John 1
John 1 opens with the cosmic prologue — 'In the beginning was the Word' — declaring Christ's eternal divinity and his incarnation: 'the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.'
The Book of John · New Testament · chapter 1 of 21.
Where this chapter sits
Unlike Matthew and Luke, this gospel begins with no birth story at all, choosing instead an eighteen-verse poem about the Word that existed before creation. Once the prologue ends, the chapter shifts register entirely into ordinary narrative time: John the Baptist denying he is the Messiah, pointing instead to one coming after him, and a handful of early followers, Andrew, Peter, Philip, Nathanael, being called by name over the course of a single day.
Key verses (KJV)
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” — John 1:1 (KJV)
“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.” — John 1:14 (KJV)
What to notice as you read
Read the deliberate echo of Genesis in the opening words, then watch abstraction give way to specifics: a real place, Bethany, a real day-by-day sequence, and a title, Lamb of God, that reframes ancient sacrifice around one person standing at the river.
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Frequently asked questions
Where does John 1 come in John?
It is chapter 1 of 21 in John, a book of Gospel in the New Testament. The other widely-read chapters of John are linked further down this page.
Where can I read John 1?
Read the full text of John 1 — and the whole Bible, offline, in your preferred translation — free in the Quiethaven app for iPhone.