16 “For God so (A)loved the world, that He (B)gave His [a](C)only begotten Son, that whoever (D)believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God (E)did not send the Son into the world (F)to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 (G)He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of (H)the [b]only begotten Son of God. 19 This is the judgment, that (I)the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for (J)their deeds were evil. 20 (K)For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But he who (L)practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

John’s Last Testimony

22 After these things Jesus and His (M)disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and (N)baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized— 24 for (O)John had not yet been thrown into prison.

25 Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about (P)purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “(Q)Rabbi, He who was with you (R)beyond the Jordan, to whom you (S)have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.” 27 John answered and said, “(T)A man can receive nothing unless it (U)has been given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves [c]are my witnesses that I said, ‘(V)I am not the [d]Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is (W)the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. So this (X)joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

31 (Y)He who comes from above is above all, (Z)he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. (AA)He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 What He has seen and heard, of that He (AB)testifies; and (AC)no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony (AD)has set his seal to this, that God is true. 34 For He whom God has (AE)sent speaks the words of God; [e](AF)for He gives the Spirit without measure. 35 (AG)The Father loves the Son and (AH)has given all things into His hand. 36 He who (AI)believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who (AJ)does not [f]obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

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Footnotes

  1. John 3:16 Or unique, only one of His kind
  2. John 3:18 Or unique, only one of His kind
  3. John 3:28 Lit testify for me
  4. John 3:28 I.e. Messiah
  5. John 3:34 Lit because He does not give the Spirit by measure
  6. John 3:36 Or believe

16 For God so loved(A) the world that he gave(B) his one and only Son,(C) that whoever believes(D) in him shall not perish but have eternal life.(E) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world(F) to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.(G) 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned,(H) but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.(I) 19 This is the verdict: Light(J) has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.(K) 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.(L) 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

John Testifies Again About Jesus

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.(M) 23 Now John(N) also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.)(O) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.(P) 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi,(Q) that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified(R) about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’(S) 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom.(T) The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.(U) 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”[a]

31 The one who comes from above(V) is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth.(W) The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard,(X) but no one accepts his testimony.(Y) 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent(Z) speaks the words of God, for God[b] gives the Spirit(AA) without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.(AB) 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,(AC) but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

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Footnotes

  1. John 3:30 Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 36.
  2. John 3:34 Greek he

By this the love of God was manifested [a](A)in us, that (B)God has sent His [b]only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 4:9 Or in our case
  2. 1 John 4:9 Or unique, only one of His kind

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son(A) into the world that we might live through him.(B)

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11 And the testimony is this, that God has given us (A)eternal life, and (B)this life is in His Son.

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11 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life,(A) and this life is in his Son.(B)

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