John 1

The Deity of Jesus Christ

1 ¹In the beginning was ²the Word, and the Word was ³with God, and ⁴the Word was God.

2 ^[a]He was in the beginning with God.

3 ⁵All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing * came into being that has come into being.

4 ⁶In Him was life, and the life was ⁷the Light of men.

5 ⁸The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not ^[b]comprehend it.

The Witness John

6 There ^[c]came a man sent from God, whose name was ⁹John.

7 ^[d]He came ^[e]10as a witness, to testify about the Light, ¹¹so that all might believe through him.

8 ^[f]12He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

9 There was ¹³the true Light ^[g]which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.

10 He was in the world, and ¹⁴the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

11 He came to His ^[h]own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become ¹⁵children of God, even ¹⁶to those who believe in His name,

13 ¹⁷who were ^[i]born, not of ^[j]blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

The Word Made Flesh

14 And ¹⁸the Word ¹⁹became flesh, and ^[k]20dwelt among us, and ²¹we saw His glory, glory as of ^[l]the only begotten from the Father, full of ²²grace and ²³truth.

15 John ²⁴testified about Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, '²⁵He who comes after me ^[m]has a higher rank than I, ²⁶for He existed before me.' "

16 For of His ²⁷fullness ^[n]we have all received, and ^[o]grace upon grace.

17 For ²⁸the Law was given through Moses; ²⁹grace and ³⁰truth ^[p]were realized through Jesus Christ.

18 ³¹No one has seen God at any time; ³²the only begotten God who is ³³in the bosom of the Father, ³⁴He has explained Him.

The Testimony of John

19 This is ³⁵the testimony of John, when ³⁶the Jews sent to him priests and Levites ³⁷from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

20 And he confessed and did not deny, but confessed, "³⁸I am not ^[q]the Christ."

21 They asked him, "What then? Are you ³⁹Elijah?" And he said, "I am not." "Are you ⁴⁰the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."

22 Then they said to him, "Who are you, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?"

23 He said, "I am ⁴¹A VOICE OF ONE CRYING IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE STRAIGHT THE WAY OF THE LORD,' as Isaiah the prophet said."

24 Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.

25 They asked him, and said to him, "Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the ^[r]Christ, nor Elijah, nor ⁴²the Prophet?"

26 John answered them saying, "⁴³I baptize ^[s]in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.

27 "It is ⁴⁴He who comes after me, the ⁴⁵thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."

28 These things took place in Bethany ⁴⁶beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, ⁴⁷the Lamb of God who ⁴⁸takes away the sin of the world!

30 "This is He on behalf of whom I said, '⁴⁹After me comes a Man who ^[t]has a higher rank than I, ⁵⁰for He existed before me.'

31 "I did not recognize ^[u]Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing ^[v]in water."

32 John ⁵¹testified saying, "⁵²I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.

33 "I did not recognize ^[w]Him, but He who sent me to baptize ^[x]in water said to me, 'He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, ⁵³this is the One who baptizes ^[y]in the Holy Spirit.'

34 "I myself have seen, and have testified that this is ⁵⁴the Son of God."

Jesus' Public Ministry, First Converts

35 Again ⁵⁵the next day John was standing ^[z]with two of his disciples,

36 and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and said, "Behold, ⁵⁶the Lamb of God!"

37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

38 And Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, "What do you seek?" They said to Him, "⁵⁷Rabbi (which translated means Teacher ), where are You staying?"

39 He said to them, "Come, and you will see." So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the ^[aa]tenth hour.

40 ⁵⁸One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

41 He found first his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the ⁵⁹Messiah " (which translated means ^[ab]Christ ).

42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, "You are Simon the son of ^[ac]60John; you shall be called ⁶¹Cephas " (which is translated ^[ad]62Peter ).

43 ⁶³The next day He purposed to go into ⁶⁴Galilee, and He found ⁶⁵Philip. And Jesus said to him, "⁶⁶Follow Me."

