John 3:1-36

The following record is a continuation of the events which began in John 2:23 while Jesus was in Jerusalem in the Passover in the feast. Even though at that time many people believed into his name viewing-with-attention the signs that Jesus was doing, Jesus himself did not trust himself to them because he knew all-people and because he did not have a need in order that someone may witness concerning man, for he knew what was in man.

However, in this chapter we will read about one man who was genuinely wanting to know more information from Jesus, and in response Jesus trusted him with particular details regarding God's kingdom and that God by means of Jesus himself would make it available at a future time to receive holy spirit-life on a permanent basis.

John 3:1 and 2:

^3:1But there was a man from the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Judeans; ^.2this (man) went towards him of night and said to him, "Rabbi, we knew² that from God you came² - a teacher, for not-one-person is able to do these signs which you do except God may be with him."

During that past time there was a man from among the Pharisees, and the name given to/for him was Nicodemus. He was a ruler over Judeans (a chief, he was in a dignified hierarchical or first-placed position relative to other Judeans).

Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin, which was the supreme or ruling religious council of the Judean/Israeli nation located at that time in Jerusalem. It was composed of 70 members (including Pharisees and Sadducees), besides the chief/high priest(s), which were selected from former chief/high priests and the heads of the 24 courses of priests.

This man, Nicodemus, approached Jesus during the nighttime and said to him...

• "Rabbi (Teacher; refer to John 1:38),
• we knew and we still know (myself and other Pharisees and/or members of the Sanhedrin continue to perceive, see to the end of perceiving and knowing with our minds)
  • that emphatically from God you have come and this fact has not changed -
    • a teacher (an instructor, one who teaches or instructs others),
• for not-one-person is able to do these signs (none, no-one, nobody has the able-power, the capability to perform these designated signals or standards of authentication, proving authenticity; refer to John 2:23)
  • which emphatically you do (in Greek there is a definite word for “you” plus the verb meaning “you do” giving emphasis – which you yourself are presently performing)
• except/unless God may be with him (if it should ever happen that God would not be in company and association with him)."

[Reference: John 1:38, 2:23, 7:50, 19:39; Acts 2:22, 10:38.]

Verses 3-12:

^.3Jesus answered and said to him, "With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you, except someone may be born from-the-top he is not able to know the kingdom of God."

^.4Nicodemus says towards him, "How is a man able to be born being old? He is not able to go into the womb of his mother and to be born a second-time, is he?" ^.5Jesus answered, "With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you, except someone may be born from water and spirit he is not able to go into the kingdom of God; ^.6the-thing having been born² from the flesh is flesh, and the-thing having been born² from the Spirit is spirit; ^.7you must not marvel that I said to you it is necessary (for) you to be born from-the-top; ^.8the Spirit blows where He intends, and you hear its sound but you did not know² from-where it comes and where it goes - thus is every-person having been born² from the Spirit."

^.9Nicodemus answered and said to him, "How are these-things able to come-to-pass?" ^.10Jesus answered and said to him, "You are the teacher of Israel and you do not know these-things! ^.11With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you that that-which we knew² we utter-forth and that-which we saw² we witness, and you do not receive our witness; ^.12if I said the earthly-things to you and you do not believe - how if-ever I may say to you the heavenly-things will you believe?"

Jesus judicially replied to Nicodemus' statement recorded in verse 2 above because Nicodemus wanted to know the full extent of his mission, what he was in the process of accomplishing, his purpose, his objective. Jesus said to him...

• "With-certainty (surely, truly, amen!),
• emphatically with-certainty I say to you (by repeating this word "with-certainty" Jesus gives added emphasis to what he is saying - emphatically surely, truly, amen I am laying these words before you; this is the singular form of pronoun "you" referring to Nicodemus),
  • except/unless someone may be born from-the-top
    • (if it should happen at any time that a member of mankind would not be begotten, given birth to, brought forth from a place that is above, upwards, or at the start, at the commencement of life)
  • he is not able to know the kingdom of God
    • (he does not have the able-power, the capability to perceive the kingdom of God, to see it to the end of perceiving and knowing it with his mind; as verse 2 above)."

The kingdom of God refers to God's spirit realm, which of course is holy and spiritual because God is Holy and He is Spirit - Holy Spirit. The kingdom of God includes all that is contained within God's sovereignty, His kingly or royal dominion and government and rule and territory and power, etc - it is the kingdom belonging to God.

