John 1:2

John 1:1 bbe — From the first he was the Word, and the Word was in relation with God and was God.

Bible in Basic English

"From the first he was the Word, and the Word was in relation with God and was God."

— John 1:1, Bible in Basic English

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John 1:1 in Other Translations

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KJV
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
King James Version · Read this chapter in KJV
ASV
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ”
American Standard Version · Read this chapter in ASV
WEB
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
World English Bible · Read this chapter in WEB
NET
“¶ The Prologue to the Gospel In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God.”
NET Bible · Read this chapter in NET
KJVA
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
King James Version with Apocrypha · Read this chapter in KJVA

John 1 — Context

From the first he was the Word, and the Word was in relation with God and was God.

This Word was from the first in relation with God.

All things came into existence through him, and without him nothing was.

What came into existence in him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John 1:1 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions

What does John 1:1 say?

John 1:1 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “From the first he was the Word, and the Word was in relation with God and was God.”

Where is John 1:1 in the Bible?

John 1:1 is found in the New Testament, in the book of John, chapter 1, verse 1.

Who wrote John?

John is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, son of Zebedee. It was written c. AD 85–95.

What is the book of John about?

John's Gospel opens not in Bethlehem but "in the beginning," declaring Jesus to be the eternal Word made flesh. Through seven sign-miracles and seven "I AM" sayings, it presents Jesus as the bread, the light, the way, and the resurrection — that we might believe and have life in his name.

What are the major themes of John?

John explores themes including Word Made Flesh, Belief, Eternal Life, I AM, Love. These themes shape the meaning and context of John 1:1.

What translation should I read John 1:1 in?

John 1:1 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.

How can I memorize John 1:1?

John 1:1 reads (BBE): “From the first he was the Word, and the Word was in relation with God and was God.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.

John 1:1 bbe — From the first he was the Word, and the Word was in relation with God and was God.

Read in Another Translation

John 1:1 in Other Translations

John 1 — Context

John 1:1 — Frequently Asked Questions

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