John 3:18-36

Christian Standard Bible

¹⁸ Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned,^(A) because he has not believed in the name^(B) of the one and only Son^(C) of God. ¹⁹ This is the judgment: The light^(D) has come into the world,^(E) and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For everyone who does evil hates^(F) the light and avoids it,^[a] so that his deeds^(G) may not be exposed. ²¹ But anyone who lives by^[b] the truth comes to the light, so that his works^(H) may be shown to be accomplished by God.”

Jesus and John the Baptist

²² After this, Jesus and his disciples went to the Judean countryside, where he spent time with them and baptized.

²³ John^(I) also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were coming and being baptized, ²⁴ since John had not yet been thrown into prison.^(J)

²⁵ Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples^(K) and a Jew^[c] about purification.^{(L) 26} So they came to John and told him, “Rabbi,^(M) the one you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan,^(N) is baptizing—and everyone is going to him.”^(O)

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

The One from Heaven

³¹ The one who comes from above^(T) is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms.^[e] The one who comes from heaven is above all.^{(U) 32} He testifies^(V) to what he has seen and heard, and yet no one accepts his testimony. ³³ The one who has accepted his testimony has affirmed that God is true.^{(W) 34} For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since he^[f] gives the Spirit^(X) without measure. ³⁵ The Father loves the Son^(Y) and has given all things into his hands.^{(Z) 36} The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son^[g] will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.^(AA)