The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word,a and the Word was with God,b and the Word was God.c 2 He was with God in the beginning.d 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.e 4 In him was life,f and that life was the lightg of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness,h and the darkness has not overcomea it.i

6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John.j 7 He came as a witness to testifyk concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.l 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true lightm that gives light to everyonen was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him,o the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.p 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believedq in his name,r he gave the right to become children of Gods—13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.t

14 The Word became fleshu and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,v the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of gracew and truth.x

15 (John testifiedy concerning him. He cried out, saying, “This is the one I spoke about when I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ ”)z 16 Out of his fullnessa we have all received graceb in place of grace already given. 17 For the law was given through Moses;c grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.d 18 No one has ever seen God,e but the one and only Son, who is himself God andb f is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

John the Baptist Denies Being the Messiah

19 Now this was John’sg testimony when the Jewish leadersc h in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. 20 He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”i

21 They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?”j

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”k

He answered, “No.”