Through these things ¹  the world existing at that time was destroyed when it was deluged with water.

This is the one about whom I said, ‘After me comes a man who is greater than I am, ¹  because he existed before me.’

From eternity I was appointed, ¹  from the beginning, from before the world existed. ² 

He himself is before all things and all things are held together ¹  in him.

For they deliberately suppress this fact, ¹  that by the word of God ²  heavens existed long ago and an earth ³  was formed out of water and by means of water.

And now, Father, glorify me at your side ¹  with the glory I had with you before the world was created. ² 

John ¹  testified ²  about him and shouted out, ³  “This one was the one about whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is greater than I am, ⁴  because he existed before me.’”

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, since you created all things, and because of your will they existed and were created!” ¹ 

I should have been as though I had never existed; ¹  I should have been carried right from the womb to the grave!

¹ who though he existed in the form of God ²  did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped,

But better than both is the one who has not been born ¹  and has not seen the evil things that are done on earth. ² 

Then ¹  I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and earth had ceased to exist, ²  and the sea existed no more.

My kinsmen have failed me; my friends ¹  have forgotten me. ² 

Jesus said to them, “I tell you the solemn truth, ¹  before Abraham came into existence, ²  I am!” ³ 

¹ He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn ²  over all creation, ³ 

For just as you ¹  have drunk ²  on my holy mountain, so all the nations will drink continually. ³  They will drink, and they will gulp down; they will be as though they had never been.

This is what we proclaim to you: ¹  what was from the beginning, ²  what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and our hands have touched (concerning the word of life –

“I said, ‘I want to cut them in pieces. ¹  I want to make people forget they ever existed.

In earlier times you established the earth; the skies are your handiwork.

In the beginning ¹  was the Word, and the Word was with God, ²  and the Word was fully God. ³