John 1:6-36

Williams(i) 6 There appeared a man named John, sent from God. 7 He came for the purpose of testifying, to testify to the light, so that everyone through him might come to believe. 8 He was not the light; he came to testify to the light. 9 The real light, which sheds light upon everyone, was just coming into the world. 10 He came into the world, and though the world through Him began to exist, it did not recognize Him. 11 He came into His own world, but His own people did not welcome Him. 12 But to all who did accept Him, and trust in His name, He gave the right to become the children of God, 13 who were born of God and not of natural blood nor of physical or human impulse. 14 So the Word became human and lived a little while among us, and we actually saw His glory, the glory of One who is an only Son from His Father, and He was full of spiritual blessing and truth. 15 John testified to Him and cried out, for this was the one who said, "The One who is coming after me has been put before me, because He existed before me." 16 For from His bounty we have all received spiritual blessing after spiritual blessing. 17 For while the law was given through Moses, spiritual blessing and truth have come through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only son, Deity Himself, who lies upon His Father's breast, has made him known. 19 Now this is the testimony which John gave when the Jews sent priests and Levites to him from Jerusalem, to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He frankly admitted, and did not try at all to deny it; yes, he frankly admitted, "I am not the Christ." 21 So they asked him again, "What are you then? Elijah?" And he answered, "Of course, I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." 22 Then they said to him, "Who are you? Tell us, so that we can have an answer to give to those who sent us. What have you to say for yourself?" 23 He said, "I am a voice of one shouting in the desert, 'Make the road straight for the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said." 24 Now the messengers belonged to the party of the Pharisees; 25 so they asked him, "Why are you baptizing then, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?" 26 John answered them, "I am baptizing only in water. There is standing among you One with whom you are not acquainted. 27 He is to become my successor, because He has been put before me, and I am not fit to untie His shoestrings." 28 This took place at Bethany on the farther side of the Jordan, where John was baptizing. 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and he said, "Look! He is the Lamb of God who is to take away the world's sin. 30 This is the One about whom I said, 'After me there is coming a man who has already been put before me, because He existed before me.' 31 I did not know Him myself, but I came baptizing in water, that He might be made known to Israel." 32 Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit coming down from heaven like a dove, and it remained on Him. 33 I did not know Him myself, but the very One who sent me to baptize in water said to me, 'The One on whom you see the Spirit coming down and remaining, is the One who is to baptize in the Holy Spirit.' 34 I did see it; and my testimony is that He is the Son of God." 35 Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, 36 and as he saw Jesus passing by he said, "Look! He is the Lamb of God!"