John 1:14

John 1:14 is a verse from the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Bible. The verse reads: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."

This verse is central to Christian theology, particularly Christology, the study of the nature and person of Jesus Christ. It asserts several key doctrines:

• The Word Became Flesh: This refers to the incarnation, the belief that the pre-existent divine being ("the Word," Greek: logos), identified in John 1:1 as being with God and being God, took on human form and became Jesus Christ.

• Dwelt Among Us: The Greek word translated as "dwelt" literally means "tabernacled" or "pitched a tent." This evokes the imagery of the Old Testament tabernacle, the dwelling place of God's presence among the Israelites. By using this language, John implies that Jesus, the incarnate Word, is now the dwelling place of God's presence among humanity.

• Glory as of the Only Son from the Father: This phrase emphasizes Jesus' unique relationship with God the Father. "Only Son" translates the Greek word monogenes, which is often interpreted as "unique" or "one-of-a-kind," highlighting Jesus' special status. The glory seen in Jesus is understood as a reflection of the divine glory of the Father.

• Full of Grace and Truth: This describes the character of Jesus. "Grace" refers to God's unmerited favor and love, while "truth" signifies genuine and reliable revelation of God. Jesus, as the incarnate Word, embodies both grace and truth in his person and teachings.

The verse is often used to support the doctrines of the Trinity (the belief that God is one being existing in three co-equal persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and the deity of Christ (the belief that Jesus is fully God). It is a foundational text for understanding the Christian belief in Jesus as the God-man, fully divine and fully human.