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30 [a]He is the one of whom I said,(A) ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’

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Footnotes

  1. 1:30 He existed before me: possibly as Elijah (to come, Jn 1:27); for the evangelist and his audience, Jesus’ preexistence would be implied (see note on Jn 1:1).

30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’(A)

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30 This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.

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27 John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven.(A) 28 You yourselves can testify that I said [that] I am not the Messiah, but that I was sent before him.(B) 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man,[a] who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete.(C) 30 He must increase; I must decrease.”(D)

The One from Heaven.[b]

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Footnotes

  1. 3:29 The best man: literally, “the friend of the groom,” the shoshben of Jewish tradition, who arranged the wedding. Competition between him and the groom would be unthinkable.
  2. 3:31–36 It is uncertain whether these are words by the Baptist, Jesus, or the evangelist. They are reflections on the two preceding scenes.

27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’(A) 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom.(B) The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.(C) 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”[a]

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Footnotes

  1. John 3:30 Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 36.

27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

29 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: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

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