John 1:1–28

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²The same was in the beginning with God. ³All things were made through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made. ⁴In him was life; and the life was the light of men. ⁵And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not. ⁶There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸He was not the light, but came that he might bear witness of the light. ⁹There was the true light, even the light which lighteth every man, coming into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not. ¹¹He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not. ¹²But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name: ¹³who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. ¹⁴And 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. ¹⁵John 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. ¹⁶For of his fulness we all received, and grace for grace. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

¹⁹And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent unto him from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him, Who art thou? ²⁰And he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, I am not the Christ. ²¹And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No. ²²They said therefore unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself? ²³He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet. ²⁴And they had been sent from the Pharisees. ²⁵And they asked him, and said unto him, Why then baptizest thou, if thou art not the Christ, neither Elijah, neither the prophet? ²⁶John answered them, saying, I baptize in water: in the midst of you standeth one whom ye know not, ²⁷even he that cometh after me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose. ²⁸These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.