[Footnote 1: Or, _a man; for ... the man_.] [Footnote 2: Or, _from above_.] [Footnote 3: Or, _The Spirit breatheth_.] [Footnote 4: Many ancient authorities omit _which is in heaven_.] [Footnote 5: Or, _believeth in him may have_.] [Footnote 6: Or, _practiseth_.] [Footnote 7: Or, _convicted_.] [Footnote 8: Or, _because_.] [Footnote a: Nicodemus appears as an exception to the statement of 2:24, as one whom Jesus did trust, and who amid all difficulties of temperament and station proved not unworthy of the trust.] § 33. THE PARALLEL MINISTRY OF JESUS AND JOHN WITH JOHN'S LOYALTY TO JESUS[a] John 3:22-36 22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of 23 Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there [1]was much 24 water there: and they came, and were baptized. For John was not 25 yet cast into prison. There arose therefore a questioning on the 26 part of John's disciples with a Jew about purifying. And they came unto John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou hast borne witness, behold, the same 27 baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered and said, A man 28 can receive nothing, except it have been given him from heaven. Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but, 29 that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: 30 this my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaketh: [2]he that cometh 32 from heaven is above all. What he hath seen and heard, of that he 33 beareth witness; and no man receiveth his witness. He that hath received his witness hath set his seal to _this_, that God is 34 true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for he 35 giveth not the Spirit by measure. The Father loveth the Son, and 36 hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that [3]obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him. [Footnote 1: Gr. _were many waters_.] [Footnote 2: Some ancient authorities read _he that cometh from heaven beareth witness of what he hath seen and heard_.] [Footnote 3: Or, _believeth not_.] [Footnote a: Jesus gained his first disciples from John at Bethany beyond Jordan and many in Jerusalem. Now he is surpassing John. On John's loyalty to Jesus see my _John the Loyal_.] § 34. CHRIST'S REASONS FOR LEAVING JUDEA John 4:1-4