This translation is from the New American Bible. Other translations are available here. Information about the original Greek meaning of what seem to be the key words is provided in blue immediately below the scriptural text. A link to a collection of other scriptures addressing the same principles is placed at the end of this post.
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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.
All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him.
But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.
And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.
John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘The one who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’”
From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.
beginning = ἀρχή = archē Blue Letter Bible the origin, the active cause; first in time, order, or place; the person or thing that commences; that by which anything begins to be; the first person or thing in a series; the leader; the first place, principality, rule, magistracy; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon beginning, origin; foundation, source; original, principal sum; first principle, element; first place or power, sovereignty; magistracy, office; authority, command
word = λόγος = logos Blue Letter Bible a word, uttered by a living voice, embodies a conception or idea; the sayings of God; the moral precepts given by God; what is declared, a thought, declaration, aphorism, a weighty saying, a dictum, a maxim; doctrine, teaching; reason, the mental faculty of thinking, meditating, reasoning, calculating; the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation and government of the universe; a distinct word, intelligible speech; decree, mandate, order; instruction; preaching; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon computation, reckoning; measure; esteem; explanation; statement of a theory, argument, discourse; proposition; rule, principle, law, precept; rule of conduct; thinking, reasoning; idea, thought; continuous statement, narrative; verbal expression or utterance; expression, utterance, speech regarded formally; the Word or Wisdom of God, personified as his agent in creation and world-government
all = πᾶς = pas Blue Letter Bible radically means "all." Used without the article it means "every," every kind or variety; any and every, of every kind, all manner of; in every way or particular; the whole; each, every, any, all, the whole, everyone, all things, everything; thoroughly, whatsoever; all manner of; the highest degree, the maximum; always; in everything, in every way, on every side, in every particular or relation; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon when used of a number, all; when of one only, the whole; all, the whole; every; all things as a unity, as a totality; all kinds of things; in all points, entirely, wholly; in every way, by all means, altogether
came to be = γίνομαι = ginomai Blue Letter Bible to become, to take place, arise; to become, to come into existence; to begin to be, come to pass, happen; to arise, appear in history, come upon the stage; to be made, finished; be fulfilled; happen; be performed; be wrought; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon come into being; take place, come to pass; to be under control of
through = διά = dia Blue Letter Bible on account of this, for this cause; because of; by, by means of, by which means; to consider deeply; the ground or reason by which something is or is not done; on account of; the channel of an act; by occasion of, by reason of; instrument, or of the efficient cause; due to; instrument used to accomplish a thing, or of the instrumental cause in the stricter sense; the formal cause; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon through; the Instrument or Means; thanks to, by aid of; by reason of, on account of
without = χωρίς = chōris Blue Letter Bible separately; by itself; apart from, without, separate from; besides; without; without the intervention;
Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon separately; apart; in reserve; being separated; besides; of different nature, kind, or quality; without the help or will of; independently of, without reckoning; differently from, otherwise than
nothing = οὐδέ = oude Blue Letter Bible not even anything; but not, neither, nor, not even; never, so much as; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon but not; and not, nor; not even; not even a little, no not a bit, not at all
came to be—see above
life = ζωή = zōē Blue Letter Bible the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate; of the absolute fulness of life, both essential and ethical; life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon living, i.e. one's substance, property; way of life
light = φῶς = phōs Blue Letter Bible luminousness in the widest application, natural or artificial, abstract or concrete, literal or figurative; to give light; light as seen by the eye; a luminous emanation; anything emitting light; brightness; fire; that which is exposed to the view of all, openly, publicly; reason, mind, the power of understanding esp. moral and spiritual truth; truth and its knowledge, together with the spiritual purity associated with it; God is light because light has the extremely delicate, subtle, pure, brilliant quality; to live agreeably to saving wisdom; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon light, esp. daylight; daybreak; the light of a torch, lamp, fire, etc. ; illuminations; metaph. For deliverance, happiness, victory, glory, etc.; illumination of the mind