44 Now ⁶⁷Philip was from ⁶⁸Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.

45 ⁶⁹Philip found ⁷⁰Nathanael and said to him, "We have found Him of whom ⁷¹Moses in the Law and also ⁷²the Prophets wrote -Jesus of ⁷³Nazareth, ⁷⁴the son of Joseph."

46 Nathanael said to him, "⁷⁵Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" ⁷⁶Philip said to him, "Come and see."

47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to Him, and said of him, "Behold, an ⁷⁷Israelite indeed, in whom there is no deceit!"

48 Nathanael said to Him, "How do You know me?" Jesus answered and said to him, "Before ⁷⁸Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

49 Nathanael answered Him, "⁷⁹Rabbi, You are ⁸⁰the Son of God; You are the ⁸¹King of Israel."

50 Jesus answered and said to him, "Because I said to you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these."

51 And He said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see ⁸²the heavens opened and ⁸³the angels of God ascending and descending on ⁸⁴the Son of Man."

John 1 Commentary

Chapter 1

The apostle and evangelist, John, seems to have been the youngest of the twelve. He was especially favoured with our Lord's regard and confidence, so as to be spoken of as the disciple whom Jesus loved. He was very sincerely attached to his Master. He exercised his ministry at Jerusalem with much success, and outlived the destruction of that city, agreeably to Christ's prediction, ch. 21:22 . History relates that after the death of Christ's mother, John resided chiefly at Ephesus. Towards the close of Domitian's reign he was banished to the isle of Patmos, where he wrote his Revelation. On the accession of Nerva, he was set at liberty, and returned to Ephesus, where it is thought he wrote his Gospel and Epistles, about A. D. 97, and died soon after. The design of this Gospel appears to be to convey to the Christian world, just notions of the real nature, office, and character of that Divine Teacher, who came to instruct and to redeem mankind. For this purpose, John was directed to select for his narrative, those passages of our Saviour's life, which most clearly displayed his Divine power and authority; and those of his discourses, in which he spake most plainly of his own nature, and of the power of his death, as an atonement for the sins of the world. By omitting, or only briefly mentioning, the events recorded by the other evangelists, John gave testimony that their narratives are true, and left room for the doctrinal statements already mentioned, and for particulars omitted in the other Gospels, many of which are exceedingly important.

The Divinity of Christ. (1-5) His Divine and human nature. (6-14) John the Baptist's testimony to Christ. (15-18) John's public testimony concerning Christ. (19-28) Other testimonies of John concerning Christ. (29-36) Andrew and another disciple follow Jesus. (37-42) Philip and Nathanael called. (43-51)

Verses 1-5 The plainest reason why the Son of God is called the Word, seems to be, that as our words explain our minds to others, so was the Son of God sent in order to reveal his Father's mind to the world. What the evangelist says of Christ proves that he is God. He asserts, His existence in the beginning; His coexistence with the Father. The Word was with God. All things were made by him, and not as an instrument. Without him was not any thing made that was made, from the highest angel to the meanest worm. This shows how well qualified he was for the work of our redemption and salvation. The light of reason, as well as the life of sense, is derived from him, and depends upon him. This eternal Word, this true Light shines, but the darkness comprehends it not. Let us pray without ceasing, that our eyes may be opened to behold this Light, that we may walk in it; and thus be made wise unto salvation, by faith in Jesus Christ.

