John the Baptist Exalts Christ

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and (A)was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for (B)John had not yet been put in prison).

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over (C)purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, (D)“Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, (E)to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and (F)all are going to him.” 27 John answered, (G)“A person cannot receive even one thing (H)unless it is given him (I)from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, (J)‘I am not the Christ, but (K)I have been sent before him.’ 29 (L)The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. (M)The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, (N)rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 (O)He must increase, but I must decrease.”[a]

31 (P)He who comes from above (Q)is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and (R)speaks in an earthly way. (S)He who comes from heaven (T)is above all. 32 (U)He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, (V)yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony (W)sets his seal to this, (X)that God is true. 34 For he whom (Y)God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit (Z)without measure. 35 (AA)The Father loves the Son and (AB)has given all things into his hand. 36 (AC)Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; (AD)whoever does not obey the Son shall not (AE)see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

Jesus and the Woman of Samaria

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and (AF)baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed (AG)again for Galilee. (AH)And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field (AI)that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, (AJ)wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.[b]

Footnotes

  1. John 3:30 Some interpreters hold that the quotation continues through verse 36
  2. John 4:6 That is, about noon

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.(A) 23 Now John(B) 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.)(C) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.(D) 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi,(E) that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified(F) 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.’(G) 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom.(H) 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.(I) 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”[a]

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

Jesus Talks With a Samaritan Woman

Now Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that he was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John(R) although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples. So he left Judea(S) and went back once more to Galilee.

Now he had to go through Samaria.(T) So he came to a town in Samaria called Sychar, near the plot of ground Jacob had given to his son Joseph.(U) Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon.

Footnotes

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