human race = ἄνθρωπος = anthrōpos Blue Letter Bible a human being, male or female, without reference to sex or nationality; a generic name for man; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon man generically; humanity
shines = φαίνω = phainō Blue Letter Bible to be brought forth into light, to become evident, to appear; be manifest; give light; to bring forth into the light, cause to shine, shed light; be bright or resplendent; growing vegetation, to come to light; exposed to view; to meet the eyes, strike the sight, become clear or manifest; to appear to the mind, seem to one's judgment or opinion; lighten; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon bring to light, cause to appear; exhibit; uncover, make known, reveal, disclose; show forth; to make or ring clear; set forth, expound; give light; come into being; manifest
darkness = σκοτία = scotia Blue Letter Bible darkness due to want of light;dimness, obscurity (literally or figuratively; metaph. used of ignorance of divine things; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon darkness, gloom; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon (alternate) in the dark, in secret, secret
overcome = καταλαμβάνω = katalambanō Blue Letter Bible apprehend, lay hold of, seize, take possession of; attain; comprehend, find; perceive; to lay hold of so as to make one's own, to obtain, attain to, to make one's own, to take into one's self, appropriate; to lay hold of with the mind; to understand, perceive, learn, comprehend; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon seize, lay hold of; seize for oneself; arrive at; possessed; seize with the mind, comprehend, accept; catch, overtake, come up with; find on arrival; hold down, cover, keep under, repress, check
believe = πιστεύω = pisteuō Blue Letter Bible to be persuaded of, and hence, to place confidence in, to trust, signifies, in this sense of the word, reliance upon, not mere credence; to entrust, commit to; to think to be true, to be persuaded of, to credit, place confidence in; the conviction and trust to which a man is impelled by a certain inner and higher prerogative and law of soul; credit; to have a faith directed unto, believing or in faith to give oneself up to; to commit oneself trustfully; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon trust, put faith in, rely on; comply; feel confident that a thing is
true = ἀληθινός = alēthinos Blue Letter Bible real, ideal, genuine; true, veracious, sincere; that which has not only the name and resemblance, but the real nature; in every respect corresponding to the idea signified by the name; opposite to what is fictitious, counterfeit, imaginary, simulated or pretended; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon agreeable to truth; truthful, trusty; true; genuine; truly; honestly, straightforwardly
light—see above
enlightens = φωτίζω = phōtizō Blue Letter Bible to give light, shine; to enlighten, illumine; bring to light; to enlighten, light up, illumine; to bring to light, render evident; become clear to all; instruct, to inform, teach; to give understanding to; shed rays; make to see; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon shine, give light; illuminate; bring to light, make known; enlighten, instruct, teach; illuminate with spiritual light; in a special sense, baptize; throw light upon, illustrate
everyone—see “all” above
AND
ἄνθρωπος = anthrōpos Blue Letter Bible a human being, male or female, without reference to sex or nationality; a generic name for man; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon man generically; humanity
own = ἴδιος = idios Blue Letter Bible pertaining to one's self, one's own, belonging to one's self; of what is one's own as opposed to belonging to another; to do one's own business (and not intermeddle with the affairs of others); those things in which one differs from others, his nature and personal character; my/thine own; one's household, persons belonging to the house, family, or company; of a person who may be said to belong to one, above all others; harmonizing with, or suitable or assigned to, one's nature, character, aims, acts; appropriate; private, privately, in private
kn0w = γινώσκω = ginōskō Blue Letter Bible knowledge as the effect of experience; perceive, feel; to be taking in knowledge, to come to know, recognize, understand; to understand completely; to know in the sense of realizing; to know by observation and experience; to learn; to become acquainted with; to come to know; idiom: to have sexual relations with; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon come to know, perceive; now by reflection, know by observation; discern, distinguish, recognize; perceive; feel; discern, distinguish, recognize; celebrate
own—see above
accept = παραλαμβάνω = paralambanō Blue Letter Bible to take to, to take with one's self, to join to one's self; to accept or acknowledge one to be such as he professes to be; to receive something transmitted; to receive with the mind; associate with oneself in any familiar or intimate act or relation; take (unto, with); Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon receive from another; take upon oneself, undertake; admit, employ; receive by lesson, hearing or report, ascertain; take to oneself, associate with oneself; get control of
accept = λαμβάνω = lambanō. Blue Letter Bible to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it; to take up a thing to be carried; to take upon one's self; to take to one's self, lay hold upon, take possession of, i.e. to appropriate to one's self; catch at, reach after, strive to obtain; to receive a person, give him access to one's self; have, hold, obtain, receive; to take with one for future use; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon Take hold of, grasp, seize; take by violence, carry off as prize or booty; possess; catch, find out, detect; apprehend by the senses; apprehend with the mind, understand; determine, estimate; take in hand, undertake; have given one, get, receive; receive hospitably; receive as produce, profit; take hold of, lay hold on; seize and keep hold of, obtain possession of
power = ἐξουσία = exousia Blue Letter Bible the power of one whose will and commands must be obeyed; right of disposal; power; the ability or strength with which one is endued, which he either possesses or exercises; the power of him whose will and commands must be submitted to by others and obeyed; privilege; mastery; the power of authority (influence) and of right; delegated authority; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon power, authority to do a thing; permission to do; license; qualification for; office, magistracy; abundance of means, resources
children = τέκνον = teknon Blue Letter Bible the name transferred to that intimate and reciprocal relationship formed between men by the bonds of love, friendship, trust, just as between parents and children; in affectionate address, such as patrons, helpers, teachers and the like employ: my child; in the NT, pupils or disciples are called children of their teachers, because the latter by their instruction nourish the minds of their pupils and mould their characters; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon a form of address from elders to their youngers, my son, my child
believe—see above
name = ὄνομα = onoma Blue Letter Bible all that a "name" implies, of authority, character, rank, majesty, power, excellence, etc.; of everything that the "name" covers; the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one's rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds etc.; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon name of a person or thing; give one a name; name, fame; to have a name, to be notable
Word—see above
flesh = σάρξ = sarx Blue Letter Bible mankind; all men; the complete person; a living creature (because possessed of a body of flesh); the substance of the body; the human body; the complete person; flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts; the sensuous nature of man; the physical nature of man as subject to suffering; human nature, the earthly nature of man apart from divine influence, and therefore prone to sin; human nature, the soul included; the whole man, body and soul, reason and all his faculties included; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon the whole body; the physical or natural order of things, opp. the spiritual or supernatural
made his dwelling = σκηνόω = skēnoō Blue Letter Bible pitch a tent; to fix one's tabernacle, abide (or live) in a tabernacle (or tent); encamp; reside, dwell; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon pitch tents, encamp; live or dwell in a tent; settle, take up one's abode; the place which he now inhabits; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon (alternate definition) the banquet; encamp; find harbourage; build a hut or cottage.
among = ἐν = en Blue Letter Bible in, by, with, among, under, at, near, by; in the presence of; within, in the course of; motion into something, entering into, mingling in; that which one either leads or brings with him, or with which he is furnished or equipped; the instrument or means by or with which anything is accomplished; aided by one, by the intervention or agency of someone, by (means of) one; the state or condition in which anything is done or anyone exists, acts, suffers; the form in which anything appears or is exhibited; the measure or standard; the things in (with) which one is busied; that in which other things are contained and upheld, as their cause and origin; that which gives opportunity; to exchange one thing for another; remaining, staying, continuing in some place, state, or condition; that in which any person or thing is inherently fixed, implanted, or with which it is intimately connected; of the whole in which a part inheres; of a person to whom another is wholly joined and to whose power and influence he is subject, so that the former may be likened to the place in which the latter lives and moves; ingrafted; in fellowship and union with; spiritual fellowship or union with; to be in the power of, be actuated by, inspired by; give self wholly to; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon in, within, surrounded by; in the number of, amongst; in the presence of; in one's hands, within one's reach or power; depends on, rests with; implying both motion to and subsequent position in a place; in the practice of