Verses 6-14 John the Baptist came to bear witness concerning Jesus. Nothing more fully shows the darkness of men's minds, than that when the Light had appeared, there needed a witness to call attention to it. Christ was the true Light; that great Light which deserves to be called so. By his Spirit and grace he enlightens all that are enlightened to salvation; and those that are not enlightened by him, perish in darkness. Christ was in the world when he took our nature upon him, and dwelt among us. The Son of the Highest was here in this lower world. He was in the world, but not of it. He came to save a lost world, because it was a world of his own making. Yet the world knew him not. When he comes as a Judge, the world shall know him. Many say that they are Christ's own, yet do not receive him, because they will not part with their sins, nor have him to reign over them. All the children of God are born again. This new birth is ( 1 Peter. 1:23 ) Spirit of God as the Author. By his Divine presence Christ always was in the world. But now that the fulness of time was come, he was, after another manner, God manifested in the flesh. But observe the beams of his Divine glory, which darted through this veil of flesh. Men discover their weaknesses to those most familiar with them, but it was not so with Christ; those most intimate with him saw most of his glory. Although he was in the form of a servant, as to outward circumstances, yet, in respect of graces, his form was like the Son of God His Divine glory appeared in the holiness of his doctrine, and in his miracles. He was full of grace, fully acceptable to his Father, therefore qualified to plead for us; and full of truth, fully aware of the things he was to reveal.

Verses 15-18 As to the order of time and entrance on his work, Christ came after John, but in every other way he was before him. The expression clearly shows that Jesus had existence before he appeared on earth as man. All fulness dwells in him, from which alone fallen sinners have, and shall receive, by faith, all that renders them wise, strong, holy, useful, and happy. Our receivings by Christ are all summed up in this one word, grace; we have received "even grace," a gift so great, so rich, so invaluable; the good will of God towards us, and the good work of God in us. The law of God is holy, just, and good; and we should make the proper use of it. But we cannot derive from it pardon, righteousness, or strength. It teaches us to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour, but it cannot supply the place of that doctrine. As no mercy comes from God to sinners but through Jesus Christ, no man can come to the Father but by him; no man can know God, except as he is made known in the only begotten and beloved Son.

Verses 19-28 John disowns himself to be the Christ, who was now expected and waited for. He came in the spirit and power of Elias, but he was not the person of Elias. John was not that Prophet whom Moses said the Lord would raise up to them of their brethren, like unto him. He was not such a prophet as they expected, who would rescue them from the Romans. He gave such an account of himself, as might excite and awaken them to hearken to him. He baptized the people with water as a profession of repentance, and as an outward sign of the spiritual blessings to be conferred on them by the Messiah, who was in the midst of them, though they knew him not, and to whom he was unworthy to render the meanest service.

Verses 29-36 John saw Jesus coming to him, and pointed him out as the Lamb of God. The paschal lamb, in the shedding and sprinkling of its blood, the roasting and eating of its flesh, and all the other circumstances of the ordinance, represented the salvation of sinners by faith in Christ. And the lambs sacrificed every morning and evening, can only refer to Christ slain as a sacrifice to redeem us to God by his blood. John came as a preacher of repentance, yet he told his followers that they were to look for the pardon of their sins to Jesus only, and to his death. It agrees with God's glory to pardon all who depend on the atoning sacrifice of Christ. He takes away the sin of the world; purchases pardon for all that repent and believe the gospel. This encourages our faith; if Christ takes away the sin of the world, then why not my sin? He bore sin for us, and so bears it from us. God could have taken away sin, by taking away the sinner, as he took away the sin of the old world; but here is a way of doing away sin, yet sparing the sinner, by making his Son sin, that is, a sin-offering, for us. See Jesus taking away sin, and let that cause hatred of sin, and resolutions against it. Let us not hold that fast, which the Lamb of God came to take away. To confirm his testimony concerning Christ, John declares the appearance at his baptism, in which God himself bore witness to him. He saw and bare record that he is the Son of God. This is the end and object of John's testimony, that Jesus was the promised Messiah. John took every opportunity that offered to lead people to Christ.

