John 1:1-9

Easy-to-Read Version

Christ Comes to the World

1 Before the world began, the Word^[a] was there. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was there with God in the beginning. ³Everything was made through him, and nothing was made without him. ⁴In him there was life, and that life was a light for the people of the world. ⁵The light^[b] shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not defeated^[c] it.

⁶There was a man named John, who was sent by God. ⁷He came to tell people about the light. Through him all people could hear about the light and believe. ⁸John was not the light. But he came to tell people about the light. ⁹The true light was coming into the world. This is the true light that gives light to all people.

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Footnotes

John 1:1 Word The Greek word is “ logos,” meaning any kind of communication. It could be translated “message.” Here, it describes Jesus Christ before he was sent to earth as a human being, which is the way God chose to tell the world about himself. Also in verses 10, 14, 16.
John 1:5 light Meaning Christ, the Word, who brought to the world understanding about God. Also in verse 7.
John 1:5 defeated Or “understood.”