At that time Jesus was living within the sphere of action of God's spirit realm with its ability and signs being evidenced among the people in the physical realm - because God had given spirit to Jesus (refer to John 1:32 and 33).

Nicodemus' next questions show that he wanted to know more details about what he would need to do so that he could definitely know (see, perceive) the kingdom of God.

His questions also show that he understood what Jesus said to mean that above all else someone must be born - the start or commencement of this process is to be born. Nicodemus had been born many years previously and he was now an old man, and he continued trying to understand what Jesus was talking about - which seemed to him to indicate that he must be born all over again - the commencement of his life for a second time. He says towards him (with a purposed reference to Jesus)...

• "How is a man able (how can a man, in what manner does a member of mankind, a human-being have the able-power, the capability)
  • to be born (as verse 3 above)
  • during the time when he is old (in old age)?
• He is not able to go (he does not have the able-power or ability, he is not capable of entering)
  • into the womb of his mother
  • and to be born a second time (via a physical, natural, fleshy birth as the first time that his mother gave birth to him),
    • is he?"
    • The Greek construction of this question indicates that Nicodemus expected a negative answer: "no, a man is not able to do such a thing." He knew that this was not the way to accomplish what Jesus told him - but what was it?

Jesus did not give the expected answer, but instead he judicially replied to the questions by further explaining to Nicodemus about going into the kingdom of God and specifying 2 different kinds of birth with their associated kinds of life - he answered...

• "With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you (Nicodemus, as verse 3 above),
  • except/unless someone may be born (if it should happen at any time that a member of mankind would not be begotten, given birth to, brought forth - if someone would not be born)
    • from water and spirit (originating from both a physical birth and a spiritual birth)
  • he is not able to go into the kingdom of God (that person does not have the ability, the able-power, the capability to enter into God's kingdom);
• the thing having been born and continuing born (that-which has been begotten, given birth to, brought forth)
  • originating from the flesh (referring to the physical natural body of a human-being with its soul/breath life)
    • is flesh (a human-being of the same kind, having the make-up or consistency of flesh),
• and the thing having been born and continuing born
  • originating from the Spirit (referring to God Who is Spirit)
    • is spirit (a spirit of the same kind, having the make-up or consistency of spirit);
• you must not marvel (be astonished and look-on with wonder and amazement)
  • that I said to you (Nicodemus)
    • it is necessary (it is binding, must, ought to happen)
    • for you (this is the plural form of "you" - to include the descendants of Israel/Jacob)
    • to be born from-the-top (Jesus is clarifying that this phrase is figuratively referring to birth that originates from God Who is at the top, above, upwards in heaven; refer to verse 3 above);
• the Spirit blows where He intends (God Who is Spirit breathes as blowing streams of air giving life to a thing or a being that He wills with active volition and desire - God gives life to whom/what He intends),
  • and you (Nicodemus) hear its sound (you don't see God Himself but you listen to the voice or uttered-tone of what God gave to you which is the life of your physical body - soul/breath life - you can hear yourself breathing and so you know for a certainty that you are alive in the physical category)
  • but contrary to hearing the sound of yourself breathing,
    • you did not know and continue not to know (perceive, see)
    • from-where it comes (from what location or place that your breath is moving as you breath into your lungs)
    • and where it goes (into what location or place that your breath leads itself under, in the sense of going without any argument, under cover, as animals go because they are under a yoke without going from side to side or intentionally stopping to do something else; you don't know where it goes as you breath out from your lungs)  -
  • in this manner is every-person (everyone, all individuals, everybody)
    • who has been born and continues born from the Spirit (who has been begotten, given birth to, brought forth and remains born originating from God Himself; refer to verse 6 above)."

Jesus is referring to the future availability for a member of mankind (a human-being) to be able to receive holy spirit-life on a permanent basis from God (which occurred on the day of Pentecost recorded in Acts chapter 2).

Every person who will become born from God by receiving spirit life within him/her on a permanent basis will not be able to see it, but will be able to know (see, perceive) the evidence of the spirit in the physical realm. That person will know the truth that he/she is definitely alive in the spirit category, because of hearing the manifestation or evidence from the spirit within him/her. However, that person will not know all the details concerning the spirit but that it works very effectively, just as breathing does in the physical category which evidences soul/breath life.

Nicodemus answered and said to him...

• "How are these-things able to come-to-pass (in what manner do the things that you talk about with me have the the able-power, the capability to come into being, become a reality, happen, occur)?"

