John 3:16-36
New King James Version
16 (A)For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten (B)Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 (C)For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 (D)“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, (E)that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For (F)everyone 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 (G)done in God.”
John the Baptist Exalts Christ
22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them (H)and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near (I)Salim, because there was much water there. (J)And they came and were baptized. 24 For (K)John 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, (L)to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all (M)are coming to Him!”
27 John answered and said, (N)“A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, (O)‘I am not the Christ,’ but, (P)‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 (Q)He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but (R)the 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 (S)He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 (T)He who comes from above (U)is above all; (V)he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. (W)He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And (X)what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony (Y)has certified that God is true. 34 (Z)For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit (AA)by measure. 35 (AB)The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 (AC)He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the (AD)wrath of God abides on him.”
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John 3:16-36
English Standard Version
For God So Loved the World
16 “For (A)God so loved (B)the world,[a] (C)that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not (D)perish but have eternal life. 17 For (E)God did not send his Son into the world (F)to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 (G)Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not (H)believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 (I)And this is the judgment: (J)the light has come into the world, and (K)people loved the darkness rather than the light because (L)their works were evil. 20 (M)For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, (N)lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever (O)does what is true (P)comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
John the Baptist Exalts Christ
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and (Q)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 (R)John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over (S)purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, (T)“Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, (U)to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and (V)all are going to him.” 27 John answered, (W)“A person cannot receive even one thing (X)unless it is given him (Y)from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, (Z)‘I am not the Christ, but (AA)I have been sent before him.’ 29 (AB)The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. (AC)The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, (AD)rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 (AE)He must increase, but I must decrease.”[b]
31 (AF)He who comes from above (AG)is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and (AH)speaks in an earthly way. (AI)He who comes from heaven (AJ)is above all. 32 (AK)He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, (AL)yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony (AM)sets his seal to this, (AN)that God is true. 34 For he whom (AO)God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit (AP)without measure. 35 (AQ)The Father loves the Son and (AR)has given all things into his hand. 36 (AS)Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; (AT)whoever does not obey the Son shall not (AU)see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Read full chapterScripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
