 43 On the next day, he wanted to go into Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael, and he said to him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the Law and the Prophets: Jesus, the son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” 46 And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good be from Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.” 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, and he said about him, “Behold, an Israelite in whom truly there is no deceit.” 48 Nathanael said to him, “From where do you know me?” Jesus responded and said to him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” 49 Nathanael answered him and said: “Rabbi, you are the Son of God. You are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus responded and said to him: “Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, you believe. Greater things than these, you will see.” 51 And he said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the Angels of God ascending and descending over the Son of man.”
John · Catholic Public Domain Version
John 1 Catholic Public Domain Version
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
Notes on this text (3)
- Esther and Daniel are the Vulgate books (Esther 1–16 with the Greek additions as chapters 10:4–16; Daniel 1–14 with the Song of the Three, Susanna and Bel). Baruch 6 is the Letter of Jeremiah.
- The translator's footnotes, cross-references, chapter summaries and book introductions in the CrossWire module are not shown.
- No imprimatur; single translator.
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
Bethsaida
Bethsaida lay near the Jordan's inflow to the Sea of Galilee. Its precise site is debated (et-Tell and el-Araj are candidates; approximate location). Jesus rebuked it for unbelief.
Cited in the guide: Mark 8:22; John 1:44; Luke 9:10
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)