saw = θεάομαι = theaomai Blue Letter Bible to behold, view attentively, contemplate; wondering regard; careful contemplation; view attentively, to see with admiration, desire, or regard; behold, look upon, view attentively, contemplate; learn by looking, to see with the eyes, to perceive; look closely at; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon gaze at, behold, mostly with a sense of wonder; reconnoiter; contemplate; see clearly; view as spectators, esp. in the theatre, but also, onlookers, bystanders
glory = δόξα = doxa Blue Letter Bible opinion, judgment, view, estimate; splendour, brightness; magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity, grace; majesty; most exalted state; honor; absolute perfection; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon the opinion which others have of one, estimation, repute; good repute, honour, glory; glory, splendor, magnificence, celestial beatitude
full = πλήρης = pleres Blue Letter Bible Being filled, full, i.e. filled up (as opposed to empty); covered in every part; thoroughly permeated with; replete; abounding in; complete, lacking nothing, perfect; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon full of; infected by; satisfied, satiated; full, complete; solid, whole; full-bodied, with a persistent flavour
grace = χάρις = charis Blue Letter Bible beneficial, beneficent; that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness; good will, loving-kindness, favour; liberality; kindness which bestows upon one what he has not deserved; favors even upon the ill-deserving; merciful kindness; aid or succor; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon kindness, goodwill, for or towards one; partiality, favour; boon; Richard Trench, Synonyms of the New Testament that property in a thing which causes it to give joy; the favour and grace and goodness of man to man, to setting forth the favour, grace and goodness of God to man, and thus, of necessity, of the worthy to the unworthy, of the holy to the sinful; it is conferred freely, with no expectation of return, and finding its only motive in the bounty and free-heartedness of the giver
truth = ἀλήθεια = aletheia Blue Letter Bible the reality lying at the basis of an appearance; the manifested, veritable essence of a matter; that candour of mind which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit; sincerity of mind and integrity of character, or a mode of life in harmony with divine truth; veracity; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon The opposite of lie or mere appearance; reality
fullness = πλήρωμα = plērōma Blue Letter Bible that which fills up; that which has been completed; that which is (has been) filled; fulness, abundance; repletion; copiousness; flooded; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon Satiety; full and perfect nature; the aggregate of properties which constitute the complete nature of a thing; filling up, completing, fulfillment
received—see “accepted” above
grace—see above
grace—see above
grace—see above
truth—see above
seen = ὁράω = horaō Blue Letter Bible to see with the eyes; to see with the mind, to perceive, know; to take heed, beware; to care for, pay heed to; to attend to; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon take, pay, or give heed; behold, perceive, observe; look out for, provide
Son = μονογενής = monogenēs Blue Letter Bible the term is one of endearment, as well as of singleness; single of its kind, only used of only sons or daughters (viewed in relation to their parents); Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon the only member of a kin or kind; only, single; unique; one and the same blood; having one form for all genders; grows only in one place; in a unique manner
father = πατήρ = patēr Blue Letter Bible from a root signifying a nourisher, protector, upholder; the originator and transmitter of anything; one who stands in a father's place and looks after another in a paternal way; creator, preserver, guardian and protector; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon respectful mode of addressing persons older than oneself; father, author
side = κόλπος = kolpos Blue Letter Bible the front of the body between the arms; bosom; a place of blessedness with another; the hollow formed by the upper forepart of a loose garment, bound by a girdle and used for carrying or keeping things; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon bosom; lap; sinuses in the womb; cavities; the ventricles of the heart; fold of a garment, esp. as it fell over the girdle; enveloping force
revealed = ἐξηγέομαι = exēgeomai Blue Letter Bible to lead out; be leader, go before; show the way; make known, rehearse, declare; to draw out in narrative, unfold a teaching; the interpretation of things sacred and divine, oracles, dreams, etc.; consider aloud; tell; Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon to be leader of; lead, govern; show one the way to; dictate a form of words; prescribe, order; order one to do; expound, interpret; tell at length, relate in full
Scriptures addressing similar principles are collected at:
Wisdom Principles—God Loves and Calls Us to Him, In Spite of our Sin
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