Nicodemus wants to know the details of what Jesus was talking about in the last part of verse 8. Jesus answered and said to him...

• "Emphatically you are (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “you” – you yourself are)
  • the teacher of Israel (the instructor, one who teaches or instructs the descendants of Israel, the people also known as Judeans - that is your position or function within this community; refer to verses 1 and 2 above)
  • and you do not know these-things (you don't have personal knowledge, a truly active and relative knowing of what I am talking about)!
  • [Jesus was not asking a question but was stating a fact - Nicodemus did not know these-things from the old covenant writings even though he was in a teaching position or function among the descendants of Israel.]
• With-certainty, with-certainty I say to you (Nicodemus)
  • that that-which we knew and we still know (the information that you and I continue to perceive, see to the end of perceiving and knowing with our minds)
    • we utter-forth (you and I presently and actively speak it to people when we teach them)
  • and that-which we saw and we still see (what you and I continue to perceive with our eyes and understand in our mind's thoughts)
    • we witness (you and I presently and actively attest with information, we give the declaration of knowledge that we personally have of what we saw and continue to see, and therefore we state and confirm it on the strength of our own authority),
• and you (this is the plural form of "you" - to include the descendants of Israel/Jacob; as verse 7 above)
  • do not receive our witness (the attestation or declaration which you Nicodemus representing the true teachers of Israel and I bear to/for you people, bringing to light or confirming what we witness as being authentic information or knowledge - you do not actively take what is given to you so as to use it appropriately in your own lives);
• if/since I said the earthly-things to you (since it is a fact that at any time I talk to you people about things upon or pertaining to the earth, including the beings which belong or pertain to the earthly realm, and the information already made known to/for mankind plus written down in the old covenant writings)
  • and you do not believe (presently you do not have faith, you do not trust the information that I am saying to you) -
• how if it should happen at any time that I would say to you the heavenly-things (the things upon or pertaining to the heaven, figuratively referring to God's spirit realm, including the beings which belong or pertain to the heavenly realm, and the information that has not been made known to/for mankind)
  • will you believe (will you have faith, trust what I tell you)?"

The time had not arrived yet for the full details regarding the spirit category in relation to mankind to be revealed by God. At the time when Jesus was speaking with Nicodemus - no member of mankind, no human-being, not even Jesus himself - was born from water and spirit. Jesus was a man made of flesh (refer to John 1:14) just the same as Nicodemus, and he had received spirit from God on a temporary basis just the same as Nicodemus. However, Jesus was prophesying to him regarding the future time of the giving of holy spirit to/for mankind on a permanent basis, which John the baptizer had also prophesied that Jesus would make available at a future time (refer to John 1:33).

In verses 6 and 8 above, God is referred to as Spirit to emphasize the truth that He is Spirit - God is Spirit and He is Holy, His essence is holy spirit - and that His realm of power, authority, and action is in the holy spirit category. References: Matthew 1:18 and 20, 12:32; John 4:24; Acts 1:16, 28:25; I Corinthians 2:11; Hebrews 3:7, 9:8, 10:15.

[Reference: Genesis 2:7; Deuteronomy 29:29; Matthew 3:11; John 1:9-13, 33 and 34; Acts 2:2-4, 17:24 and 25, 22:15; Romans 1:3 and 4; I Corinthians 4:20, 15:40-50; Ephesians chapter 3; Philippians 2:10; James 1:17, I John 1:1-4. Also refer to the articles on Adam and Eve, Hope and Resurrection, and Pentecost and holy spirit.]

In the following verses (13-21), John - who wrote this writing many years after the death, resurrection, and ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ - explains about the "heavenly-things" which Jesus referred to but did not elaborate on above when speaking with Nicodemus.

Verses 13-21:

^.13And not-one-person ascended² into the heaven except the (one) out-from heaven having descended - the son of man; ^.14and according as Moses heightened the snake in the desert-place, thus it is necessary (for) the son of man to be heightened ^.15in order that every-person believing may have eternal life in him; ^.16for thus God loved¹ the world so-that He gave the son, the only-begotten (son), in order that every-person believing into him may not destroy-himself but may have eternal life; ^.17for God did not apostle the son into the world in order that he may judge the world but in order that the world may be saved by means of him.

