New Living Translation
John 1:8
8John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light.
John 1:8 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
- New International Version (NIV)He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
- English Standard Version (ESV)He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
- New King James Version (NKJV)He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
Context of John 1:8
6God sent a man, John the Baptist, 7to tell about the light so that everyone might believe because of his testimony. John himself was not the light; he was simply a witness to tell about the light. 9The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.
Read all of John 1John 1:8 word by word
οὐκ ἦν ἐκεῖνος τὸ φῶς, ἀλλ᾽ ἵνα μαρτυρήσῃ περὶ τοῦ φωτός.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for John 1:8
- John 1:20He came right out and said, “I am not the Messiah.”
- John 3:28You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’
- Acts 19:4Paul said, “John’s baptism called for repentance from sin. But John himself told the people to believe in the one who would come later, meaning Jesus.”
Commentaries on John 1:8
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 6-14Verses 6-14 John the Baptist came to bear witness concerning Jesus. Nothing more fully shows the darkness of men's minds, than that when the Light had appeared, there needed a witness to call attention to it. Christ was the true Light; that great Light which deserves to be called so. By his Spirit and grace he enlightens all that are enlightened to salvation; and those that are not enlightened by him, perish in darkness. Christ was in the world when he…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 8Some Jews thought John the Baptist might be the Messiah (God's chosen one). Some of his followers hesitated to follow Jesus (3:22–30). However, John the Baptist was not the Light. His role was to announce Jesus (1:19–34).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-96-9. The Evangelist here approaches his grand thesis, so paving his way for the full statement of it in Joh 1:14, that we may be able to bear the bright light of it, and take in its length and breadth and depth and height.Read the comment
Topics related to John 1:8
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on John 1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Catena Aurea
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- John Lightfoot Commentary
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- The Fourfold Gospel and Commentary on Acts
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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