The Gospel According to St. John

⭑ Geneva Bible :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

⮜ Back | Contents | Next ⮞

- Chapter 1 -

(Genesis 1:1–2; Hebrews 11:1–3)

In the beginning was that Word, and that Word was with God, and that Word was God.

This same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by it, and without it was made nothing that was made.

In it was life, and that life was the light of men.

And that light shineth in the darkenesse, and the darkenesse comprehended it not.

The Witness of John

There was a man sent from God, whose name was Iohn.

This same came for a witnesse, to beare witnesse of that light, that all men through him might beleeue.

He was not that light, but was sent to beare witnesse of that light.

This was that true light, which lighteth euery man that commeth into the world.

He was in the world, and the worlde was made by him: and the worlde knewe him not.

He came vnto his owne, and his owne receiued him not.

But as many as receiued him, to them he gaue prerogatiue to be the sonnes of God, euen to them that beleeue in his Name.

Which are borne not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of ye wil of man, but of God.

The Word Became Flesh

(Psalm 84:1–12)

And that Word was made flesh, and dwelt among vs, (and we sawe the glorie thereof, as the glorie of the onely begotten Sonne of the Father) full of grace and trueth.

Iohn bare witnesse of him, and cryed, saying, This was he of whom I said, He that commeth after me, was before me: for he was better then I.

And of his fulnesse haue all we receiued, and grace for grace.

For the Lawe was giuen by Moses, but grace, and trueth came by Iesus Christ.

No man hath seene God at any time: that onely begotten Sonne, which is in the bosome of the Father, he hath declared him.

The Mission of John the Baptist

(Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20)

Then this is the record of Iohn, when the Iewes sent Priestes and Leuites from Hierusalem, to aske him, Who art thou?

And he confessed and denied not, and said plainely, I am not that Christ.

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he said, I am not. Art thou that Prophet? And he answered, No.

Then said they vnto him, Who art thou, that we may giue an answere to them that sent vs? What sayest thou of thy selfe?

He said, I am the voyce of him that cryeth in the wildernesse, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the Prophet Esaias.

Nowe they which were sent, were of the Pharises.

And they asked him, and saide vnto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, neither Elias, nor that Prophet?

Iohn answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there is one among you, whom ye knowe not.

He it is that commeth after me, which was before me, whose shoe latchet I am not worthie to vnloose.

These things were done in Bethabara beyond Iordan, where Iohn did baptize.

Jesus the Lamb of God

(Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22)

The next day Iohn, seeth Iesus comming vnto him, and saith, Beholde that Lambe of God, which taketh away the sinne of the world.

This is he of whom I saide, After me commeth a man, which was before me: for he was better then I.

And I knewe him not: but because he should be declared to Israel, therefore am I come, baptizing with water.

So Iohn bare recorde, saying, I behelde that Spirit come downe from heauen, like a doue, and it abode vpon him,

And I knewe him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, he saide vnto me, Vpon whom thou shalt see that Spirit come downe, and tary still on him, that is he which baptizeth with the holy Ghost.

And I sawe, and bare record that this is that Sonne of God.

The First Disciples

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

The next day, Iohn stoode againe, and two of his disciples.

And he behelde Iesus walking by, and said, Beholde that Lambe of God.

And the two disciples heard him speake, and followed Iesus.

Then Iesus turned about, and saw them follow, and saide vnto them, What seeke ye? And they saide vnto him, Rabbi (which is to say by interpretation, Master) where dwellest thou?

He saide vnto them, Come, and see. They came and sawe where hee dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth houre.

Andrew, Simon Peters brother, was one of the two which had heard it of Iohn, and that followed him.

The same founde his brother Simon first, and said vnto him, We haue founde that Messias, which is by interpretation, that Christ.

And he brought him to Iesus. And Iesus behelde him, and saide, Thou art Simon the sonne of Iona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, a stone.

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

The day following, Iesus woulde goe into Galile, and founde Philip, and said vnto him, Followe me.

Nowe Philip was of Bethsaida, the citie of Andrew and Peter.

Philippe founde Nathanael, and saide vnto him, Wee haue founde him of whom Moses did write in the Lawe, and the Prophetes, Iesus that sonne of Ioseph, that was of Nazareth.

Then Nathanael sayde vnto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saide to him, Come, and see.

Iesus sawe Nathanael comming to him, and saide of him, Beholde in deede an Israelite, in whom is no guile.

Nathanael sayde vnto him, Whence knewest thou mee? Iesus answered, and sayd vnto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast vnder the figge tree, I sawe thee.

Nathanael answered, and saide vnto him, Rabbi, thou art that Sonne of God: thou art that King of Israel.

Iesus answered, and sayde vnto him, Because I sayde vnto thee, I sawe thee vnder the figtree, beleeuest thou? thou shalt see greater things then these.

And he saide vnto him, Verely, verely I say vnto you, hereafter shall yee see heauen open, and the Angels of God ascending, and descending vpon that Sonne of man.

(Genesis 1:1–2; Hebrews 11:1–3)

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

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome(a) it.

The Witness of John

There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.

The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.

He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.

The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him.

He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him.

But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:

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

The Word Became Flesh

(Psalm 84:1–12)

The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only born (b) Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 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.’”

From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.

For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.(c)

No one has seen God at any time. The only born(d) Son,(e) who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.

The Mission of John the Baptist

(Isaiah 40:1–5; Matthew 3:1–12; Mark 1:1–8; Luke 3:1–20)

This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”

They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”

They 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?”

He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’(f) as Isaiah the prophet said.”

The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.

They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”

John answered them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know.

He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.”

These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Jesus the Lamb of God

(Matthew 3:13–17; Mark 1:9–11; Luke 3:21–22)

The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold,(g) the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’

I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water, that he would be revealed to Israel.”

John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.

I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’

I have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

The First Disciples

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

Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples,

and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!”

The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

Jesus 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?”

He 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.(h)

One of the two who heard John and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ (i)).

He 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).(j)

Jesus Calls Philip and Nathanael

On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”

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

Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!”

Nathanael 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.”

Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!”

Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!”

He 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.”

Footnotes

(a)1:5 The word translated “overcome” (κατέλαβεν) can also be translated “comprehended.” It refers to getting a grip on an enemy to defeat him.

(b)1:14 The phrase “only born” is from the Greek word “μονογενους”, which is sometimes translated “only begotten” or “one and only”.

(d)1:18 The phrase “only born” is from the Greek word “μονογενη”, which is sometimes translated “only begotten” or “one and only”.

(e)1:18 NU reads “God”

(f)1:23 ℘ Isaiah 40:3

(g)1:29 “Behold”, from “ἰδοὺ”, means look at, take notice, observe, see, or gaze at. It is often used as an interjection.

(h)1:39 p.m.

(i)1:41 “Messiah” (Hebrew) and “Christ” (Greek) both mean “Anointed One”.

(j)1:42 “Cephas” (Aramaic) and “Peter” (Greek) both mean “Rock”.