16. From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace,
17. because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
18. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed him.
19. And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites [to him] to ask him, “Who are you?”
20. he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Messiah.”
21. So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.”
22. So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?”
23. He said:“I am ‘the voice of one crying out in the desert,“Make straight the way of the Lord,”’as Isaiah the prophet said.”
24. Some Pharisees were also sent.
25. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Messiah or Elijah or the Prophet?”