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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 1:6 mean?

Explanation

John 1:6 introduces a seminal figure in the New Testament, John the Baptist.

This verse announces his arrival in a straightforward manner while imbuing it with divine significance. It tells us two critical things: first, that John was sent by God, and second, that his arrival was part of God's plan.

The name "John" itself is of Hebrew origin, meaning "God is gracious." From a literal perspective, this verse might simply inform us of the beginning of John's ministry. But on a deeper level, it underscores his role as being divinely appointed.

The verse serves as an affirmation of John the Baptist's authority and purpose: to prepare the way for Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

John 1:6 is situated at the beginning of the Gospel of John, which is one of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament.

It was written circa 90-100 AD and presents a unique perspective on the life and teachings of Jesus when compared to the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).

The Gospel of John places a heavy emphasis on Jesus as the incarnate Word and the divinity of Christ.

During this time, early Christian communities were grappling with understanding the nature of Jesus and his teachings.

The introduction of John the Baptist sets the stage for this exploration.

Theological Insights

Theologically, John 1:6 can be seen as a testament to the concept of divine mission.

From a Christian perspective, his sending by God implies predestination and the fulfillment of prophecies from the Hebrew Scriptures, such as those found in Isaiah 40:3, where a voice cries out in the wilderness to prepare the way of the Lord.

Some scholars may interpret the verse as indicating the Trinity, where God the Father sends John to bear witness to God the Son. Others may highlight the messenger role of John the Baptist, connecting him to Old Testament prophets.

Practical Applications

Practically, John 1:6 reminds individuals of the importance of recognizing and fulfilling one's role in a larger divine plan, according to Christian beliefs. For modern believers, it may inspire reflection on one's own purpose and the discernment of vocations.

It suggests that every person has a specific mission entrusted to them by a higher power, emphasizing the sanctity of each role. For those who feel called to pave the way for positive change within their communities, this verse can act as a source of encouragement.

Cross-References

Matthew 3:1-3: "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

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 1:76: "And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;"
Isaiah 40:3: "The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God."

Language Study

In John 1:6, the key phrase "sent from God" is translated from the Greek "ἀπεστάλη παρὰ Θεοῦ," where "ἀπεστάλη" is a form of the verb "ἀποστέλλω" (apostelló), meaning "I send, I dispatch." The preposition "παρὰ" (para) denotes being from the side of, or alongside, God.

This word choice reiterates the closeness of John's mission to God's authority and will.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In antiquity, messengers or heralds sent by gods feature prominently in various mythologies.

In Greek mythology, Hermes acted as the messenger of the gods.

Unlike Hermes, who was a god himself, John the Baptist is portrayed as a human being divinely chosen for a specific purpose.

This underlines a key difference between Christian theology and many mythologies: the idea of an ordinary person elevated to fulfill a divine role, rather than a deity or demigod operating in the mortal realm.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, there isn't direct relevance in this verse as it speaks to faith-based concepts of divine mission and providence rather than empirical observations of the natural world.

However, interdisciplinary scholars might explore the psychological and sociological effects of belief in a higher calling or divine purpose, which could impact a person's motivation, purpose in life, and societal contributions.

commentaries

Various Biblical scholars have offered insights into John 1:6.

According to William Barclay in "The Daily Study Bible Series," John came as a witness to testify to the light, so all might believe through him.

F.F.

Bruce, in "The Gospel of John: Introduction, Exposition, Notes," emphasizes the importance of John the Baptist's role in the divine plan and how this Gospel introduces him not as the light, but as a witness to that light, connecting back to John 1:8.

D.A.

Carson's "The Gospel According to John" focuses on the pre-existence of the Word (Jesus) and how John the Baptist prepares the way for the Lord, stressing the continuity and fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

John 1

John 1

What does John 1:6 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 1:6 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?