John

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

1In the very beginning, the Word was already there. The Word was with God. The Word was God.

2The same was in the beginning with God.

2He was there with God in the very beginning.

3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

3God made everything through him. Nothing was made without him.

4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

4Life was in him. That life was the light for all people.

5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

5The light shines in the dark. The dark has never put the light out.

NoteThe old wording says the darkness "comprehended it not." That does not mean the darkness did not understand the light. It means the darkness could not put the light out.

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

6God sent a man. His name was John.

7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

7John came to tell people about the Light. He wanted everyone to believe.

8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

8John was not the Light himself. He came to tell people about the Light.

9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

9The true Light gives light to every person. He was coming into the world.

10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

10He was in the world, and the world was made through him. But the world did not know who he was.

11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

11He came to his own people. His own people did not welcome him.

12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

12Some people did welcome him and trusted his name. He gave them the right to become God's children.

13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

13They did not become God's children by being born into a family. No person could choose it for them. God himself gave them this new life.

14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

14The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw how bright and great he was. He is the Father's only Son. He is full of kindness and truth.

Note"Grace" in this chapter means kindness that God gives as a free gift, not something people earn.

15John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

15John told people about him. He called out, "This is the one I talked about. He comes after me, but he is greater than me. He was here before me."

16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

16He has so much to give. We have all been given a share. He gives us kindness on top of kindness.

17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

17The law, God's rules, was given through Moses. Kindness and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

18No one has ever seen God. The only Son stays close beside the Father. He has shown us what God is like.

19And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

19Here is what John said. The Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites, who helped at the temple, to ask him, "Who are you?"

20And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

20John did not hide anything. He said clearly, "I am not the Christ, the king God promised to send."

21And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

21They asked, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah, the prophet from long ago?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet God promised?" He answered, "No."

22Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

22So they said, "Then who are you? We must bring an answer back to the men who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

23He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

23John said, "I am a voice calling out in the empty desert. I say, 'Make the road straight for the Lord.'" The prophet Isaiah wrote those words long ago.

24And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

24The men who had been sent were Pharisees. They were a group who cared very much about God's rules.

25And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

25They asked him, "Then why do you baptize people? You say you are not the Christ, or Elijah, or the Prophet."

26John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

26John answered, "I baptize with water. But someone is standing here among you, and you do not know him.

27He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

27He is coming after me, and he is greater than me. I am not even good enough to untie his sandals."

28These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

28All this happened at Bethabara, across the Jordan River. That is where John was baptizing.

29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him. He said, "Look, the Lamb of God! He takes away the sin of the world.

30This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

30This is the man I talked about. I said, 'A man is coming after me who is greater than me. He was here before me.'

31And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

31I did not know who he was. But I came baptizing with water so the people of Israel could see him."

32And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

32Then John said, "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven like a dove. The Spirit stayed on him.

33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

33I did not know who he was. But God sent me to baptize with water. God told me, 'You will see the Spirit come down and stay on a man. He is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.'

34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

34I saw it happen. And I have told everyone that this is the Son of God."

35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

35The next day John was standing there again with two of his followers.

36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

36He saw Jesus walking by. He said, "Look, the Lamb of God!"

37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

37The two followers heard him say it. So they went and followed Jesus.

38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

38Jesus turned around and saw them following him. He asked, "What are you looking for?" They said, "Rabbi, where are you staying?" Rabbi means teacher.

39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

39Jesus said, "Come and see." So they went and saw where he was staying. They spent the rest of the day with him. It was about the tenth hour.

NoteThe "tenth hour" was counted from sunrise. It means about four o'clock in the afternoon.

40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

40One of the two men who heard John and followed Jesus was Andrew. He was Simon Peter's brother.

41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

41The first thing Andrew did was find his brother Simon. He said, "We have found the Messiah!" Messiah means the Christ, the king God promised.

42And 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.

42Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon, the son of Jona. You will be called Cephas." Cephas means a stone.

Note"Cephas" is the word for stone in the language Jesus spoke. The name "Peter" means the same thing in Greek.

43The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

43The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me."

44Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

44Philip came from a town called Bethsaida. Andrew and Peter came from that same town.

45Philip 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.

45Philip found Nathanael. He said, "We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law. The prophets wrote about him too. He is Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

46And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

46Nathanael said, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."

47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

47Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him. He said about him, "Here is a true Israelite. He does not trick anyone."

48Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

48Nathanael asked, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you."

49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

49Nathanael said, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"

50Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

50Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see much greater things than that."

51And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

51Then he said, "I tell you the truth. You will all see heaven open. You will see God's angels going up and coming down on the Son of Man."