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31 “He has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.[a] 32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but how few believe what he tells them! 33 Anyone who accepts his testimony can affirm that God is true. 34 For he is sent by God. He speaks God’s words, for God gives him the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves his Son and has put everything into his hands. 36 And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

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Footnotes

  1. 3:31 Some manuscripts do not include and is greater than anyone else.

31 The one who comes from above is superior to all.[a] The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things.[b] The one who comes from heaven[c] is superior to all.[d] 32 He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 The one who has accepted his testimony has confirmed clearly that God is truthful.[e] 34 For the one whom God has sent[f] speaks the words of God, for he does not give the Spirit sparingly.[g] 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things under his authority.[h] 36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects[i] the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath[j] remains[k] on him.

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Footnotes

  1. John 3:31 tn Or “is above all.”
  2. John 3:31 tn Grk “speaks from the earth.”
  3. John 3:31 sn The one who comes from heaven refers to Christ. As in John 1:1, the Word’s preexistence is indicated here.
  4. John 3:31 tc P75 א* D ƒ1 565 as well as several versions and fathers lack the phrase “is superior to all” (ἐπάνω πάντων ἐστίν, epanō pantōn estin). This effectively joins the last sentence of v. 31 with v. 32: “The one who comes from heaven testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.” On the other side, the phrase may have been deleted because of perceived redundancy, since it duplicates what is said earlier in the verse. The witnesses that include ἐπάνω πάντων ἐστίν in both places are weighty and widespread (P36vid,66 א2 A B L Ws Θ Ψ 083 086 ƒ13 33 M lat sys,p,h bo). On balance, the longer reading should probably be considered authentic.tn Or “is above all.”
  5. John 3:33 tn Or “is true.”
  6. John 3:34 tn That is, Christ.
  7. John 3:34 tn Grk “for not by measure does he give the Spirit” (an idiom). Leviticus Rabbah 15:2 states: “The Holy Spirit rested on the prophets by measure.” Jesus is contrasted to this. The Spirit rests upon him without measure.
  8. John 3:35 tn Grk “has given all things into his hand” (an idiom).
  9. John 3:36 tn Or “refuses to believe,” or “disobeys.”
  10. John 3:36 tn Or “anger because of evil,” or “punishment.”
  11. John 3:36 tn Or “resides.”