John's Witness

1:15John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’”

1:16From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.

1:17For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.

1:18No one has seen God at any time. The only born Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him.

1:19This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

1:20He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”

1:21They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”

1:22They said therefore to him, “Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

1:23He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.”

1:24The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.

1:25They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”

1:26John answered them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know.