Paragraph 1:14–18
This paragraph declares that the Word became a human being and lived on earth. John the Baptist announced his coming and his greatness. The Word is revealed as Jesus Christ.
1:14a
The Greek begins with a conjunction that introduces a return to the subject of the Word (1:1–4). Although the Berean Standard Bible and some other English translations do not translate this conjunction, the New Revised Standard Version translates this conjunction as “And.” You should introduce this returned subject in a way that is natural in your language.
Here are some other possible ways to translate this word:
Now (NET Bible)
-or-
So (New Living Translation (2004))
The Word became flesh: Refer to the notes and your translation of The Word in 1:1a. The phrase became flesh means “became a human being.” This Word who was God became a man. Because he became a man, he had a physical body and a human mind and emotions. However, he did not cease to be God.
Here are other ways to translate this clause:
The Word became a human being. (Good News Translation)
-or-
The Word became human. (God’s Word)
-or-
the Word became a man of flesh and blood (ES/BAGD)
made His dwelling among us: The Greek words that the Berean Standard Bible translates as made His dwelling among us indicate that Jesus lived as a man among other people in first-century Palestine.
Here is another possible way to translate this phrase:
made his home among us (New Living Translation (2004))
among us: The pronoun us here could refer either to those who saw Jesus in his earthly life or to all of mankind. However, the word “we” in 1:14b can only refer to those who saw Jesus, so both pronouns should be translated as an exclusive pronoun.
1:14b
We have seen His glory: The pronoun We refers to all who saw Jesus Christ at the time when he lived on earth. It is therefore exclusive. The apostles and others saw who Jesus was and what he did. He showed them that he was God.
You may choose to start a new sentence here. For example:
We have seen his glory (New International Version)
His glory: In the Old Testament, God’s glory often refers to the impressive bright light that people saw when God was with them. This brightness represented how powerful and impressive God was. When it is applied to Jesus, the word glory sometimes refers in general to his divine character or qualities. Here John was probably thinking of Jesus’ power and greatness as shown in his miraculous signs. See Key Biblical Terms glory 2(b).
Here are other ways to translate this phrase in its context:
We (excl.) have seen how full of glory he is.
-or-
We (excl.) saw his greatness/majesty.
1:14c
the glory of the one and only Son from the Father: This phrase indicates that Jesus had himself the same glory that belonged to his father. The expression of in this context means “that is the glory of” and not “that is like the glory of.” Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
the glory of the Father’s one and only Son (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
such glory as befits the Father’s only Son (Revised English Bible)
-or-
the glory that the Father shares with his only Son (God’s Word)
the one and only Son from the Father: There are two ways to interpret this phrase:
(1) It refers to Jesus as the Son of God. English translations that follow this interpretation capitalize Father and Son. For example:
the only Son of the Father (Contemporary English Version)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, Good News Translation, NET Bible, King James Version, New American Standard Bible, Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, God’s Word, New Living Translation (2004), Contemporary English Version, New Century Version)
(2) It is generic and refers to any only son. For example:
a father’s only son (New Revised Standard Version)
(New Revised Standard Version)
It is recommended that you follow interpretation (1).
one and only Son: The Greek word that the Berean Standard Bible translates as one and only Son is formed from two root words: “only” and “kind.” It means “unique.” It usually refers to an only child, male or female. It can also refer figuratively to a child who has a special relationship to his parents. Here it indicates that Jesus’ relationship to God is unique. Jesus reveals God’s glory in a unique way among mankind. He shares God’s nature and qualities completely.
The Greek term does not explicitly indicate that Jesus is God’s “son,” but it implies that. So you may want to include it in your translation. You may have a word or phrase that describes an only child or son. Or you may have a word or phrase that describes a son who is special to his father. If you have one of those expressions, you might want to use it here. If you do not have a special word or idiom for this, here are other ways to translate it:
the unique Son
-or-
the one and only Son
1:14d
full of grace and truth: This phrase full of grace and truth describes Jesus’ nature as having the characteristics of both grace and truth. In some languages it may not be natural to use the word full in this context. Here are other possible ways to translate this phrase:
From him all the kindness and all the truth of God have come down to us. (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
he displayed/demonstrated complete grace and truth
-or-
he was all mercy/sympathy and faithfulness
In some languages it may be more natural to use verbs, adjectives, or adverbs to translate the nouns grace and truth. That is, Jesus always acted in a way that was kind/gracious and true. For example:
He was always gracious/loving and faithful.
-or-
who is ever merciful and true
grace: Here, grace refers to the qualities of love and kindness. It is a love that does not depend on the excellence or goodness of the one who is loved. It only depends on the one who loves.
Here are other ways to translate it:
unfailing love (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
love that does not fail/end
-or-
loving kindness
truth: The word truth refers to reality. It indicates that Jesus truly reveals what is real, which includes who God is. He does not deceive people but is reliable and faithful. For example:
faithfulness (New Living Translation (2004))
-or-
he can be trusted
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