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.

⁵ For ^(A)those who live according to the flesh set their minds on ^(B)the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on ^(C)the things of the Spirit. ⁶ For to set ^(D)the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. ⁷ For the mind that is set on the flesh is ^(E)hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; ^(F)indeed, it cannot. ⁸ Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

¹⁹ If in Christ we have hope^[a] in this life only, ^(A)we are of all people most to be pitied.

^2 (A)Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For ^(B)you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ ^(C)who is your^[a] life ^(D)appears, then you also will appear with him ^(E)in glory.

^5 (F)Put to death therefore ^(G)what is earthly in you:^{[b] (H)}sexual immorality, impurity, ^(I)passion, evil desire, and covetousness, ^(J)which is idolatry. ^6 (K)On account of these the wrath of God is coming.^{[c] 7 (L)}In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. ⁸ But now ^(M)you must put them all away: ^(N)anger, wrath, malice, ^(O)slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. ^9 (P)Do not lie to one another, seeing that ^(Q)you have put off ^(R)the old self^[d] with its practices ¹⁰ and ^(S)have put on ^(T)the new self, ^(U)which is being renewed in knowledge ^(V)after the image of ^(W)its creator. ^11 (X)Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave,^[e] free; but Christ is ^(Y)all, and in all.