Verses 37-42 The strongest and most prevailing argument with an awakened soul to follow Christ, is, that it is he only who takes away sin. Whatever communion there is between our souls and Christ, it is he who begins the discourse. He asked, What seek ye? The question Jesus put to them, we should all put to ourselves when we begin to follow Him, What do we design and desire? In following Christ, do we seek the favour of God and eternal life? He invites them to come without delay. Now is the ( 2 Corinthians. 6:2 ) is, wherever it be. We ought to labour for the spiritual welfare of those related to us, and seek to bring them to Him. Those who come to Christ, must come with a fixed resolution to be firm and constant to him, like a stone, solid and stedfast; and it is by his grace that they are so.

Verses 43-51 See the nature of true Christianity, it is following Jesus; devoting ourselves to him, and treading in his steps. Observe the objection Nathanael made. All who desire to profit by the word of God, must beware of prejudices against places, or denominations of men. They should examine for themselves, and they will sometimes find good where they looked for none. Many people are kept from the ways of religion by the unreasonable prejudices they conceive. The best way to remove false notions of religion, is to make trial of it. In Nathanael there was no guile. His profession was not hypocritical. He was not a dissembler, nor dishonest; he was a sound character, a really upright, godly man. Christ knows what men are indeed. Does He know us? Let us desire to know him. Let us seek and pray to be Israelites indeed, in whom is no guile; truly Christians, approved of Christ himself. Some things weak, imperfect, and sinful, are found in all, but hypocrisy belongs not to a believer's character. Jesus witnessed what passed when Nathanael was under the fig-tree. Probably he was then in fervent prayer, seeking direction as to the Hope and Consolation of Israel, where no human eye observed him. This showed him that our Lord knew the secrets of his heart. Through Christ we commune with, and benefit by the holy angels; and things in heaven and things on earth are reconciled and united together.

