The Beginning

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the things which have been accomplished among us, just as they were delivered to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the truth concerning the things of which you have been informed.

The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; 
    all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 
        There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. 
            The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world knew him not. He came to his own home, and his own people received him not. But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 
    And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. 
        (John bore witness to him, and cried, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, for he was before me.'") 
            And from his fulness have we all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 
No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.

Sources: Synopsis of the Four Gospels, Greek-English Edition of the Synopsis Quattuor Evangelium, Edited by Kurt Aland (6th edition). | http://www.greeknewtestament.com/ | http://etext.virginia.edu/rsv.browse.html | Author Home | Bibliography | Gospel Parallels Home