16 pFor God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten qSon, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 rFor God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 s“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, tthat the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For ueveryone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been vdone in God.”

John the Baptist Witnesses Concerning Christ

22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them wand baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near xSalim, because there was much water there. yAnd they came and were baptized. 24 For zJohn had not yet been thrown into prison.

25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, ato whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all bare coming to Him!”

27 John answered and said, c“A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, d‘I am not the Christ,’ but, e‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 fHe who has the bride is the bridegroom; but gthe friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 hHe must increase, but I must decrease.