約翰福音 1
Chinese Contemporary Bible (Traditional)
生命之道
1 太初，道已經存在，道與上帝同在，道就是上帝。 2 太初，道就與上帝同在。 3 萬物都是藉著祂造的[a]，受造之物沒有一樣不是藉著祂造的。 4 祂裡面有生命，這生命是人類的光。 5 光照進黑暗裡，黑暗不能勝過[b]光。
6 有一個人名叫約翰，是上帝差來的。 7 他來是要為光做見證，叫世人可以藉著他而相信。 8 約翰不是那光，他來是為那光做見證。 9 那照亮世人的真光來到了世上。 10 祂來到自己所創造的世界，世界卻不認識祂。 11 祂來到自己的地方，自己的人卻不接納祂。 12 但所有接納祂的，就是那些信祂的人，祂就賜給他們權利成為上帝的兒女。 13 這些人既不是從人的血緣關係生的，也不是從人的情慾或意願生的，而是從上帝生的。
14 道成為肉身，住在我們中間，充滿了恩典和真理。我們見過祂的榮耀，正是父獨一兒子的榮耀。
15 約翰為祂做見證的時候，高聲喊道：「這就是我以前所說的那位，『祂在我以後來卻比我位分高，因為祂在我之前已經存在了。』」 16 從祂的豐盛裡，我們一次又一次地領受了恩典。 17 因為律法是藉著摩西頒佈的，恩典和真理是藉著耶穌基督賜下來的。 18 從來沒有人見過上帝，只有父懷中的獨一上帝[c]把祂顯明出來。
施洗者約翰的見證
19 以下是約翰的見證。猶太人從耶路撒冷派祭司和利未人來找約翰，查問他是誰。 20 約翰毫不隱瞞地說：「我不是基督。」
21 他們問：「那麼，你是誰？是以利亞嗎？」
他說：「不是。」
他們又問：「你是那位先知嗎？」
他說：「也不是。」
22 他們又追問：「你到底是誰？我們好回覆差我們來的人。你自己說你是誰？」
23 他說：「我就是在曠野大聲呼喊『修直主的路』的那個人，正如以賽亞先知所言。」
24 派來的人當中有幾個法利賽人[d]，他們問他： 25 「你既然不是基督，不是以利亞，也不是那位先知，那你為什麼給人施洗呢？」
26 約翰答道：「我是用水施洗，但在你們中間有一位你們不認識的， 27 祂雖然是在我以後來的，我就是給祂解鞋帶也不配。」 28 這事發生在約旦河東岸的伯大尼，那裡是約翰給人施洗的地方。
上帝的羔羊
29 次日，約翰看見耶穌走過來，就說：「看啊！上帝的羔羊，除去世人罪惡的！ 30 這就是我以前所說的那位，『有一個人在我以後來卻比我位分高，因為祂在我之前已經存在了。』 31 我以前並不認識祂，現在我用水給人施洗，是要把祂顯明給以色列人。」
32 約翰又做見證說：「我看見聖靈好像鴿子一樣從天降下，住在祂身上。 33 我本來不認識祂，但那位差我來用水給人施洗的告訴我，『你看見聖靈降下，住在誰身上，誰就是用聖靈給人施洗的。』 34 我看見了，便做見證，祂就是上帝的兒子。」
第一批門徒
35 再次日，約翰和兩個門徒站在那裡， 36 他看見耶穌經過，就說：「看啊！這是上帝的羔羊！」 37 兩個門徒聽見他的話，便跟從了耶穌。 38 耶穌轉過身來，看見他們跟著，便問：「你們想要什麼？」
他們說：「老師[e]，你住在哪裡？」
39 耶穌說：「你們來看吧。」他們便跟著去看耶穌住的地方。到了那裡大約下午四點了，他們就住在耶穌那裡。 40 聽見約翰的話後跟從耶穌的兩個人中，有一個是西門·彼得的弟弟安得烈。 41 他首先去找他哥哥西門，說：「我們找到彌賽亞了！」彌賽亞的意思是基督[f]。 42 他帶著西門去見耶穌。
耶穌看著西門，對他說：「約翰的兒子西門，你要改名為磯法。」磯法的意思是彼得。
43 又過了一天，耶穌決定去加利利。祂遇見了腓力，就對他說：「跟從我！」 44 腓力是伯賽大人，與彼得、安得烈是同鄉。 45 腓力去找拿但業，對他說：「我們遇見了摩西律法書和先知書記載的那位！祂是約瑟的兒子耶穌，從拿撒勒來的。」
