The Message Bible MSG
New International Version NIV
16 We all live off his generous bounty, gift after gift after gift.
16
Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
17 We got the basics from Moses, and then this exuberant giving and receiving, This endless knowing and understanding - all this came through Jesus, the Messiah.
17
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18 No one has ever seen God, not so much as a glimpse. This one-of-a-kind God-Expression, who exists at the very heart of the Father, has made him plain as day. Thunder in the Desert
18
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 When Jews from Jerusalem sent a group of priests and officials to ask John who he was, he was completely honest.
19
Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was.
20 He didn't evade the question. He told the plain truth: "I am not the Messiah."
20
He did not fail to confess, but confessed freely, “I am not the Messiah.”
21 They pressed him, "Who, then? Elijah?" "I am not." "The Prophet?" "No."
21
They asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”
22 Exasperated, they said, "Who, then? We need an answer for those who sent us. Tell us something - anything! - about yourself."
22
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 "I'm thunder in the desert: 'Make the road straight for God!' I'm doing what the prophet Isaiah preached."
23
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 sent to question him were from the Pharisee party.
24
Now the Pharisees who had been sent
25 Now they had a question of their own: "If you're neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet, why do you baptize?"
25
questioned him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26 John answered, "I only baptize using water. A person you don't recognize has taken his stand in your midst.
26
“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands one you do not know.
Published by permission. Originally published by NavPress in English as THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language copyright 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
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.