John 1:1-18 - The Prologue To John's Gospel

¹ In the beginning, the Word existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He existed in the beginning with God. ³ Through him all things were made, and apart from him nothing was made that has been made. ⁴ In him was life, and that life brought light to humanity. ⁵ And the light shines on in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness to testify about the light, so that all might believe because of him. ⁸ John was not the light, but he came to testify about the light. ⁹ This was the true light that enlightens every person by his coming into the world.

¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him. Yet the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to his own creation, yet his own people did not receive him. ¹² However, to all who received him, those believing in his name, he gave authority to become God's children, ¹³ who were born, not merely in a genetic sense, nor from lust, nor from man's desire, but from the will of God.

¹⁴ The Word became flesh and lived among us. We gazed on his glory, the kind of glory that belongs to the Father's unique Son, who is full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ John told the truth about him when he cried out, "This is the person about whom I said, "The one who comes after me ranks higher than me, because he existed before me.'" ¹⁶ We have all received one gracious gift after another from his abundance, ¹⁷ because while the Law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus the Messiah. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God. The unique God, who is close to the Father's side, has revealed him.