The Bible in Basic English BBE
New International Version NIV
14 And so the Word became flesh and took a place among us for a time; and we saw his glory--such glory as is given to an only son by his father--saw it to be true and full of grace.
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The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John gave witness about him, crying, This is he of whom I said, He who is coming after me is put over me because he was in existence before me.
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(John testified 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.’ ”)
16 From his full measure we have all been given grace on grace.
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Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and the true way of life are ours through Jesus Christ.
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For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No man has seen God at any time; the only Son, who is on the breast of the Father, he has made clear what God is.
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No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.
19 And this is the witness of John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to him with the question, Who are you?
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Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.
20 He said quite openly and straightforwardly, I am not the Christ.
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He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 And they said to him, What then? Are you Elijah? And he said, I am not. Are you the prophet? And his answer was, I am not.
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They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”
22 So they said to him, Who are you then? We have to give some answer to those who sent us. What have you to say about yourself?
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Finally they said, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the waste land, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said Isaiah the prophet.
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John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet, “I am the voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’ ”
24 Those who had been sent came from the Pharisees.
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Now the Pharisees who had been sent
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Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide.