³¹ The one who comes from above^(A) is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth.^(B) The one who comes from heaven is above all.

⁴ Paul said, “John’s baptism^(A) was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”^(B)

¹⁷ He is before all things,^(A) and in him all things hold together.