Keraia
John 1

John 1:18

The Word Became Flesh · John 1:14–18
Read John 1

Translations

Modern
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.
Traditional
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
Literal
No one has ever yet seen God. The only begotten God, the One being in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known.
Latin
Deum nemo vidit umquam: unigenitus Filius, qui est in sinu Patris, ipse enarravit.

Original

Greek
English
No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is Himself God and is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.

Notes

John 1:18

  • God would not allow Moses to see him directly (Exodus 33:18–20). Only Jesus has seen the Father, so he alone completely knows him and can tell us about him (John 3:32–35; 14:9–10).

  • but the one and only Son: The Son, who sees the Father, is himself God. The Son is not simply a messenger who knows something about God. John explicitly affirms Christ’s deity. Jesus shares the substance of God’s being.

John 1:1–18

The start of this introduction might be a poem or hymn sung by early Christians (1:1–5).

The themes of this introduction of the Gospel of John prepare readers for the story that follows:

  • The arrival of the light in the world.

  • The rejection of the light.

  • The gift of new life given by the light to those who believed in him.

Events

Parallels

Psalm 84:1–12

Glossary

Bible, Manuscripts and Text of the (New Testament) Bible, Quotations of the Old Testament in the New Testament Eternal Life Faith Immanuel Incarnation John, Gospel of Mediate, Mediator Messiah New Commandment Only Begotten Poetry, Biblical Presence of God Prophecy Revelation Son of Man Stoicism, Stoics Witness

Topics

Christ is God: As the Only-Begotten Son of the Father Confession of Christ God is Declared to Be: Invisible God: Fatherhood of God: Invisible How Do we Know God Exists Jehovah's Witnesses Jesus, the Christ: Divinity of The One and Only Son of the Father Jesus, the Christ: John's Testimony Concerning Him Jesus, the Christ: Names, Appellations, and Titles of: Only Begotten Son Jesus, the Christ: Perfections of not Classified Under Foregoing Topics Jesus, the Christ: Son of God Seeing