46 拿但業說：「拿撒勒還會出什麼好東西？」
腓力說：「你來看看吧！」
47 耶穌看見拿但業走過來，就指著他說：「看啊，這是個真正的以色列人！他心裡毫無詭詐。」
48 拿但業問耶穌：「你怎麼會認識我？」
耶穌答道：「腓力還沒有去找你之前，我就看見你在無花果樹下了。」
49 拿但業說：「老師，你是上帝的兒子！你是以色列的王！」
50 耶穌說：「我說看見你在無花果樹下，你就信我嗎？將來你還要看見比這更大的事。 51 我實實在在地告訴你們，你們會看見天門敞開，上帝的天使以人子[g]為梯上上下下。」
約 翰 福 音 1
Chinese New Testament: Easy-to-Read Version
基督耶稣-永恒之言
1 最初有道 [a]，道与上帝同在，道即是上帝。 2 这道最初就与上帝同在。 3 万物通过他而产生，没有他，什么也不会产生。 4 他蕴含着生命，这生命给人类带来了光明。 5 光明在黑暗中闪耀，但是黑暗无法战胜光明。 [b]
6 上帝派来了一个人，名叫约翰， 7 他来是为光作见证的，以便通过他使所有的人相信这光。 8 约翰本身不是这光，而是来为这光作证的。 9 真正的光将要来到这个世界，这是照亮所有人的光。
10 他（道）已在这个世界上了。这个世界通过他而产生，但这个世界却不认识他。 11 他来到自己的家，可是他自己的人却不接受他。 12 不过，对于接受他的人，也就是信仰他的名字的人，他都赋予了他们成为上帝孩子的权力。 13 这些人不是靠自然传宗接代、情欲或人的愿望而生的，而是上帝所生。
14 道变成了肉身，生活在我们中间。我们看到了他的荣耀－父之独子的荣耀，他从天父那里来，充满了恩典和真理。
15 约翰为他作证，呼喊道∶“关于这个人，我曾说过∶‘那个在我之后来的人比我更伟大，因为他在我之前就存在了。”
16 我们都领受到了他丰盛的恩典与真理，得到他赐与的无尽福泽。 17 律法是通过摩西颁布的，而恩典和真理是通过耶稣基督而来的。 18 没有人见过上帝，但是在父亲身边的独子 [c]－也是上帝－使他为众所周知。
约翰讲述米赛亚（基督）
19 耶路撒冷的犹太人派祭司和利未人去见约翰，问他道∶“你是谁？”下面是约翰的证言：
20 约翰直言不讳地回答了，他承认说∶“我不是基督。”
21 他们问他∶“那么你是谁呢？是以利亚 [d]吗？”
他说∶“不是。”
他们又问∶“你是那位先知 [e]吗？”
他回答道∶“不是。”
22 所以，他们对他说∶“那么你是谁？告诉我们，好让我们回答那些派我们来的人。你自己说，你是什么人呢？”
23 约翰回答说：
“我是在旷野里那个呼唤人的声音∶‘为主修直道路！’” (A)
24 这些人是法利赛人派来的。 25 他们问约翰道∶“如果你不是基督、以利亚，也不是先知，那么你为什么施洗礼？”
26 约翰回答他们说∶“我用水给人们施洗礼，在你们中间，站着一位你们不认识的人， 27 他是那位在我之后来的人，我甚至都不配当给他解鞋带的奴仆。” 28 这一切发生在约旦河对岸的伯大尼，约翰在那里为人们施洗礼。
耶稣-上帝的羔羊
29 第二天，约翰看见耶稣向他走来，便说∶“看，上帝的羔羊 [f]，他除掉世上的罪孽。 30 关于他，我曾说过∶‘在我之后来的那个人比我伟大，因为在我之前他就存在了。’ 31 我自己不认识他，但是我来用水为人们施洗礼，为的是使他的名字传遍以色列。”
32 然后，约翰作见证说∶“我已看到圣灵像鸽子一样从天堂而降，落在他的身上。 33 虽然我自己不认识他，但是派我来用水施洗礼的人告诉我∶‘你将看到圣灵降落在那个人身上，他就是用圣灵施洗的人。’ 34 我已经看见了这一切，我作证他就是上帝之子。”
耶稣最早的门徒
35 第二天，约翰和他的两个门徒又在那个地方。 36 当他们看见耶稣走过时，约翰说∶“看，上帝的羔羊。”
