Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. In the beginning, the Word was with God and shared in God's nature. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of humanity.

The light shines in darkness, and the darkness does not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God; his name was John. A witness came to testify about the Light. He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of it. The true Light, which enlightens every person who comes into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made through him, but it did not recognize him. He came to his own people, but they did not receive him. But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, 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.

The Word became flesh and lived among us, and we saw his glory, which is like that of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John bore witness to him, saying, "This is he of whom I spoke: He who comes after me has priority over me, for he existed before me." From his fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No man has seen God at any time, but the only Son, who is in the closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. This is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

He confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ. They asked him, "What then?" He replied, "I am not Elijah," and he said, "No, I am also not that prophet." Then they asked him, "Who are you, so we can give an accurate answer to those who sent us?" What do you say about yourself?

He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' just as Isaiah said." And they who were sent were from among the Pharisees. They asked him, "Why do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there stands among you one whom you do not know.

He is the one who comes after me, preferred before me, whose shoe strap I am not worthy to unloose. These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."

For he was before me. I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore I have come baptizing with water. John testified, saying, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and remaining on him." And I did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, "The one on whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.

I saw and testified that he is the Son of God. Again, on the next day after John stood, two of his disciples were with him. And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. Then Jesus turned and saw them following, and asked, "What are you looking for?"

They replied, "Rabbi, where do you live?" He says to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he lived, staying with him that day, since it was around the tenth hour. One of the two who had been listening to John and following him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

He first finds his own brother Simon and says to him, "We have found the Messiah, who is also called Christ." And he brought him to Jesus. When Jesus looked at him, he said, "You are Simon, son of Jona; you will be called Cephas."

The next day Jesus went out into Galilee and found Philip, saying to him, "Follow me." Philip was from Bethsaida, the same city where Andrew and Peter came from. Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have discovered the one about whom Moses wrote in the law and the prophets - Jesus of Nazareth, Joseph's son."

And Nathanael said to him, Can any good thing come from Nazareth? Philip replied, Come and see. <span class="jesus-words">Jesus saw Nathanael approaching and said to him, "Behold, an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!"</span> Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus replied, "I saw you before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree.

Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Jesus answered him, "Because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree, do you believe now? You will see even greater things than these. Hereafter you will see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.