16 “For God so loved the world,^{1 w}that he gave his only ^xSon, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not ^ysend his Son into the world ^zto condemn the world, but ^ain order that the world might be saved through him. 18 ^bWhoever believes in him is not condemned, but ^cwhoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed ^din the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the ^elight has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the ^flight and does not come to the light, ^glest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was ^hbaptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for ⁱJohn had not yet been put in prison).

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you ^jbore witness—look, he is baptizing, and ^kall are going to him.” 27 John answered, ^l“A person cannot receive even one thing ^munless it is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, ⁿthat I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been ^osent before him.’ 29 The one who has the bride is the ^pbridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore ^qthis joy of mine is now complete. 30 ^rHe must increase, but I must decrease.”²

31 He who comes ^sfrom above is ^tabove all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and ^uspeaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony sets his ^vseal to this, that God is ^wtrue. 34 For he whom God has sent ^xutters the words of God, for ^yhe gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father ^zloves the Son and has given ^aall things into his hand. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.