37 两个门徒听到了他的话，便跟着耶稣走了。 38 耶稣转过身，看到他们跟着他，就问∶“你们要什么？”
他们对他说∶“拉比（老师），您住在哪里？”
39 耶稣对他们说∶“你们来看吧。”于是，两个人就去看他住的地方，并和他共度了那天，当时大约四点左右。
40 听了约翰的话后跟耶稣走了的两个人当中，其中一个是西门彼得的兄弟安得烈。 41 他立刻找到他的兄弟西门，告诉他∶“我们找到弥赛亚了。”
42 他带着西门去见耶稣，耶稣看着他说∶“你是约翰的儿子西门，你以后要叫彼得 [g]。”
43 第二天，耶稣决定到加利利去。他找到腓力，对他说∶“跟从我。” 44 腓力来自伯赛大，和安得烈、彼得是同乡。 45 腓力找到了拿但业，告诉他说∶“我们找到了摩西律法和先知记载的那个人，他是来自拿撒勒的耶稣，约瑟的儿子。”
46 拿但业说∶“拿撒勒能出什么好东西呢？”
腓力说∶“你来看吧。”
47 耶稣看到拿但业朝他走来，关于他，耶稣说道∶“过来的这个人是一个真正的以色列人，他心里没有任何诡诈。”
48 拿但业说∶“您怎么知道我呢？”
耶稣回答说∶“腓力叫你之前，我看见你在那棵无花果树下。”
49 拿但业说∶“拉比（老师），您是上帝之子，您是以色列王。”
50 耶稣回答道∶“你是因为我说我看见你在无花果树下，才信仰我的吗？ 51 你将会看到比这更伟大的事情，”耶稣接着对他说，“我实话告诉你们，你们将看到天堂开启，看到上帝的天使在人子身上上下往来。”
Footnotes
- 約 翰 福 音 1:1 道： 希腊文意为任何形式的交流。也可被译为“信息”。在此意指基督－上帝向人们讲诉自己的途径。
- 約 翰 福 音 1:5 或黑暗并不理解光。
- 約 翰 福 音 1:18 或“但是唯一的上帝与父非常近。”一些希腊本“但只有独子与上帝非常近。”
- 約 翰 福 音 1:21 以利亚： 公元前850年的一位先知。犹太人盼望着在弥赛亚到来之前，他能重返。见《玛拉基书》4:5-6。
- 約 翰 福 音 1:21 那位先知： 也许就是那位上帝告诉摩西要来的那位先知。
- 約 翰 福 音 1:29 上帝的羔羊： 耶稣的名字。意为耶稣就像羔羊一样祭献给了上帝。
- 約 翰 福 音 1:42 彼得： 阿拉米语“矶法”。
John 1
The Voice
This Gospel begins not with Jesus’ birth or John’s baptism but with a deliberate echo of the creation story in Genesis. It takes us back before time began to the moment when God interrupts the silence and speaks the cosmos into existence. Only John’s Gospel names Jesus as the Logos and declares that He existed long before time was measured. This Greek word carries a variety of meanings, all relating to the act of speaking. It could be translated “word,” a thought that comes to expression, message, declaration, reason, or the content of preaching; most are found in various translations. It is clear that John means that logos is declared to all creation.
