John 1

King James Version

Full text for John Chapter 1

1¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

2The same was in the beginning with God.

3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

5¶ And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

6There was a man sent from God, whose name [was] John.

7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all [men] through him might believe.

8He was not that Light, but [was sent] to bear witness of that Light.

9[That] was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

15¶ John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

17For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

18No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].

19¶ And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

20And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

21And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

22Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

23He said, I [am] the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

24And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

25And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

26John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

27He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

28These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

29¶ The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

30This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

31And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

32And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

37¶ And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, ‹What seek ye?› They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

39He saith unto them, ‹Come and see.› They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

40One of the two which heard John [speak], and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, ‹Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas,› which is by interpretation, A stone.

43¶ The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, ‹Follow me.›

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

45Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

46And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, ‹Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!›

48Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, ‹Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.›

49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

50Jesus answered and said unto him, ‹Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.›

51And he saith unto him, ‹Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.›

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

John 1 introduces Jesus as the eternal Word of God, the Creator and Light of men, who became flesh and dwelt among humanity, full of grace and truth. John the Baptist bears witness to him as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, preparing the way for his ministry. Jesus then begins to gather his first disciples, revealing his divine knowledge and identity.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens with a profound declaration of the Word's eternal nature, existing with God and being God, through whom all things were created. This Word, the true Light, came into the world, yet was largely unrecognized and rejected by humanity, though those who received him were granted the power to become children of God. John the Baptist is introduced as a messenger sent to bear witness to this Light, emphatically denying he is the Christ but pointing to one greater than himself. John publicly identifies Jesus as the "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," confirming his identity through the descent of the Holy Spirit. Subsequently, Jesus begins to call his first disciples, including Andrew, Peter, Philip, and Nathanael. Through divine insight, Jesus reveals his knowledge of Nathanael, leading to Nathanael's confession of Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel, with Jesus promising even greater future revelations.

Long Summary

John's Gospel commences with a theological prologue, establishing Jesus as the eternal Word, who was with God and was God, the agent of all creation, and the source of life and light for mankind. This divine Light entered a world that largely failed to comprehend or receive him, yet to those who believed in his name, he bestowed the power to become the sons of God, born not of human will but of God. The narrative then introduces John the Baptist, a man divinely sent to bear witness to this Light, clarifying that he himself was not the Light but a herald. John's testimony is further detailed when questioned by priests and Levites, to whom he denies being the Christ, Elias, or "that prophet," instead identifying himself as the "voice of one crying in the wilderness" from Isaiah. He explains his water baptism as a preparation for one standing among them, whom they do not know, whose shoe's latchet he is unworthy to unloose. The next day, John publicly declares Jesus to be "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world," affirming that he saw the Spirit descend and abide upon Jesus, thus confirming him as the one who baptizes with the Holy Ghost and is the Son of God. Following this witness, Jesus begins to gather his first followers. Two of John's disciples, including Andrew, follow Jesus and spend time with him. Andrew then finds his brother Simon, proclaiming they have found the "Messias," and Jesus renames Simon "Cephas," or Peter. Jesus then calls Philip, who in turn finds Nathanael. Nathanael initially expresses skepticism about anything good coming from Nazareth, but Jesus's immediate and supernatural knowledge of Nathanael's prior location and character ("under the fig tree") convinces him. Nathanael confesses Jesus as the Son of God and King of Israel, to which Jesus promises that he will see even greater manifestations, including angels ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Core Concepts

  • The Word (Logos)The eternal, pre-existent divine being, identified as God, through whom all creation came into existence and who is the source of life and light for humanity. This Word later became flesh in Jesus Christ.
  • John the Baptist's WitnessJohn was a man sent from God to bear witness to the true Light, Jesus Christ. He denied being the Christ, Elias, or "that prophet," instead proclaiming himself a voice preparing the way for the Lord and identifying Jesus as the Lamb of God.
  • The Light of MenThe Word is presented as the true Light that enlightens every person coming into the world. This light shines in darkness, though the darkness did not comprehend it, and it was largely unrecognized by the world it created.
  • Becoming Sons of GodWhile the world and "his own" rejected the Word made flesh, those who received him and believed on his name were given the power to become children of God. This spiritual birth is described as being "born of God," not of human lineage or will.
  • The Lamb of GodJohn the Baptist identifies Jesus with this title, declaring that he "taketh away the sin of the world." This designation points to Jesus's sacrificial role in salvation.
  • Divine Revelation and Calling DisciplesJesus demonstrates divine knowledge, such as knowing Nathanael's location before meeting him, which leads to his disciples' recognition of his divine identity. He actively calls individuals like Philip, and others, like Andrew and Peter, are drawn to him through testimony.
  • Grace and TruthThe chapter states that while the law was given by Moses, "grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." This highlights a new covenant and a fuller revelation of God's character embodied in Jesus.