Bible / John
John 1
World English Bible, Catholic edition, in plain modern English. About the translations
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision, the traditional Catholic English Bible. About the translations
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 1 CCC · Fathers
2 The same was in the beginning with God. CCC
3 All things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made that has been made. CCC · Fathers
4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. CCC
5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. CCC
6 There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. CCC · Fathers
7 The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. CCC
8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.
9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world. CCC
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. Fathers
11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. CCC · Fathers
12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: CCC · Fathers
13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. CCC · Fathers
14 The Word became flesh and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the only born Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. 2 CCC · Fathers
15 John 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.’” CCC
16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. CCC
17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. CCC
18 No one has seen God at any time. The only born Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared him. CCC · Fathers
19 This is John’s testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” CCC
20 He declared, and didn’t deny, but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”
21 They asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the prophet?” He answered, “No.”
22 They 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?”
23 He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ as Isaiah the prophet said.” CCC
24 The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.
25 They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”
26 John answered them, “I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don’t know.
27 He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.”
28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! CCC · Fathers
30 This is he of whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.’
31 I didn’t know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water, that he would be revealed to Israel.” CCC
32 John testified, saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him. CCC
33 I didn’t recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘On whomever you will see the Spirit descending and remaining on him is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ CCC
34 I have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God.” CCC
35 Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples, CCC
36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” CCC
37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.
38 Jesus turned and saw them following, and said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi” (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), “where are you staying?”
39 He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.
40 One of the two who heard John and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.
41 He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, “We have found the Messiah!” (which is, being interpreted, Christ).
42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is by interpretation, Peter).
43 On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.”
44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, “We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”
46 Nathanael said to him, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” Philip said to him, “Come and see.”
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, “Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!” Fathers
48 Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered him, “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”
49 Nathanael answered him, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!” Fathers
50 Jesus answered him, “Because I told you, ‘I saw you underneath the fig tree,’ do you believe? You will see greater things than these!” Fathers
51 He said to him, “Most certainly, I tell you all, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”
1 In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God: and the Word was God. 1 CCC · Fathers
2 The same was in the beginning with God. CCC
3 All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made. CCC · Fathers
4 In him was life: and the life was the light of men. CCC
5 And the light shineth in darkness: and the darkness did not comprehend it. CCC
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. CCC · Fathers
7 This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all men might believe through him. CCC
8 He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light.
9 That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world. CCC
10 He was in the world: and the world was made by him: and the world knew him not. Fathers
11 He came unto his own: and his own received him not. CCC · Fathers
12 But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name. CCC · Fathers
13 Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. CCC · Fathers
14 And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father), full of grace and truth. 2 CCC · Fathers
15 John beareth witness of him and crieth out, saying: This was he of whom I spoke: He that shall come after me is preferred before me: because he was before me. CCC
16 And of his fulness we all have received: and grace for grace. CCC
17 For the law was given by Moses: grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. CCC
18 No man hath seen God at any time: the only begotten Son who is in the Bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. CCC · Fathers
19 And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent from Jerusalem priests and Levites to him, to ask him: Who art thou? CCC
20 And he confessed and did not deny: and he confessed: I am not the Christ.
21 And they asked him: What then? Art thou Elias? And he said: I am not. Art thou the prophet? And he answered: No.
22 They said therefore unto him: Who art thou, that we may give an answer to them that sent us? What sayest thou of thyself?
23 He said: I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Isaias. CCC
24 And they that were sent were of the Pharisees.
25 And they asked him and said to him: Why then dost thou baptize, if thou be not Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet?
26 John answered them, saying: I baptize with water: but there hath stood one in the midst of you, whom you know not.
27 The same is he that shall come after me, who is preferred before me: the latchet of whose shoe I am not worthy to loose.
28 These things were done in Bethania, beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.
29 The next day, John saw Jesus coming to him; and he saith: Behold the Lamb of God. Behold him who taketh away the sin of the world. CCC · Fathers
30 This is he of whom I said: After me there cometh a man, who is preferred before me: because he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he may be made manifest in Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water. CCC
32 And John gave testimony, saying: I saw the Spirit coming down, as a dove from heaven; and he remained upon him. CCC
33 And I knew him not: but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me: He upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending and remaining upon him, he it is that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. CCC
34 And I saw: and I gave testimony that this is the Son of God. CCC
35 The next day again John stood and two of his disciples. CCC
36 And beholding Jesus walking, he saith: Behold the Lamb of God. CCC
37 And the two disciples heard him speak: and they followed Jesus.
38 And Jesus turning and seeing them following him, saith to them: What seek you? Who said to him: Rabbi (which is to say, being interpreted, Master), where dwellest thou?
39 He saith to them: Come and see. They came and saw where he abode: and they stayed with him that day. Now it was about the tenth hour.
