PrevJohn 1:35Next

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 1:35 mean?

Explanation

John 1:35 narrates an event in the Gospel according to John where John the Baptist is standing with two of his own disciples.

This verse marks the transition where John the Baptist begins to direct his disciples towards Jesus. The emphasis is on the role of John as a witness to the identity of Jesus and his work in preparing his followers to become disciples of Jesus.

The verse sets the stage for the following verses where John identifies Jesus as the "Lamb of God," a title loaded with Messianic and sacrificial connotations.

The two disciples, upon hearing this, follow Jesus, leading to their calling as Jesus' disciples.

The literal meaning is straightforward, describing a historical event, but the deeper significance lies in the shift of faithful allegiance from John to Jesus, signifying Jesus' emerging preeminence as the central figure of Christian faith.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

John 1:35 occurs at a time when John the Baptist had an established ministry and had gathered disciples. He preached a message of repentance and baptized people in the Jordan River.

Historically, this period is early in the first century AD when Judaism was diverse, including various movements expecting a Messiah.

John the Baptist is seen as a prophetic figure within this context, and his testimony about Jesus is an essential aspect of the early Christian claim that Jesus fulfills the Messianic expectations.

Theological Insights

Different theological viewpoints focus on various aspects of this verse:

Christological: The verse shows John the Baptist recognizing the superior status of Jesus, hinting at the central Christian claim of Jesus as the Son of God.
Ecclesiological: It points to the transition of followers from one religious leader to another, which is emblematic of the foundation of the early Christian community.
Soteriological: It can be seen as a precursor to understanding salvation in Christianity - Jesus as the "Lamb of God" implies a saving act through sacrifice.

Practical Applications

In terms of daily life, John 1:35 can inspire individuals to:

Be open to new truths and spiritual direction, as exemplified by the disciples of John who were willing to follow Jesus.
Recognize the value of good mentorship and be prepared to grow beyond an initial guide or teacher.
Reflect on the moments of transition and decision-making that define a person's spiritual journey.

Cross-References

John 1:36: "And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!"
John 1:29: "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
Matthew 3:13-17: The Baptism of Jesus by John, highlighting John's role in Jesus' ministry.
Acts 1:5: "For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence."

Language Study

The original language of the verse is Koine Greek. Key words include:

"ἔστηκεν" (estēken) - "stood", in the sense of standing firm or remaining in place.
"μαθηταί" (mathētai) - "disciples", indicating followers or students of a teacher.
The phrase could imply the disciples were in a state of readiness or anticipation, fitting with the context of awaiting the Messiah.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

The concept of a spiritual teacher passing followers to a greater leader is not unique to Christianity.

In other ancient religions, there often were transitional figures who paved the way for a more significant deity or leader.

For example, in Hinduism, the guru might lead a disciple to greater levels of enlightenment.

Scientific Perspectives

Generally, this verse does not directly intersect with scientific understandings, as it is a narrative recounting historical events.

Science might contribute to the understanding of the cultural and environmental settings of the time, such as the geography of the Jordan River where John baptized or the dietary habits suggested by the metaphor of the "Lamb of God."

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and commentators have offered interpretations of John 1:35:

**Raymond E.

Brown:** Emphasizes the role of John as a witness to Jesus, indicating that the transfer of disciples is a deliberate act to reveal Jesus' identity.

**F.F.

Bruce:** Discusses the significance of the term "Lamb of God" and how it illustrates the Johannine theme of Jesus as the pre-existent and divine Messiah.

**N.T.

Wright:** Focuses on the historical and eschatological implications of John endorsing Jesus, including the reality of Jesus' ministry and its continuity with John's message.

Wright highlights the social and political implications of this transition for the early Christian communities.

John 1

John 1

What does John 1:35 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 1:35 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?