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(A) 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.(B)

25 Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples(C) and a Jew[a] about purification.(D) 26 So they came to John and told him, “Rabbi,(E) the one you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan,(F) is baptizing—and everyone is going to him.”(G)

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,(H) but I’ve been sent ahead of him.’(I) 29 He who has the bride(J) is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly[b] at the groom’s voice. So this joy(K) of mine is complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

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Footnotes

  1. 3:25 Other mss read and the Jews
  2. 3:29 Lit with joy rejoices

John the Baptist’s Last Testimony

22 After these things Jesus and His (A)disciples came into the land of Judea; and there He was spending time with them and (B)baptizing. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there; and people were coming and being baptized— 24 for (C)John had not yet been thrown into prison.

25 Then a matter of dispute developed on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about [a](D)purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “(E)Rabbi, He who was with you (F)beyond the Jordan, to whom you (G)have testified—behold, He is baptizing and all the people are coming to Him.” 27 John replied, “(H)A person can receive not even one thing unless it (I)has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves [b]are my witnesses that I said, ‘(J)I am not the [c]Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is (K)the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So this (L)joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must [d]increase, but I must [e]decrease.

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Footnotes

  1. John 3:25 I.e., ceremonial washing
  2. John 3:28 Lit testify for me
  3. John 3:28 I.e., Messiah
  4. John 3:30 Or become greater
  5. John 3:30 Or become less important