John’s use of logos is unique and has often been rendered as “Word.” While this is a useful translation, even a casual understanding demonstrates that “Word” reflects only part of its meaning. Most readers will interpret “word” as a unit of language—a combination of sounds generally spoken but also written—that carries meaning. To understand what John means, readers need something more than their cultural understanding of “word”; they need a new way of thinking about it. This is why we have chosen to offer another rendering, an interpretive, poetic translation, of what may be one of the most theologically loaded words in Scripture. Since logos essentially refers to the act of speaking or bringing thoughts to expression, we have decided to use the word “voice” to capture that reality. John declares that truth has culminated in the person of Jesus. No single word captures the complete meaning of logos, but “voice” has a number of advantages.
First, “voice” manifests the act of speaking. Voice is that which is spoken and that which is heard; it comes on both sides of any communication event, bridging the gap between sender and receiver. John intends that in Jesus God is speaking and revealing Himself to the world.
Second, a voice is distinct and personal. We can distinguish people from one another simply by their voices. In John 10 Jesus describes the fact that the sheep hear the voice of the shepherd when he calls and they follow, but they refuse to follow a stranger because they do not know his voice (John 10:1-5). John desires that we know Jesus as the Son of God and believe in Him personally as the Good Shepherd.
Third, “voice” is dynamic in that it reflects the robust and powerful activity of a living God. It is historical in that any act of speaking comes to expression and takes place in the real world as a “voice” calling, demanding a response. It challenges any notion that the Christian faith can be reduced to rules, propositions, or doctrines that can be merely believed or dismissed and not lived out in our lives. Since in Jesus God is speaking and revealing Himself to the world, and since in Jesus we hear the Voice of God, then this new reality changes everything so we, too, must change.
In the beginning
1 Before time itself was measured, the Voice was speaking.
The Voice was and is God.
2 This celestial Word remained ever present with the Creator;
3 His speech shaped the entire cosmos.
Immersed in the practice of creating,
all things that exist were birthed in Him.
4 His breath filled all things
with a living, breathing light—
5 A light that thrives in the depths of darkness,
blazes through murky bottoms.
It cannot and will not be quenched.
6 A man named John, who was sent by God, was the first to clearly articulate the source of this Light. 7 This baptizer put in plain words the elusive mystery of the Divine Light so all might believe through him. Some wondered whether he might be the Light, 8 but John was not the Light. He merely pointed to the Light. 9 The true Light, who shines upon the heart of everyone, was coming into the cosmos.
Jesus as the Light does not call out from a distant place but draws near by coming into the world.
10 He entered our world, a world He made; yet the world did not recognize Him. 11 Even though He came to His own people, they refused to listen and receive Him. 12 But for all who did receive and trust in Him, He gave them the right to be reborn as children of God; 13 He bestowed this birthright not by human power or initiative but by God’s will.
14 The Voice took on flesh and became human and chose to live alongside us. We have seen Him, enveloped in undeniable splendor—the one true Son of the Father—evidenced in the perfect balance of grace and truth. 15 John the Baptist testified about Him and shouted, “This is the one I’ve been telling you is coming. He is much greater than I am because He existed long before me.” 16 Through this man we all receive gifts of grace beyond our imagination. 17 You see, Moses gave us rules to live by, but Jesus the Anointed offered us gifts of grace and truth. 18 God, unseen until now, is revealed in the Voice, God’s only Son, straight from the Father’s heart.
Before Jesus comes along, many wonder whether John the Baptist might be the Anointed One sent by God. But when Jesus appears in the wilderness, John points others to Him. John knows his place in God’s redemptive plan: he speaks God’s message, but Jesus is the Word of God. John rejects any messianic claim outright. Jesus, though, accepts it with a smile, but only from a few devoted followers—at least at first. Of course John is crucial to the unfolding drama, but he isn’t the long awaited One sent to free His people. He preaches repentance and tells everybody to get ready for One greater to come along. The One who comes will cleanse humanity in fire and power, he says. John even urges some of his followers to leave him and go follow Jesus.
19 The reputation of John was growing; and many had questions, including Jewish religious leaders from Jerusalem. 28 So some priests and Levites approached John in Bethany just beyond the Jordan River while he was baptizing and bombarded him with questions:[a]
Religious Leaders: Who are you?
John the Baptist: 20 I’m not the Anointed One, if that is what you are asking.
Religious Leaders: 21 Your words sound familiar, like a prophet’s. Is that how we should address you? Are you the Prophet Elijah?
John the Baptist: No, I am not Elijah.
