1 In the beginning the Word already was.1:1. In other words, the Word existed from eternity past. The concept of the Word means more than letters making up a word: it is the divine mind, the expression of God, the active aspect of divinity that speaks into existence as in Genesis 1:1. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 From the very beginning he was with God. 3 Everything came into being through him; nothing came into being without him. 4 In him was life, the life that was the light of everyone. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not extinguished it.1:5. The word in the original can also mean "overpowered" or "understood."
6 God sent a man named John. 7 He came as a witness to explain about the light so that everyone might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to witness to the light.
9 The true light was coming into the world to give light to everyone. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world didn’t know who he was.1:10. Or "didn’t recognize him." 11 He came to his own people, but they didn’t accept him.1:11. Or "He came to his own home but his own people did not welcome him." 12 But to all those who accepted him and trusted in him, he gave the right to become God’s children. 13 These are the children born not in the usual way, not as the result of human desire or a father’s decision, but born of God. 14 The Word became human and lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only1:14. Literally, "only begotten." This refers to position and uniqueness rather than birth. Son, full of grace and truth.
15 John gave his testimony about him, shouting out to the people, "This is the one I was telling you about when I said, ‘The one who is coming after me is more important than me, for before I ever existed he already was.’" 16 We have all been recipients of his generous nature, one gracious gift after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 While no one has ever seen God, God the one and only, who is close beside the Father, has shown us what God is like.1:18. Or "has made him known."