Prologue

In the beginning was the Word
And the Word was with God
And the Word was God
He was with God in the beginning
Through him all things were made
Without him nothing was made that has been made
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind
The light shines in the darkness
And the darkness has not overcome it

There was a man sent from God whose name was John
He came as a witness to testify concerning that light
So that through him all might believe
He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world
He was in the world, and though the world was made through him
The world did not recognize him
He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name
He gave the right to become children of God—
Children born not of natural descent
Nor of human decision
Or a husband's will
But born of God!

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us
We have seen his glory
The glory of the one and only Son
Who came from the Father, full of grace and truth

Out of his fullness we have all received grace
In place of grace already given
For the law was given through Moses
Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son
Who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father
Has made him known!
- John 1:1-18 NIV