Religious Leaders: Are you the Prophet Moses told us would come?
John the Baptist: No.
Religious Leaders: 22 Then tell us who you are and what you are about because everyone is asking us, especially the Pharisees, and we must prepare an answer.
23 John replied with the words of Isaiah the prophet:
John the Baptist: Listen! I am a voice calling out in the wilderness.
Straighten out the road for the Lord. He’s on His way.[b]
24-25 Then some of those sent by the Pharisees questioned him again.
Religious Leaders: How can you travel the countryside baptizing[c] people if you are not the Anointed One or Elijah or the Prophet?
John the Baptist: 26 Baptizing with water is what I do; but the One whom I speak of, whom we all await, is standing among you; and you have no idea who He is. 27 Though He comes after me, I am not even worthy to unlace His sandals.[d]
The mystery of Jesus’ identity occupies His contemporaries and will continue to occupy generations of believers for centuries to come. As the twelve journey with Him, it gradually becomes clearer who this man is, where He comes from, and how His existence will profoundly affect the rest of human history. The question of “Who is this man?” cannot be answered overnight.
29 The morning after this conversation, John sees Jesus coming toward him. In eager astonishment, he shouts out:
John the Baptist: Look! This man is more than He seems! He is the Lamb sent from God, the sacrifice to erase the sins of the world! 30 He is the One I have been saying will come after me, who existed long before me and is much greater than I am. 31 No one recognized Him—myself included. But I came baptizing[e] with water so that He might be revealed to Israel. 32 As I watched, the Spirit came down like a dove from heaven and rested on Him. 33 I didn’t recognize Him at first, but the One who sent me to baptize told me, “The One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit will be the person you see the Spirit come down and rest upon.” 34 I have seen this with my own eyes and can attest that this One is the Son of God!
35-36 The day after, John saw Him again as he was visiting with two of his disciples. As Jesus walked by, he announced again:
John the Baptist: Do you see Him? This man is the Lamb of God, God’s sacrifice to cleanse our sins.
37 At that moment, the two disciples began to follow Jesus, 38-39 who turned back to them, saying:
Jesus: What is it that you want?
Two Disciples: We’d like to know where You are staying. Teacher, may we remain at Your side today?
Jesus: Come and see. Follow Me, and we will camp together.
It was about four o’clock in the afternoon when they met Jesus. They came and saw where He was staying, but they got more than they imagined. They remained with Him the rest of the day and followed Him for the rest of their lives. 40-41 One of these new disciples, Andrew, rushed to find his brother Simon and tell him they had found the One who is promised, God’s Anointed who will heal the world. 42 As Andrew approached with Simon, Jesus looked into him.
Jesus: Your name is Simon, and your father is called John. But from this day forward you will be known as Peter,[f] the rock.
43-44 The next day Jesus set out to go into Galilee; and when He came upon Philip, He invited him to join them.
Jesus: Follow Me.
Philip, like Andrew and Peter, came from a town called Bethsaida; and he decided to make the journey with Him. 45 Philip found Nathanael, a friend, and burst in with excitement:
Philip: We have found the One. Moses wrote about Him in the Law, all the prophets spoke of the day when He would come, and now He is here—His name is Jesus, son of Joseph the carpenter; and He comes from Nazareth.
Nathanael: 46 How can anything good come from a place like Nazareth?
Philip: Come with me, and see for yourself.
47 As Philip and Nathanael approached, Jesus saw Nathanael and spoke to those standing around Him.
Jesus: Look closely, and you will see an Israelite who is a truth-teller.
Nathanael (overhearing Jesus): 48 How would You know this about me? We have never met.
Jesus: I have been watching you before Philip invited you here. Earlier in the day, you were enjoying the shade and fruit of the fig tree. I saw you then.
Nathanael: 49 Teacher, You are the One—God’s own Son and Israel’s King.
Jesus: 50 Nathanael, if all it takes for you to believe is My telling you I saw you under the fig tree, then what you will see later will astound you. 51 I tell you the truth: before our journey is complete, you will see the heavens standing open while heavenly messengers ascend and descend, swirling around the Son of Man.
Footnotes
Copyright © 2004 by World Bible Translation Center
The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.