John 3:23

21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been ^adone in God.”

John the Baptist Exalts Christ

22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them ^aand baptized.

23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near ^aSalim, because there was much water there. ^bAnd they came and were baptized.

24 For ^aJohn had not yet been thrown into prison.

25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification.

26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, ^ato whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all ^bare coming to Him!”

27 John answered and said, ^a“A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.

28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ^a‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ^b‘I have been sent before Him.’

29 ^aHe who has the bride is the bridegroom; but ^bthe friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled.

30 ^aHe must increase, but I must decrease.

31 ^aHe who comes from above ^bis above all; ^che who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. ^dHe who comes from heaven is above all.

32 And ^awhat He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.

33 He who has received His testimony ^ahas certified that God is true.

34 ^aFor He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit ^bby measure.

35 ^aThe Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand.

36 ^aHe who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the ^bwrath of God abides on him.”

Commentaries:

Forerunner Commentary
What is the Forerunner Commentary?

<< John 3:22

John 3:24 >>

What Does John 3:23 Mean?

John 3:23

John 3:23, Matthew 3:16, and Acts 8:38 give conclusive proof that the original method of baptism was by immersion. John needed an abundance of water to cover his followers completely. Jesus' example shows that He "came up . . . from the water" because He had been in it. Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch "went down into the water." In addition, "baptize," from the Greek baptizo, means "to immerse," "plunge into" or "put into." Two entirely different words are used in the Greek text to refer to pouring (cheo) or sprinkling (rantizo).

Richard T. Ritenbaugh
Basic Doctrines: Water Baptism

**Other Forerunner Commentary entries containing John 3:23:**

John 3:23

<< John 3:22

John 3:24 >>