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1:1-18 In the
beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
This One was in the beginning with God. Everything came into being through
him and not a single thing has been created without him. In him was life and this life was
the light of humankind. This
light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it. Now there was a man who was sent
from God whose name was John.
This man came to give witness that he might witness to the light so
that everyone could believe through (his witness). (This man) was not that light but he
came in order to witness to the light.
It was the true light which enlightens every person coming into the
world. He (the light) was in
the world and the world had come into being through him. Yet the world did not know him. He came to his own creation but his
own people did not receive him.
Yet as many as did receive him he gave them the right to become
children of
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God.
These people were those who believed in his name. These people were re-born not of
blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of humankind. They were
born of God. So the Word became flesh and lived amongst us. We beheld his glory, glory that was
from the only begotten of the Father (c/f the Original Cause of the
universe). He (this man) was
full of grace and truth.
John gave witness concerning him. He cried out saying "This is
the one of whom I spoke when proclaiming "The one coming after me
ranks before me. He was (in
existence) before me. It is because of his fullness (in the life of the
'Original Cause of the universe') that we have received such grace. The law was given through
Moses. (But) grace (the life of
God) and truth came through Jesus Christ. No man has ever seen God except for
his only begotten one who is in the bosom of the Father (Original Cause of
the universe) and who has made him known (to us).
(Note:
Text is mainly a paraphrase of the Literal translation in the RSV
Interlinear Greek-English New Testament, 1988)
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