The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe.
Parallel translations
- WEB The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.
- BSB He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
- NKJV This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
- NASB He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him.
- NLT to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
John came as a witness to testify about the light so that people might believe through his testimony. His whole purpose was to direct faith toward Christ.
Overview
The language of 'witness' and 'testify' is central to John's Gospel, which presents evidence so readers will believe (John 20:31). John the Baptist's calling was to bear witness to Jesus, the Light, that all kinds of people might come to faith. Genuine ministry, like his, exists to lead others to trust in Christ rather than in the messenger.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 14
- Acts 19:4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
- John 5:33–35Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth.
- John 1:12But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
- John 1:32–34And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
- John 1:36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
- John 1:9That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
- John 1:26–27John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
- John 3:26–36And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
- 2 Pet 3:9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
- Titus 2:11For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
- 1 Tim 2:4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
- John 1:15John 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.
- Eph 3:9And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
- John 1:19And this is the record of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, Who art thou?
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Pastoral
Henry on the prologue — rich on the Word and the incarnation.
Seminary
- ★ Start hereCommentaryThe Gospel According to John (Pillar NT Commentary)D. A. Carson · ~720 pp · Paid · reformed
The go-to mid-level exegetical commentary on John — rigorous and readable.
Commentaries & study tools
Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.
Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.
Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.
Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.
The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).
Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 1:7 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Greek word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.