The Beginning
(Genesis 1:1–2; Hebrews 11:1–3)

1In the beginning was the Word {Logos}, and the Word was with God {Theon}, and the Word was God {Theos}. 2He was with God {Theon} in the beginning. 3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome (comprehended)a it.

The Witness of John

6There came a man who was sent from God {Theou}. His name was John (YHWH is gracious). 7He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe. 8He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

9The true Light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. 11He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God {Theou}— 13children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God {Theou}.

The Word Became Flesh
(Psalm 84:1–12)

14The Word {Logos} became flesh and made His dwelling among us (and tabernacled among us).b We have seen His glory {doxan}, the glory of the one and only Son (the Only Begotten)c from the Father, full of grace and truth.

15John (YHWH is gracious) testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”

16From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace. 17For the law was given through Moses (drawn out); grace and truth came through Jesus (YHWH saves) Christ (the Anointed One). 18No one has ever seen God {Theon}, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God {Theos} and [but the only begotten Son, who]d is at the Father’s side \in the Father’s bosom/,e has made Him known.

The Mission of John the Baptist
(Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20)

19And this was John’s (YHWH is gracious) testimony when the Jews (people of praise) of Jerusalem (city of peace) sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” 20He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ (the Anointed One).”

21“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah (my God is YHWH)?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the Prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22So they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

23John replied in the words of Isaiah (YHWH saves) the prophet:

“I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness (solitary place),

‘Make straight the way for the Lord <Isa 40:3>.’”f

24Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25asked him, “Why then do you baptize (submerge), if you are not the Christ (the Anointed One), nor Elijah (my God is YHWH), nor the Prophet?”

26“I baptize (submerge) with (in)g water,” John (YHWH is gracious) replied, “but among you⁺ stands One you⁺ do not know. 27He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

28All this happened at Bethany (house of affliction) beyond the Jordan (flowing down), where John (YHWH is gracious) was baptizing (submerging).

Jesus the Lamb of God
(Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22)

29The next day John saw Jesus (YHWH saves) coming toward him and said, “Look (behold), the Lamb of God {Theou}, who takes away the sin of the world! 30This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ 31I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing (submerging) with water was that He might be revealed to Israel (He wrestles with God).”

32Then John (YHWH is gracious) testified, “I saw the Spirit {Pneuma} descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him. 33I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize (submerge) with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit {Pneuma} descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit {Hagiō Pneumati}.’ 34I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God [the Chosen One of God].h”

The First Disciples
(Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11)

35The next day John (YHWH is gracious) was there again with two of his disciples (pupils). 36When he saw Jesus (YHWH saves) walking by, he said, “Look (behold), the Lamb of God {Theou}!” 37And when the two disciples (pupils) heard him say this, they followed Jesus (YHWH saves).

38Jesus (YHWH saves) turned and saw them following. “What do you⁺ want?” He asked.

They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher {Didaskale}), “where are You staying?”

39“Come and see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour (about 4 pm).i

40Andrew (manly), Simon (hearing) Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed (accompanied) Jesus. 41He first found his brother Simon (hearing) and told him, “We have found the Messiah (the Anointed One)” (which is translated as Christ).

42Andrew brought him to Jesus (YHWH saves), who looked at him and said, “You are Simon (hearing) son of John (YHWH is gracious). You will be called Cephas (Peter)” (which is translated as Peter).

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

43The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee (circuit). Finding Philip (friend of horses), He told him, “Follow (accompany) Me.” 44Now Philip (friend of horses) was from Bethsaida (fishing house), the same town as Andrew (manly) and Peter (rock).

45Philip (friend of horses) found Nathanael (God has given) and told him, “We have found the One Moses (drawn out) wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus (YHWH saves) of Nazareth (branch), the son of Joseph (he will add).”

46“Can anything good come from Nazareth (branch)?” Nathanael (God has given) asked.

“Come and see (behold),” said Philip (friend of horses).

47When Jesus (YHWH saves) saw Nathanael (God has given) approaching, He said of him, “Here (behold) is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.”

48“How do You know me?” Nathanael (God has given) asked.

Jesus (YHWH saves) replied, “Before Philip (friend of horses) called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”

49“Rabbi,” Nathanael (God has given) answered, “You are the Son of God {Theou}! You are the King of Israel (He wrestles with God)!”

50Jesus (YHWH saves) said to him, “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.” 51Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you⁺, you⁺ will all see heaven open and the angels (messengers) of God {Theou} ascending and descending on the Son of Man <Gen 28:12>.”j