¹⁶ Beyond all question, the mystery^(A) from which true godliness^(B) springs is great:

The Word Became Flesh

1 In the beginning was the Word,^(A) and the Word was with God,^(B) and the Word was God.^{(C) 2} He was with God in the beginning.^{(D) 3} Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.^{(E) 4} In him was life,^(F) and that life was the light^(G) of all mankind. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness,^(H) and the darkness has not overcome^[a] it.^(I)

⁶ There was a man sent from God whose name was John.^{(J) 7} He came as a witness to testify^(K) concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.^{(L) 8} He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

⁹ The true light^(M) that gives light to everyone^(N) was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and though the world was made through him,^(O) the world did not recognize him. ¹¹ He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.^{(P) 12} Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed^(Q) in his name,^(R) he gave the right to become children of God^(S)— ¹³ children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.^(T)

¹⁴ The Word became flesh^(U) and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,^(V) the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace^(W) and truth.^(X)

³⁸ Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.^(A)

¹³ while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing^(A) of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,^(B)

⁸ But about the Son he says,

⁶ And he says in another place,

¹⁸ For this reason they tried all the more to kill him;^(A) not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.^(B)

⁵ Theirs are the patriarchs,^(A) and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah,^(B) who is God over all,^(C) forever praised!^[a](D) Amen.