The Prologue to the Gospel

1:1 In the beginning1 was the Word, and the Word was with God,2 and the Word was fully God.3 1:2 The Word4 was with God in the beginning. 1:3 All things were created5 by him, and apart from him not one thing was created6 that has been created.7 1:4 In him was life,8 and the life was the light of mankind.9 1:5 And the light shines on10 in the darkness,11 but12 the darkness has not mastered it.13

1:6 A man came, sent from God, whose name was John.14 1:7 He came as a witness15 to testify16 about the light, so that everyone17 might believe through him. 1:8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify18 about the light. 1:9 The true light, who gives light to everyone,19 was coming into the world.20 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was created21 by him, but22 the world did not recognize23 him. 1:11 He came to what was his own,24 but25 his own people26 did not receive him.27 1:12 But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name28—he has given the right to become God’s children 1:13—children not born29 by human parents30 or by human desire31 or a husband’s32 decision,33 but by God.

1:14 Now34 the Word became flesh35 and took up residence36 among us. We37 saw his glory—the glory of the one and only,38 full of grace and truth, who came from the Father. 1:15 John39 testified40 about him and shouted out,41 “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am,42 because he existed before me.’ ” 1:16 For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another.43 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but44 grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ. 1:18 No one has ever seen God. The only one,45 himself God, who is in closest fellowship with46 the Father, has made God47 known.48