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

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ² He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing that exists came into being. ⁴ In Him was Life, and that Life was the Light of men. ⁵ The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overpowered it.

⁶ There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷ He came as a witness, in order that he might give testimony concerning the Light--so that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the Light, but he existed that he might give testimony concerning the Light. ⁹ The true Light was that which illumines every man by its coming into the world.

¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world came into existence through Him, and the world did not recognize Him. ¹¹ He came to the things that were His own, and His own people gave Him no welcome. ¹² But all who have received Him, to them--that is, to those who trust in His name--He has given the privilege of becoming children of God; ¹³ who were begotten as such not by human descent, nor through an impulse of their own nature, nor through the will of a human father, but from God.

¹⁴ And the Word came in the flesh, and lived for a time in our midst, so that we saw His glory--the glory as of the Father's only Son, sent from His presence. He was full of grace and truth. ¹⁵ John gave testimony concerning Him and cried aloud, saying, "This is He of whom I said, 'He who is coming after me has been put before me,' for He was before me." ¹⁶ For He it is from whose fulness we have all received, and grace upon grace. ¹⁷ For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No human eye has ever seen God: the only Son, who is in the Father's bosom--He has made Him known.