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Jesus and John the Baptist

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there, and people kept coming and were being baptized. 24 (John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison.)(A)

25 Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew.[a] 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”(B) 27 John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven.(C) 28 You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,[b] but I have been sent ahead of him.’(D) 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled.(E) 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”[c]

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Footnotes

  1. 3.25 Other ancient authorities read the Jews
  2. 3.28 Or the Christ
  3. 3.30 Some interpreters hold that the quotation continues through 3.36

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