PrevJohn 1:20Next

John 1

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God.

All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

What does John 1:20 mean?

Explanation

John 1:20 presents a straightforward and significant statement made by John the Baptist.

In this verse, John explicitly denies being the Messiah, a central figure expected by Jewish prophecies to bring salvation to the people of Israel.

John's denial is phrased in a manner emphasizing that he makes no false pretenses about his identity.

The affirmation "I am not the Christ" not only dismisses any messianic claims attributed to him but also redirects the attention toward the anticipation of the true Christ.

It reflects John's role as a forerunner of Jesus Christ, preparing the way for the one who would be recognized as the true Savior in Christian belief.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

John 1:20 occurs within the gospel attributed to John the Apostle, which was written approximately between 90 and 100 AD. The socio-religious climate of the time anticipated the arrival of a messiah.

Many self-proclaimed or publicly suggested messianic figures arose, and this heightened expectation could lead to a misunderstanding of John the Baptist's role.

John the Baptist himself was a prominent Jewish preacher and prophetic figure, gathering a significant following through his ministry of baptism and repentance.

The religious leaders of the time, perhaps confused or concerned by John's prominence, sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to question him about his identity.

John's emphatic denial of being the Christ set the record straight and reinforced the traditional Jewish concept of a distinctly separate coming Messiah.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological standpoint, John 1:20 exemplifies humility and the recognition of one's role in God's divine plan. John the Baptist acknowledges his position as a precursor to the Messiah rather than claiming the messianic role for himself.

Theologically, this verse is also seen as an act of witness-bearing; John the Baptist is testifying to the imminent arrival of Jesus Christ.

Different Christian denominations may emphasize varying aspects of this verse.

Catholics and Orthodox Christians may see this as affirmation of both John's sanctity and prophetic mission, whereas Protestantism might focus more on the principle of recognizing and fulfilling God's purpose for an individual without overstepping divine boundaries.

Practical Applications

This verse can inspire individuals to practice humility and honesty about their capabilities and roles in life.

In a broader context, it teaches the importance of acknowledging and supporting the work of others rather than seeking undue glory for oneself.

It can also be applied in instances where there is temptation to misrepresent oneself for personal gain; instead, one should strive to be truthful and forthright, as demonstrated by John the Baptist.

Cross-References

Matthew 3:11: "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance.

But he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:"

Luke 3:16: "John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:"
John 3:28: "Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him."

Language Study

Key words in the original Greek language for John 1:20 include:

"ὡμολόγησεν" (homologésen): Translated as "confessed," it means to agree or acknowledge openly.
"καὶ οὐκ ἠρνήσατο" (kai ouk ērnēsato): "and denied not;" emphasizing a double negation, which strengthens the denial.
"ὁ χριστός" (ho Christos): "the Christ," meaning Anointed One or Messiah; the anticipated savior and redeemer in Jewish tradition.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In other religious and cultural traditions, figures akin to a messiah or savior are common.

Similarities can be found in the concept of the Maitreya in Buddhism, who is a future Buddha prophesied to bring enlightenment to the world.

The idea of a forthcoming liberator is also present in Zoroastrianism, where the Saoshyant will bring salvation.

John the Baptist's denial of being such a figure highlights a key difference in how individuals within these traditions perceive their own roles in relation to divine prophecy.

Scientific Perspectives

Scientific perspectives typically do not intersect with the interpretation of religious texts unless in the context of psychological or sociological studies.

In this light, one might consider how public perceptions and sociological pressures influence individual behavior, as with John the Baptist's clear delineation of his role in anticipation of societal expectations or potential misconceptions.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have considered John 1:20 in various ways.

Many point out John the Baptist's example of witness and humility.

John Calvin, for example, commented on John the Baptist's straightforward response as an example of "simplicity and candor." Modern theologians like N.T.

Wright and D.A.

Carson have echoed similar sentiments, emphasizing the significance of John the Baptist's role in the greater narrative of Jesus Christ's mission and ministry.

They underline the importance of John's testimony in setting the stage for the emergence of Jesus as the rightful Christ.

John 1

John 1

What does John 1:20 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 1:20 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?