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This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
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He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
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That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
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He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.
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He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.
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But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
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who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
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And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
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John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said, 'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.' "
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And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
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For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
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No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
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Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"
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He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."
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And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."
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Then they said to him, "Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?"
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He said: "I am 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Make straight the way of the Lord," ' as the prophet Isaiah said."
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Now those who were sent were from the Pharisees.
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And they asked him, saying, "Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?"
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John answered them, saying, "I baptize with water, but there stands One among you whom you do not know.
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It is He who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to loose."