Cross References

• 1. Genesis 1:1; Colossians 1:17; 1 John 1:1
• 2. John 1:14; Revelation 19:13
• 3. John 17:5; 1 John 1:2
• 4. Philippians 2:6
• 5. John 1:10; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2
• 6. John 5:26; John 11:25; John 14:6
• 7. John 8:12; John 9:5; John 12:46
• 8. John 3:19
• 9. Matthew 3:1
• 10. John 1:15, 19, 32; John 3:26; John 5:33
• 11. John 1:12; Acts 19:4; Galatians 3:26
• 12. John 1:20
• 13. 1 John 2:8
• 14. 1 Corinthians 8:6; Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:2
• 15. John 11:52; Galatians 3:26
• 16. John 1:7; John 3:18; 1 John 3:23; 1 John 5:13
• 17. John 3:5; James 1:18; 1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 2:29; 1 John 3:9
• 18. Revelation 19:13
• 19. Romans 1:3; Galatians 4:4; Philippians 2:7; 1 Timothy 3:16; Hebrews 2:14; 1 John 1:1; 1 John 4:2; 2 John 7
• 20. Revelation 21:3
• 21. Luke 9:32; John 2:11; John 17:22, 24; 2 Peter 1:16; 1 John 1:1
• 22. John 1:17; Romans 5:21; Romans 6:14
• 23. John 8:32; John 14:6; John 18:37
• 24. John 1:7
• 25. Matthew 3:11; John 1:27, 30
• 26. John 1:30
• 27. Ephesians 1:23; Ephesians 3:19; Ephesians 4:13; Colossians 1:19; Colossians 2:9
• 28. John 7:19
• 29. John 1:14; Romans 5:21; Romans 6:14
• 30. John 8:32; John 14:6; John 18:37
• 31. Exodus 33:20; John 6:46; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 John 4:12
• 32. John 3:16, 18; 1 John 4:9
• 33. Luke 16:22; John 13:23
• 34. John 3:11
• 35. John 1:7
• 36. John 2:18, 20; John 5:10, 15f, 18; John 6:41, 52; John 7:1, 11, 13, 15, 35; John 8:22, 48, 52, 57; John 9:18, 22; John 10:24, 31, 33
• 37. Matthew 15:1
• 38. Luke 3:15; John 3:28
• 39. Matthew 11:14; Matthew 16:14
• 40. Deuteronomy 18:15, 18; Matthew 21:11; John 1:25
• 41. Isaiah 40:3; Matthew 3:3; Mark 1:3; Luke 3:4
• 42. Deuteronomy 18:15, 18; Matthew 21:11; John 1:21
• 43. Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; Acts 1:5
• 44. Matthew 3:11; John 1:30
• 45. Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:7; Luke 3:16
• 46. John 3:26; John 10:40
• 47. Isaiah 53:7; John 1:36; Acts 8:32; 1 Peter 1:19; Revelation 5:6, 8, 12; Revelation 6:1
• 48. Matthew 1:21; 1 John 3:5
• 49. Matthew 3:11; John 1:27
• 50. John 1:15
• 51. John 1:7
• 52. Matthew 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22
• 53. Matthew 3:11; Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; Acts 1:5
• 54. Matthew 4:3; John 1:49
• 55. John 1:29
• 56. John 1:29
• 57. Matthew 23:7; John 1:49
• 58. Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20; Luke 5:2-11; John 1:40-42
• 59. Daniel 9:25; John 4:25
• 60. Matthew 16:17; John 21:15-17
• 61. 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 3:22; 1 Corinthians 9:5; 1 Corinthians 15:5; Galatians 1:18; Galatians 2:9, 11, 14
• 62. Matthew 16:18
• 63. John 1:29, 35
• 64. Matthew 4:12; John 1:28; John 2:11
• 65. Matthew 10:3; John 1:44-48; John 6:5, 7; John 12:21; John 14:8
• 66. Matthew 8:22
• 67. Matthew 10:3; John 1:44-48; John 6:5, 7; John 12:21; John 14:8
• 68. Matthew 11:21
• 69. Matthew 10:3; John 1:44-48; John 6:5, 7; John 12:21; John 14:8
• 70. John 1:46-49; John 21:2
• 71. Luke 24:27
• 72. Luke 24:27
• 73. Matthew 2:23
• 74. Luke 2:48; Luke 3:23; Luke 4:22; John 6:42
• 75. John 7:41, 52
• 76. Matthew 10:3; John 1:44-48; John 6:5, 7; John 12:21; John 14:8
• 77. Romans 9:4
• 78. Matthew 10:3; John 1:44-48; John 6:5, 7; John 12:21; John 14:8
• 79. John 1:38
• 80. John 1:34
• 81. Matthew 2:2; Matthew 27:42; Mark 15:32; John 12:13
• 82. Ezekiel 1:1; Matthew 3:16; Luke 3:21; Acts 7:56; Acts 10:11; Revelation 19:11
• 83. Genesis 28:12
• 84. Matthew 8:20

Footnotes

• [a] Lit "This one"
• [b] Or "overpower"
• [c] Or "came into being"
• [d] Lit "This one"
• [e] Lit "for testimony"
• [f] Lit "That one"
• [g] Or "which enlightens every person coming into the world"
• [h] Or "own things, possessions, domain"
• [i] Or "begotten"
• [j] Lit "bloods"
• [k] Or "tabernacled;" i.e. lived temporarily
• [l] Or "unique, only one of His kind"
• [m] Lit "has become before me"
• [n] Lit "we all received"
• [o] Lit "grace for grace"
• [p] Lit "came to be"
• [q] I.e. the Messiah
• [r] I.e. Messiah
• [s] The Gr here can be translated "in, with" or "by"
• [t] Lit "has become before me"
• [u] I.e. as the Messiah
• [v] The Gr here can be translated "in, with" or "by"
• [w] I.e. as the Messiah
• [x] The Gr here can be translated "in", "with" or "by"
• [y] The Gr here can be translated "in", "with" or "by"
• [z] Lit "and"
• [aa] Perhaps 10 a.m. (Roman time)
• [ab] Gr "Anointed One"
• [ac] Gr "Joannes"
• [ad] I.e. Rock or Stone