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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 1:25 mean?

Explanation

John 1:25 is a verse wherein representatives from the Pharisees confront John the Baptist regarding his authority to baptize.

They are questioning his identity and authority because baptism was a significant ritual.

The Pharisees were aware of the prophecies concerning the coming Messiah, Elijah returning before the great and dreadful day of the Lord (Malachi 4:5), and a prophet like Moses (Deuteronomy 18:15).

They were seeking to understand if John was claiming to be one of these key figures.

In the face of these questions, John denies being the Messiah, Elijah, or the prophet like Moses, which only intensifies the main question: why is he baptizing if he does not hold any of these expected roles?

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

The Gospel of John was written in the first century A.D., a time when there was significant anticipation among the Jewish people for the coming of the Messiah.

Baptism was not a new concept to the Jews.

It had roots in various purification rituals and was also practiced by certain groups (like the Essenes) as a sign of repentance and spiritual cleansing.

John's baptism, occurring in the River Jordan, was readily visible and attracted both curiosity and concern from the established religious leaders of the day who were the guardians of Jewish law and tradition.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, John's baptism was a preparatory step, symbolizing repentance and the washing away of sins in anticipation of the Messiah's arrival.

Some Christian commentators have seen John's role as being a 'forerunner' to Christ, preparing the way for Jesus' ministry.

Theologically, this passage emphasizes John's humility and his clear sense of mission to prepare the way for someone greater than himself.

Practical Applications

This verse can serve as a reminder of the importance of understanding one's role and purpose.

Just as John the Baptist had a specific role in the biblical narrative, individuals can reflect on their own purpose and calling.

It also highlights humility, as John did not claim titles or positions not granted to him.

In practical applications, believers can take to heart the importance of serving their community and God without seeking undue recognition or status.

Cross-References

Malachi 4:5: "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD."
Deuteronomy 18:15: "The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken."
Matthew 3:3: "For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight."
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."

Language Study

In the original Greek text, the word for "baptize" is "βαπτίζω" (baptizō), meaning to dip repeatedly, to immerse, to submerge, or to cleanse by dipping or submerging.

The phrase "Christ" translates from "Χριστός" (Christos), meaning anointed one or Messiah.

"Elias" is the New Testament form for Elijah, a prophet in the Old Testament known for his miraculous works.

"The prophet" alludes to the expectation of a prophet like Moses.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of a forerunner or herald for a significant figure is present in other cultures and religions.

For example, in ancient Greek mythology, Hermes acted as a messenger of the gods, preparing the way for the divine will.

In some Islamic traditions, the figure of Al-Mahdi is preceded by a messenger who will announce his coming.

Scientific Perspectives

In the context of modern scientific understandings, John 1:25 does not have a direct scientific correlation.

However, scientific perspectives on ritual purification practices like baptism could delve into the psychological effects of participating in communal rituals, the sense of cleansing, and their impact on societal structures and personal identity.

Commentaries

Biblical scholars and theologians have provided various insights on this verse.

Many agree that John the Baptist's role was one of preparation for Jesus' ministry.

Scholars like D.A. Carson note that John's baptism signified repentance and the coming kingdom of God. Meanwhile, other experts focus on John's clear denial of messianic pretensions as crucial in understanding his ministry as divinely appointed yet distinct from the person and work of Jesus Christ.

John 1

John 1

What does John 1:25 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 1:25 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?