John 1:3-13

3 Through him God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him.

4 The Word was the source of life, ^[a] and this life brought light to people.

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.

6 God sent his messenger, a man named John, ¹

7 who came to tell people about the light, so that all should hear the message and believe.

8 He himself was not the light; he came to tell about the light.

9 This was the real light - the light that comes into the world and shines on all people.

10 The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him.

11 He came to his own country, but his own people did not receive him.

12 Some, however, did receive him and believed in him; so he gave them the right to become God's children.

13 They did not become God's children by natural means, that is, by being born as the children of a human father; God himself was their Father.