Study Desk

^(C1)In the beginning was ^(C2)the Word, and the Word was ^(C3)with God, and ^(C4)the Word was God.

^(F1)He was in the beginning with God.

^(C1)All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him ^(F1)not even one thing came into being that has come into being.

^(C1)In Him was life, and the life was ^(C2)the Light of mankind.

And ^(C1)the Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not ^(F1)grasp it.

A man ^(F1)came, one sent from God, and his name was ^(C1)John.

^(F1)He came ^(F2)(C1)as a witness, to testify about the Light, ^(C2)so that all might believe through him.

^(F1)(C1)He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

^(F1)This was ^(C1)the true Light ^(F2)that, coming into the world, enlightens every person.

He was in the world, and ^(C1)the world came into being through Him, and yet the world did not ^(F1)know Him.

He came to His ^(F1)own, and His own people did not ^(F2)accept Him.

But ^(F1)as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become ^(C1)children of God, ^(C2)to those who ^(F2)believe in His name,

^(C1)who were ^(F1)born, not of ^(F2)blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of a man, but of God.

And ^(C1)the Word ^(C2)became flesh, and ^(C3)dwelt among us; and ^(C4)we saw His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of ^(C5)grace and ^(C6)truth.

John ^(*)(C1)testified about Him and called out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, '^(C2)He who is coming after me has proved to be ^(F1)my superior, ^(C3)because He existed before me.'"

For of His ^(C1)fullness ^(F1)we have all received, and ^(F2)grace upon grace.

For ^(C1)the Law was given through Moses; ^(C2)grace and ^(C3)truth ^(F1)were realized through Jesus Christ.

^(C1)No one has seen God at any time; ^(C2)God the only Son, who is ^(C3)in the ^(F1)arms of the Father, ^(C4)He has ^(F2)explained Him.

This is ^(C1)the testimony of John, when ^(C2)the Jews sent priests and Levites to him ^(C3)from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

And he confessed and did not deny; and this is what he confessed: "^(C1)I am not the ^(F1)Christ."

And so they asked him, "What then? Are you ^(C1)Elijah?" And he ^(*)said, "I am not." "Are you ^(C2)the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."

Then they said to him, "Who are you? Tell us, so that we may give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

He said, "I am ^(C1)THE VOICE OF ONE CALLING ^(F1)OUT IN THE WILDERNESS, 'MAKE THE WAY OF THE LORD STRAIGHT,' as Isaiah the prophet said."

And the messengers had been sent from the Pharisees.

They asked him, and said to him, "Why then are you baptizing, if you are not the ^(F1)Christ, nor Elijah, nor ^(C1)the Prophet?"

John answered them, saying, "^(C1)I baptize ^(F1)in water, but among you stands One whom you do not know.

"It is ^(C1)He who comes after me, of whom I am not worthy even to untie the ^(C2)strap of His sandal."

These things took place in Bethany ^(C1)beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing people.