John 1, side by side

Two versions of the same chapter. Each row is one verse, so you can see how the wording changes.

Modern

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Classic

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Modern

2He was with God in the beginning.

Classic

2The same was in the beginning with God.

Modern

3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.

Classic

3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

Modern

4In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.

Classic

4In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Modern

5The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

Classic

5And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Modern

6There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John.

Classic

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.

Modern

7He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.

Classic

7The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.

Modern

8He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light.

Classic

8He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.

Modern

9The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world.

Classic

9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

Modern

10He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him.

Classic

10He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

Modern

11He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.

Classic

11He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Modern

12But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—

Classic

12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

Modern

13children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.

Classic

13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Modern

14The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Classic

14And the Word was made 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.

Modern

15John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’”

Classic

15John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.

Modern

16From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

Classic

16And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

Modern

17For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Classic

17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Modern

18No 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.

Classic

18No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

Modern

19And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?”

Classic

19And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?

Modern

20He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.”

Classic

20And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.

Modern

21“Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”

Classic

21And they asked him, What then? Art thou Elias? And he saith, I am not. Art thou that prophet? And he answered, No.

Modern

22So they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?”

Classic

22Then said they unto him, Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them that sent us. What sayest thou of thyself?

Modern

23John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

Classic

23He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Modern

24Then the Pharisees who had been sent

Classic

24And they which were sent were of the Pharisees.

Modern

25asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?”

Classic

25And they asked him, and said unto him, Why baptizest thou then, if thou be not that Christ, nor Elias, neither that prophet?

Modern

26“I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know.

Classic

26John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;

Modern

27He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.”

Classic

27He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe’s latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

Modern

28All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Classic

28These things were done in Bethabara beyond Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Modern

29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Classic

29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Modern

30This is He of whom I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’

Classic

30This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

Modern

31I myself did not know Him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that He might be revealed to Israel.”

Classic

31And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.

Modern

32Then John testified, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove and resting on Him.

Classic

32And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.

Modern

33I myself did not know Him, but the One who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is He who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

Classic

33And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.

Modern

34I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”

Classic

34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

Modern

35The next day John was there again with two of his disciples.

Classic

35Again the next day after John stood, and two of his disciples;

Modern

36When he saw Jesus walking by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”

Classic

36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!

Modern

37And when the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus.

Classic

37And the two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

Modern

38Jesus turned and saw them following. “What do you want?” He asked. They said to Him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are You staying?”

Classic

38Then Jesus turned, and saw them following, and saith unto them, What seek ye? They said unto him, Rabbi, (which is to say, being interpreted, Master,) where dwellest thou?

Modern

39“Come and see,” He replied. So they went and saw where He was staying, and spent that day with Him. It was about the tenth hour.

Classic

39He saith unto them, Come and see. They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour.

Modern

40Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard John’s testimony and followed Jesus.

Classic

40One of the two which heard John speak, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother.

Modern

41He first found his brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated as Christ).

Classic

41He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.

Modern

42Andrew brought him to Jesus, who looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated as Peter).

Classic

42And he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus beheld him, he said, Thou art Simon the son of Jona: thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

Modern

43The next day Jesus decided to set out for Galilee. Finding Philip, He told him, “Follow Me.”

Classic

43The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.

Modern

44Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the same town as Andrew and Peter.

Classic

44Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

Modern

45Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.”

Classic

45Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.

Modern

46“Can anything good come from Nazareth?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip.

Classic

46And Nathanael said unto him, Can there any good thing come out of Nazareth? Philip saith unto him, Come and see.

Modern

47When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, He said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is no deceit.”

Classic

47Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

Modern

48“How do You know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”

Classic

48Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee.

Modern

49“Rabbi,” Nathanael answered, “You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!”

Classic

49Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.

Modern

50Jesus said to him, “Do you believe just because I told you I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these.”

Classic

50Jesus answered and said unto him, Because I said unto thee, I saw thee under the fig tree, believest thou? thou shalt see greater things than these.

Modern

51Then He declared, “Truly, truly, I tell you, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

Classic

51And he saith unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Hereafter ye shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of man.

Your pair of translations is remembered on this device for other chapters.