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The Gospel of John
1. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him. Without Him nothing was made. In Him was life; and the life was the light of men. The light shines in darkness; and the darkness cannot overtake it.
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came to bear witness of the light that all men through Him might believe. John was not that light, but was sent to bear witness of that light. That was the true light, which enlightens everyone who comes into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came to His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the children of God, even to those who believe in His name; those who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory of the only son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John bore witness of Him and cried, saying, This is He of whom I spoke. He who comes after me is above me because He existed before me. We have all received of His fullness, grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man has seen God at any time. The only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has revealed Him.
And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou? He confessed and did not deny, I am not the Christ. They asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? He said, I am not. Art thou that prophet? He answered, No. Then they said to him, Who art thou that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What sayest thou of thyself? He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as was said by the prophet Isaiah. Those sent by the Pharisees asked him, Then why do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elias or that prophet?
John answered, I baptize with water, but one stands among you whom you do not know. It is He who, coming after me, is above me and whose foot straps I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan where John was baptizing.
When John saw Jesus coming toward him, he said, Behold 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 above me because He was before me. I knew Him not, only that He would be made manifest to Israel. Therefore I came baptizing with water.
John bore record saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and remain on Him. I knew Him not except the one who sent me to baptize told me, On whomever you see the Spirit descending and remaining, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. I saw Him, and now witness that this is the Son of God.