John — Chapter 1
Loading ESV text...
1In 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.
5And 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.
9That 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.
15John 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.
19And 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.
29The 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!
37And 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.
43The 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.
1In 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 through him; and without him was not anything made that hath been made.
4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.
6There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
7The same came for witness, that he might bear witness of the light, that all might believe through him.
8He was not the light, but [came] that he might bear witness of the light.
9There was the true light, [even the light] which lighteth every man, coming into the world.
10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not.
11He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not.
12But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:
13who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.
15John beareth witness of him, and crieth, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that cometh after me is become before me: for he was before me.
16For of his fulness we all received, and grace for grace.
17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared [him].
19And this is the witness of John, when the Jews sent unto him from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him, Who art thou?
20And he confessed, and denied not; and he confessed, I am not the Christ.
21And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elijah? And he saith, I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered, No.
22They said therefore 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 Isaiah the prophet.
24And they had been sent from the Pharisees.
25And they asked him, and said unto him, Why then baptizest thou, if thou art not the Christ, neither Elijah, neither the prophet?
26John answered them, saying, I baptize in water: in the midst of you standeth one whom ye know not,
27[even] he that cometh after me, the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to unloose.
28These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world!
30This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man who is become before me: for he was before me.
31And I knew him not; but that he should be made manifest to Israel, for this cause came I baptizing in water.
32And John bare witness, saying, I have beheld the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven; and it abode upon him.
33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize in water, he said unto me, Upon whomsoever thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and abiding upon him, the same is he that baptizeth in the Holy Spirit.
34And I have seen, and have borne witness that this is the Son of God.
35Again on the morrow John was standing, and two of his disciples;
36and he looked upon Jesus as he walked, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God!
37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38And Jesus turned, and beheld them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? And they said unto him, Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), where abideth thou?
39He saith unto them, Come, and ye shall see. They came therefore and saw where he abode; and they abode with him that day: it was about the tenth hour.
40One of the two that heard John [speak], and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter`s brother.
41He findeth first his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messiah (which is, being interpreted, Christ).
42He brought him unto Jesus. Jesus looked upon him, and said, Thou art Simon the son of John: thou shalt be called Cephas (which is by interpretation, Peter).
43On the morrow he was minded to go forth into Galilee, and he findeth Philip: and Jesus saith unto him, Follow me.
44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of 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, wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.
46And Nathanael said unto him, Can 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 Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
49Nathanael answered him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art King of Israel.
50Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee underneath the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.
51And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye shall see the heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God.
2The Word was with God in the beginning.
3All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created.
4In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind.
5And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.
6A man came, sent from God, whose name was John.
7He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that everyone might believe through him.
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 the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him.
11He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him.
12But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children—
13children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God.
14Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.
15John testified about him and shouted out, “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’”
16For we have all received from his fullness one gracious gift after another.
17For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came about through Jesus Christ.
18No one has ever seen God. The only one, himself God, who is in closest fellowship with the Father, has made God known.
19Now this was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20He confessed—he did not deny but confessed—“I am not the Christ!”
21So they asked him, “Then who are you? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not!” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No!”
22Then they said to him, “Who are you? Tell us so that we can give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23John said, “I am the voice of one shouting in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord,’ as the prophet Isaiah said.”
24(Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.)
25So they asked John, “Why then are you baptizing if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”
26John answered them, “I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not recognize,
27who is coming after me. I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandal!”
28These things happened in Bethany across the Jordan River where John was baptizing.
29On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
30This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, because he existed before me.’
31I did not recognize him, but I came baptizing with water so that he could be revealed to Israel.”
32Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending like a dove from heaven, and it remained on him.
33And I did not recognize him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining—this is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’
34I have both seen and testified that this man is the Chosen One of God.”
35Again the next day John was standing there with two of his disciples.
36Gazing at Jesus as he walked by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37When John’s two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.
38Jesus turned around and saw them following and said to them, “What do you want?” So they said to him, “Rabbi” (which is translated Teacher), “where are you staying?”
39Jesus answered, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about four o’clock in the afternoon.
40Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two disciples who heard what John said and followed Jesus.
41He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is translated Christ).
42Andrew brought Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, the son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).
43On the next day Jesus wanted to set out for Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”
44(Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter.)
45Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the law, and the prophets also wrote about—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46Nathanael replied, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip replied, “Come and see.”
47Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and exclaimed, “Look, a true Israelite in whom there is no deceit!”
48Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?” Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
49Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel!”
50Jesus said to him, “Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe? You will see greater things than these.”
51He continued, “I tell all of you the solemn truth—you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
1In 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 through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.
4In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it.
6There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.
7The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.
