约翰的见证

⁶God sent a man, John the Baptist,#1:6 Greek a man named John. ⁷to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. ⁸John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. ⁹The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. ¹¹He came to his own people, and even they rejected him. ¹²But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. ¹³They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God. ¹⁴So the Word became human#1:14a Greek became flesh. and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.#1:14b Or grace and truth; also in 1:17. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son. ¹⁵John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’” ¹⁶From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another.#1:16 Or received the grace of Christ rather than the grace of the law; Greek reads received grace upon grace. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God,#1:18 Some manuscripts read But the one and only Son. is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. ¹⁹This was John’s testimony when the Jewish leaders sent priests and Temple assistants#1:19 Greek and Levites. from Jerusalem to ask John, “Who are you?” ²⁰He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.” ²¹“Well then, who are you?” they asked. “Are you Elijah?”“No,” he replied.“Are you the Prophet we are expecting?”#1:21 Greek Are you the Prophet? See Deut 18:15, 18; Mal 4:5-6.“No.” ²²“Then who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?” ²³John replied in the words of the prophet Isaiah:“I am a voice shouting in the wilderness,‘Clear the way for the Lord’s coming!’”#1:23 Isa 40:3. ²⁴Then the Pharisees who had been sent ²⁵asked him, “If you aren’t the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet, what right do you have to baptize?” ²⁶John told them, “I baptize with#1:26 Or in; also in 1:31, 33. water, but right here in the crowd is someone you do not recognize. ²⁷Though his ministry follows mine, I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the straps of his sandal.” ²⁸This encounter took place in Bethany, an area east of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.