40 And Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who had heard of John and followed him.
41 He findeth first his brother Simon and saith to him: We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.
42 And he brought him to Jesus. And Jesus looking upon him, said: Thou art Simon the son of Jona. Thou shalt be called Cephas, which is interpreted Peter.
43 On the following day, he would go forth into Galilee: and he findeth Philip, And Jesus saith to him: follow me.
44 Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.
45 Philip findeth Nathanael and saith to him: We have found him of whom Moses, in the law and the prophets did write, Jesus the son of Joseph of Nazareth.
46 And Nathanael said to him: Can any thing of good come from Nazareth? Philip saith to him: Come and see.
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him and he saith of him: Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom there is no guile. Fathers
48 Nathanael saith to him: Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said to him: Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.
49 Nathanael answered him and said: Rabbi: Thou art the Son of God. Thou art the King of Israel. Fathers
50 Jesus answered and said to him: Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, thou believest: greater things than these shalt thou see. Fathers
51 And he saith to him: Amen, amen, I say to you, you shall see the heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.
Where our lessons quote this chapter
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 241 “For this reason the apostles confess Jesus to be the Word: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with…”
- CCC 291 “In the beginning was the Word. . . and the Word was God. . . all things were made through him, and…”
- CCC 2780 “We can invoke God as "Father" because he is revealed to us by his Son become man and because his Spirit makes…”
- CCC 102 “Through all the words of Sacred Scripture, God speaks only one single Word, his one Utterance in whom he expresses himself completely:…”
“And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehended it not.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“For that according to John relates His original, effectual, and glorious generation from the Father, thus declaring, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“All things were made by Him, and without Him was nothing made.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 291 “In the beginning was the Word. . . and the Word was God. . . all things were made through him, and…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 268 “of all the divine attributes, only God's omnipotence is named in the Creed: to confess this power has great bearing on our…”
- CCC 291 “In the beginning was the Word. . . and the Word was God. . . all things were made through him, and…”
- CCC 1108 “In every liturgical action the Holy Spirit is sent in order to bring us into communion with Christ and so to form…”
- CCC 54 “God, who creates and conserves all things by his Word, provides men with constant evidence of himself in created realities. and furthermore,…”
“For when he had spoken of the Word of God as having been in the Father, he added, "All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter VIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… substance from untilled and as yet virgin soil ("for God had not yet sent rain, and man had not tilled the ground" ), and was formed by the hand of God, that is, by the Word of God, for "all things were made by Him,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… in [only] one God, who also made all things by the Word, as Moses likewise says, "God said, Let there be light: and there was light;" and as we read in the Gospel, "All things were made by Him; and without Him was nothing made;”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXXII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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- CCC 612 “The cup of the New Covenant, which Jesus anticipated when he offered himself at the Last Supper, is afterwards accepted by him…”
- CCC 878 “Finally, it belongs to the sacramental nature of ecclesial ministry that it have a personal character. Although Chnst's ministers act in communion…”
- CCC 1108 “In every liturgical action the Holy Spirit is sent in order to bring us into communion with Christ and so to form…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 717 “There was a man sent from God, whose name was John." John was "filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother's…”
- CCC 1108 “In every liturgical action the Holy Spirit is sent in order to bring us into communion with Christ and so to form…”
“He was not that Light, but [came] that he might testify of the Light.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1216 “This bath is called enlightenment, because those who receive this [catechetical] instruction are enlightened in their understanding . . . ." Having…”
Read the Fathers
“He came unto His own [things], and His own [people] received Him not.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 530 “The flight into Egypt and the massacre of the innocents 217 make manifest the opposition of darkness to the light: "He came…”
“He came unto His own [things], and His own [people] received Him not.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 706 “Against all human hope, God promises descendants to Abraham, as the fruit of faith and of the power of the Holy Spirit.…”
- CCC 1692 “The Symbol of the faith confesses the greatness of God's gifts to man in his work of creation, and even more in…”
- CCC 1996 “Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond…”
“But to as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XVIII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 496 “From the first formulations of her faith, the Church has confessed that Jesus was conceived solely by the power of the Holy…”
- CCC 505 “By his virginal conception, Jesus, the New Adam, ushers in the new birth of children adopted in the Holy Spirit through faith.…”
- CCC 706 “Against all human hope, God promises descendants to Abraham, as the fruit of faith and of the power of the Holy Spirit.…”
- CCC 1996 “Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond…”
“to whom the Father which is in heaven has revealed Him, knows Him, so that he understands that He who "was not born either by the will of the flesh, or by the will of man,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XIX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… whom the Father speaking, said, "Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness." And for this reason in the last times (fine), not by the will of the flesh, nor by the will of man, but by the good pleasure of the Father,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter I. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 423 “We believe and confess that Jesus of Nazareth, born a Jew of a daughter of Israel at Bethlehem at the time of…”
