King James Bible
"No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him."
John establishes God's transcendent invisibility, echoing Old Testament teaching that no mortal can see God's face and live. This sets up the theological problem of how humanity can know an unseeable God, preparing for the solution found in Christ. The unique Son enjoys intimate proximity to the Father—'in the bosom' suggests the closest possible relationship of love and shared knowledge. This phrase emphasizes both Christ's divine nature and his unparalleled access to the Father's heart. The Son makes the invisible God known through revelation—the Greek word suggests 'exegeting' or fully explaining God's nature. Christ serves as the perfect interpreter of God to humanity, bridging the gap stated in the verse's opening.