²⁵Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples^ay and a Jew^A about purification.^az ²⁶So they came to John and told him, “Rabbi,^ba the one you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan,^bb is baptizing—and everyone is going to him.”^bc

²⁷John responded, “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. ²⁸You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,^bd but I’ve been sent ahead of him.’^be ²⁹He who has the bride^a is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly^B at the groom’s voice. So this joy^a of mine is complete. ³⁰He must increase, but I must decrease.”

THE ONE FROM HEAVEN

³¹The one who comes from above^b is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms.^C The one who comes from heaven is above all.^c ³²He testifies^d to what he has seen and heard, and yet no one accepts his testimony. ³³The one who has accepted his testimony has affirmed that God is true.^e ³⁴For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since he^D gives the Spirit^f without measure. ³⁵The Father loves the Son^g and has given all things into his hands.^h ³⁶The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son^E will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.ⁱ

Read in Logos

Footnotes

AOther read and the Jews
B with joy rejoices
COr of earthly things
DOther read since God
EOr refuses to believe in the Son, or disobeys the Son

Cross references

ay Mt 9:14; 11:2; 14:12; Mk 2:18; 6:29; Lk 5:33; 7:18–19; 11:1; Jn 1:35,37; 6:3
az Lv 13–14; Heb 1:3
ba Jn 11:8
bb Mk 10:1; Lk 3:3
bc Mk 1:45
bd Mt 1:17; Eph 5:2
be Lk 1:17
a Rv 21:2
a Jn 15:11
b Jms 1:17
c Jn 8:23; 1Jn 4:5–6
d Jn 15:26; Ac 26:5
e 1Jn 5:20
f Jn 1:33
g Jn 5:20; 10:17; 1Co 13:1
h Jn 5:19
i Mk 16:16