- CCC 445 “After his Resurrection, Jesus' divine sonship becomes manifest in the power of his glorified humanity. He was "designated Son of God in…”
- CCC 461 “Taking up St. John's expression, "The Word became flesh", The Church calls "Incarnation" the fact that the Son of God assumed a…”
- CCC 705 “Disfigured by sin and death, man remains "in the image of God," in the image of the Son, but is deprived "of…”
- CCC 1996 “Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond…”
- CCC 2466 “In Jesus Christ, the whole of God's truth has been made manifest. "Full of grace and truth," he came as the "light…”
“… have been refashioned, as again He says in another prophet, "Behold, saith the Lord, I will take away from these, that is, from those whom the Spirit of the Lord foresaw, their stony hearts, and I will put hearts of flesh within them," because He”
Quoted in The Letter of Barnabas, Unknown author (early 2nd century), Chapter VI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… For He is indeed Saviour, as being the Son and Word of God; but salutary, since [He is] Spirit; for he says: "The Spirit of our countenance, Christ the Lord." But salvation, as being flesh: for "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… by whom they hold that this world was made, was produced from the Mother; while the Gospel affirms plainly, that by the Word, which was in the beginning with God, all things were made, which Word, he says, "was made flesh, and dwelt among us.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 1996 “Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 423 “We believe and confess that Jesus of Nazareth, born a Jew of a daughter of Israel at Bethlehem at the time of…”
- CCC 504 “Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary's womb because he is the New Adam, who inaugurates the new…”
- CCC 1996 “Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 473 “But at the same time, this truly human knowledge of God's Son expressed the divine life of his person. "The human nature…”
- CCC 1996 “Our justification comes from the grace of God. Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond…”
- CCC 151 “For a Christian, believing in God cannot be separated from believing in the One he sent, his "beloved Son", in whom the…”
“For "no man," he says, "hath seen God at any time," unless "the only-begotten Son of God, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared [Him].”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… is one God the Father, who contains all things, and who grants existence to all, as is written in the Gospel: "No man hath seen God at any time, except the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father; He has declared [Him].”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
“… see God; but if what they did see were similitudes of the splendour of the Lord, and prophecies of things to come; it is manifest that the Father is indeed invisible, of whom also the Lord said, "No man hath seen God at any time.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 575 “Many of Jesus' deeds and words constituted a "sign of contradiction", but more so for the religious authorities in Jerusalem, whom the…”
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- CCC 719 “John the Baptist is "more than a prophet." In him, the Holy Spirit concludes his speaking through the prophets. John completes the…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 408 “The consequences of original sin and of all men's personal sins put the world as a whole in the sinful condition aptly…”
- CCC 536 “The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God's suffering Servant. He allows himself…”
- CCC 608 “After agreeing to baptize him along with the sinners, John the Baptist looked at Jesus and pointed him out as the "Lamb…”
- CCC 613 “Christ's death is both the Paschal sacrifice that accomplishes the definitive redemption of men, through "the Lamb of God, who takes away…”
- CCC 1137 “The book of Revelation of St. John, read in the Church's liturgy, first reveals to us, "A throne stood in heaven, with…”
- CCC 1505 “Moved by so much suffering Christ not only allows himself to be touched by the sick, but he makes their miseries his…”
“This is He of whom I said, After me cometh a man who was made before me; because He was prior to me: and of His fulness have all we received.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter X. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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- CCC 438 “Jesus' messianic consecration reveals his divine mission, "for the name 'Christ' implies 'he who anointed', 'he who was anointed' and 'the very…”
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- CCC 536 “The baptism of Jesus is on his part the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God's suffering Servant. He allows himself…”
- CCC 713 “The Messiah's characteristics are revealed above all in the "Servant songs." These songs proclaim the meaning of Jesus' Passion and show how…”
- CCC 719 “John the Baptist is "more than a prophet." In him, the Holy Spirit concludes his speaking through the prophets. John completes the…”
- CCC 1286 “In the Old Testament the prophets announced that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the hoped-for Messiah for his saving…”
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- CCC 713 “The Messiah's characteristics are revealed above all in the "Servant songs." These songs proclaim the meaning of Jesus' Passion and show how…”
- CCC 719 “John the Baptist is "more than a prophet." In him, the Holy Spirit concludes his speaking through the prophets. John completes the…”
- CCC 1286 “In the Old Testament the prophets announced that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the hoped-for Messiah for his saving…”
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- CCC 719 “John the Baptist is "more than a prophet." In him, the Holy Spirit concludes his speaking through the prophets. John completes the…”
Read the Fathers
“By whom also Nathanael, being taught, recognised [Him], he to whom also the Lord bare witness, that he was "an Israelite indeed, in whom was no guile.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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“A bruised reed shall He not break, and smoking flax shall He not quench, until He send forth judgment into contention; and in His name shall the Gentiles trust.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book III, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XI. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
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“And as their love towards God increases, He bestows more and greater [gifts]; as also the Lord said to His disciples: "Ye shall see greater things than these.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter IX. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1