JMNT(i)
4 Within It (or: Him),
life was continuing and progressively existing (or: In It was life [as a source]; [Aleph, D and others witnesses read present tense: In union with it there continues being life; Life progressively exists within the midst of It]).
And the life was continuing being, and began progressively existing as, the Light of mankind (or: Furthermore, the Light progressively came to be the life known as "humanity," and was for human beings; or: Then the life was existing being the light from the humans).
5 And the Light is constantly shining in the dim and shadowed places, and keeps on progressively giving light within the gloomy darkness where there is no light (or: within the midst the obscurity of The Darkness where there is no light of The Day; or: = in the ignorant condition or system).
And yet the darkness does not grasp or receive it on the same level (or: Furthermore, the Darkness did not take it down, so as to overcome it or put it out; or: = the ignorant condition or system would have none of it, nor receive it down into itself [in order to perceive it]; But that darkness does not correspondingly accept It nor commensurately take It in hand so as to follow the pattern or be in line with Its bidding).
6 A man came to be (was birthed),
being one having been sent forth with a mission, as a representative, from God’s side (or: having been commissioned as an emissary and sent forth from beside God; having been sent forth to the side, as an envoy, whose source was God);
a name for him: John.
7 This one came into a testimony (or: went to witness; came for evidence),
to the end that he may give testimony (be a witness; show evidence)
about The Light, so that all humanity (or: everyone)
would at some point come to believe and trust through him (or: by means of it).
8 That person (= He)
was not The Light, but rather [
he came]
so that he could give testimony (would be a witness; should present evidence)
about The Light.
9 It was (or: He was, and continued being)
the True and Genuine Light which (or: Who)
is continuously (repeatedly; progressively)
enlightening (giving light to)
every person (or: human)
continuously (repeatedly; progressively; constantly; one after another)
coming into the world (or: the ordered system of culture, religion, economics and government; or: the universe) (or: It was the real Light, progressively coming into the world {organized system}, which is progressively enlightening {or: shedding light on} every human).