¹⁷ The law was given through Moses [Ex. 19—24], but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God [^CGod the Father, who is pure spirit; 4:24]. But ·God the only Son^[a] [God the one and only; the only Son who is himself God; ^TGod the only begotten] is ·very close to [by the side of; close to the heart of; ^Tin the bosom of] the Father, and he has ·shown us what God is like [made him known].

John the Baptist Tells People About Jesus^(A)

¹⁹ Here is the ·truth John told [testimony John gave; witness of John; 1:6] when the ·leaders [Jewish leadership; ^LJews; ^CJohn often uses the term “Jews” to refer to the religious leaders in opposition to Jesus, rather than to the Jewish people generally] in Jerusalem sent ·priests and Levites [^Cthe religious authorities; priests oversaw temple worship; Levites were members of the tribe of Levi who assisted them; 1 Chr. 23:24–32] to ask him, “Who are you?”