1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not. 6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but [came ]that he might bear witness of the light. 9 There was the true light, [even the light ]which lighteth every man, coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. 11 He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not. 12 But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, [even ]to them that believe on his name: 13 which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth. 15 John beareth witness of him, and crieth, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is become before me: for he was before me. 16 For of his fulness we all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given by Moses; grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. 18◆ No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him]. 19 And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent unto him from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him, Who art thou? 20 And he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, I am not the Christ. 21 And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No. 22 They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? 23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet. 24 And they had been sent from the Pharisees. 25 And they asked him, and said unto him, Why then baptizest thou, if thou art not the Christ, neither Elijah, neither the prophet? 26 John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: in the midst of you standeth one whom ye know not, 27 [even ]he that cometh after me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose. 28 These things were done in Bethany beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world! 30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is become before me: for he was before me. 31 And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause came I baptizing with water. 32 And John bare witness, saying, I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and it abode upon him. 33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, he said unto me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him, the same is he that baptizeth with the Holy Spirit. 34 And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God. 35 Again on the morrow John was standing, and two of his disciples; 36 and he looked upon Jesus as he walked, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God! 37 And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. 38 And Jesus turned, and beheld them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? And they said unto him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Master), where abidest thou? 39 He saith unto them, Come, and ye shall see. They came therefore and saw where he abode; and they abode with him that day: it was about the tenth hour. 40 One of the two that heard John [speak], and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. 41 He findeth first his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah (which is, being interpreted, Christ). 42 He brought him unto Jesus. Jesus looked upon him, and said, Thou art Simon the son of John: thou shalt be called Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter). 43 On the morrow he was minded to go forth into Galilee, and he findeth Philip: and Jesus saith unto him, Follow me. 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 46 And Nathanael said unto him, Can any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see. 47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile! 48 Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. 49 Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel. 50 Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee underneath the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these. 51 And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
John · Revised Version with Apocrypha
John 1 Revised Version with Apocrypha
Audio: World English Bible (WEB), read by Winfred W. Henson · About the recordings
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)