John 1:1–18

“In the beginning was the Word.”

Text — King James Version (1611)

1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

1:2The same was in the beginning with God.

1:3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

1:4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

1:5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

1:6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

1:7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

1:8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

1:9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

1:10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

1:11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

1:12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

1:13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

1:14And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

1:15John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

1:16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

1:17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

1:18No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

From the site’s Bible translations (Day 10). Compare other translations on the compare view.

Works discussing this passage

Links marked curated are an editor’s selection; links marked cited in text were found by scanning the work for a reference to this passage.

Cited in the Fathers’ own texts

Ambrose of Milan — Exposition of the Christian Faith cited in text · 14 references
Augustine of Hippo — Confessions cited in text · 14 references — Love is Not Condemned, But Love in God, in Whom There is Rest Through Jesus Christ, is to Be Preferred.
Clement of Alexandria — Stromata cited in text · 14 references — Human Knowledge Necessary for the Understanding of the Scriptures
Athanasius — Four Discourses Against the Arians cited in text · 12 references — Discourse I Against the Arians (Athanasius)
John Chrysostom — Homilies on the Gospel of John cited in text · 11 references — John 1:1
Clement of Alexandria — Paedagogus (The Instructor) cited in text · 10 references — The Philanthropy of the Instructor
Gregory of Nazianzus — Select Orations cited in text · 8 references — Third Theological Oration (Oration 29) (Gregory Nazianzen)
Origen — Commentary on the Gospel of John (partial: Books I, II, IV, V, VI, X) cited in text · 7 references — Meaning of Beginning. (1) in Space.
Ambrose of Milan — On the Holy Spirit cited in text · 6 references
Aphrahat — Demonstrations (NPNF selection: I, V, VI, VIII, X, XVII, XXI, XXII) cited in text · 6 references — Demonstration I — Of Faith

Parallel passages

Genesis 1 — The six days of creation.
Proverbs 8:22–31 — Wisdom present before creation.

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