John 1:12 (ASV)

Passage

But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

Nearby Context

John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world knew him not.

John 1:11 He came unto his own, and they that were his own received him not.

John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, [even] to them that believe on his name:

John 1:13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "received", "gave", "right", "become", "children", "even", "believe", and "name". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "received" and "gave", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 11's "He came unto his own and they..." into verse 13's "who were born not of blood nor...", so "received" and "gave" belong inside that flow. In John context, the local focus is the identity of Jesus, new birth, eternal life, and belief and unbelief.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "received" and "gave" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.