8He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.
9The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.
10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.
11He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him.
12But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:
13who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’”
16From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.
17For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.
18No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.
19This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”
20He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”
21They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”
22They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”
23He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”
24The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.
25They asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”
26John answered them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know.
27He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.”
28These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
30This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’
31I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel.”
32John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.
33I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’
34I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”
35Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples,
36and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”
37The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you staying?”
39He said to them, “Come, and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.
40One of the two who heard John, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
41He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ).
42He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter).
43On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.
45Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”
48Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
49Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!”
50Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!”
51He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you all, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
Summary
The eternal Word who was with God and was God becomes flesh — John the Baptist bears witness, and Jesus calls His first disciples, who begin to recognize Him as Messiah, Son of God, and King of Israel.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Bethany beyond the Jordan (v.28): The location where John baptized, east of the Jordan River near Jericho. Not the Bethany near Jerusalem.
- Nazareth (v.46): Philip tells Nathanael about Jesus of Nazareth. Nathanael's skeptical response ("Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?") reflects the town's insignificance.
- Galilee (v.43): Jesus called Philip and Nathanael in Galilee.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik provides verse-by-verse analysis of the Logos concept, the role of John the Baptist, and the calling of the first disciples. Highly recommended for deep theological insight on vv.1-18.
- Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "The Word Made Flesh" (MTP Vol. 37, No. 2200) "The Word was made flesh — here is the miracle of miracles, the mystery of mysteries. He who was God became man; He who was in the bosom of the Father came to the bosom of a woman. He who was adored by angels became a servant of servants." Sermon: "Behold the Lamb of God" (MTP Vol. 5, No. 249) Spurgeon on v.29: "John points away from himself entirely. He does not say 'Behold my baptism' or 'Behold my ministry' — he says Behold the Lamb. The whole purpose of a true minister is to point men to Christ."
Videos
The Bible Project — Gospel of John Overview (Part 1: Chapters 1-12)
Animated overview showing the literary structure of John's Gospel, the seven signs, the "I AM" statements, and how John presents Jesus as the Word become flesh. Excellent introduction. (Approx. 8 minutes)
The Bible Project — John 1 Visual Commentary
Explores how John 1 incorporates Genesis creation language to present Jesus as God's Word taking human form — the new creation beginning in the person of Christ. (Approx. 5 minutes)
Voddie Baucham — The Gospel of John
Search YouTube: "Voddie Baucham John 1 Word became flesh" Baucham's exposition of John 1 emphasizes the deity of Christ, the incarnation, and the exclusive claims of Christ as the only way to the Father.
David Guzik — Enduring Word Video Series (John)
YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_QIfO0mxbX4zgQH4vuK6q1q7gu8Ok6tz John 1:1-18 - God the Son Presented to Us: John 1:19-51 - Revealed to John the Baptist:
Reflection
- 1. The Word became flesh (v.14) — Jesus did not stay at a distance. He entered our world, our pain, our humanity. In your own life, where do you need to experience God not as a distant concept but as Emmanuel — God with us?
- 2. John the Baptist's entire purpose was to point others to Jesus (v.29). He had crowds following him, influence, and a platform — and he used it all to say "look at Him, not me." As a man, consider where your life is pointing people. Are your words, your work, your reputation pointing toward Christ?
- 3. "He came unto his own, and his own received him not" (v.11). Rejection is one of the deepest human pains. Jesus experienced it fully. How does knowing Christ understands rejection change how you handle it in your own life?
- 4. Andrew's first response after meeting Jesus was to find his brother Simon and bring him to Christ (vv.40-42). Who in your life — a brother, a friend, a coworker — needs you to say "We have found the Messiah"?
- 5. "What seek ye?" (v.38) — The first words Jesus speaks in John's Gospel are a question directed at those following Him. What are you truly seeking right now?
- 6. John 1:1 declares Jesus was "in the beginning" with God and was God. What does the eternal nature of Christ mean to you personally? How does it change how you pray or relate to Him?
- 7. Verse 12 says that to all who received Him and believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. Have you personally received Him? What does it mean in your daily life to live as a son of God?
- 8. John the Baptist said "I am not the Christ" (v.20) and consistently deflected attention away from himself. In what areas of your life do you struggle with wanting credit or recognition? How can John's example challenge you?
- 9. Jesus saw Nathanael under the fig tree before Philip called him (v.48). Jesus sees you fully — your private moments, your doubts, your struggles. How does being fully known by Christ bring you comfort or conviction?
- 10. The chapter ends with Jesus promising Nathanael he will see "heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man" (v.51). Jesus is the ladder between heaven and earth. What does it mean to you that access to God is only through Him?