^.18The (person) believing into him is not judged, but the (person) not believing already was judged² because he did not believe² into the name of the only-begotten son of God; ^.19but this is the judgment: that the light came² into the world and the men rather loved¹ the darkness than the light, for their works were evil; ^.20for every-person practicing slight-things hates the light and does not come towards the light in order that his works may not be refuted, ^.21but the (person) doing the truth comes towards the light in order that his works may be manifested that they are being caused-to-work² in God.

Nobody (not anyone, none of mankind) has already ascended and continues ascended (remains mounted, stays gone up) into the heaven (literally referring to anywhere above the earth, the sky above, but figuratively referring to God's spirit realm - God's location - not one man/woman has been resurrected and is alive today with God in heaven)...

• except the one who has already descended (if not the one who moved downwards, only the one who came down)
  • out from the heaven (from God's location - God first promised and told mankind about the coming savior, the Christ/Messiah, in Genesis 3:15) -
    • - who? -
    • the son of man (referring to Jesus, as John 1:51 [some Greek texts add extra words "the one being in the heaven"]);

...and...

• according as (just as, according to how, in comparison to the way that)
  • Moses heightened the snake in the desert/desolate place (Moses elevated, lifted high, exalted the snake made of brass according to God's instructions to him - so that anyone who was bitten by a snake but would then look believingly towards the brass snake that Moses heightened, would live and not die from the snakebite; those snakes were biting the people because of their rejection of God and His promised salvation and redemption which the Christ/Messiah would make available to mankind; refer to Numbers 21:5-9 and I Corinthians 10:9),
• in this manner it is necessary (at the present time it is binding, must, ought to happen)
  • for the son of man to be heightened (elevated, lifted high, exalted)
    • for the purpose and result that
    • every-person believing (all/everyone who is having faith, trusting)
    • would presently have eternal life (life which is lifelong-life, everlasting life, life which lasts throughout all durations of life, all ages)
  • in him (within the cause and sphere of action, character, and attributes of the son of man who is Lord Jesus Christ);

God has already heightened His son (refer to Acts 5:31). The present time is after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ and after his ascension into heaven and after the day of Pentecost when God by means of the Lord Jesus Christ made the gift of holy spirit available to people of the Judean/Israeli background and other backgrounds. Every person who believes regarding God's son receives eternal life. 

Verse 14 references what occurred during the old covenant times when the children of Israel spoke against God and Moses, against their deliverance from Egypt, and against the bread which God had given to them for their sustenance to keep their physical bodies healthy, and they also accused God of not supplying them with any water to keep the life in their bodies (both the bread and the water were necessary).

They were against God and against the Christ whom they were to look forward to because he was to be their true spiritual bread and water, their future means of supply of new bodies which would not be liable to death, and their means of supply of the life of their new bodies which would be holy spirit life and it would not be taken away from them. They would then live with and for God being in constant communication and enjoying God’s blessings by means of the Christ.

In verse 15, the Greek word aionios may be translated “eternal” or “agelong”. In this context, the life being referred to will not end. It is eternal, agelong, lifelong, everlasting. It lasts throughout all durations of life, all ages from the time a person receives it. This life can only be received from God by God's giving of holy spirit by means of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Today, all holy-people (Christians) have received holy spirit-life within us, which is the spirit of Christ in us; it is the deposit, token, earnest of what we will receive at a future time. This holy spirit-life will remain for the duration of God's life which will not end. The full completeness for us will come to pass when our Lord Jesus Christ will come to gather all holy-people together with him giving us new spiritual bodies, the life of which will be holy spirit-life, like the body he has already received from God, his Father and our Father, when God raised him up alive from-among the dead-people.

In verse 16, John continues to explain:

• in truth, it was in this manner that God loved the world (referring to the original ordered-arrangement that God had created, recorded in Genesis chapters 1 and 2 - God loved it, including those who inhabited it with His kind of love before it was ruined by the devil's activities and by mankind's activities, recorded in Genesis chapter 3 with the promise of the savior recorded in verse 15)
  • with the consequence and result that
• God willingly gave (the action of giving is an unforced presenting or yielding something which the giver already has to someone else who does not have it yet - in this context the Giver is God - He gave)
  • the son,
    • emphatically and specifically the only-begotten son (the son born or begotten who is the only/sole genus, kind, descent; refer to John 1:14 and 18)
  • to/for the world,
• for the purpose and result that
• every-person believing (all/everyone who is presently having faith, trusting)
  • - believing what or whom? -
  • into him (regarding the only-begotten son whereby he is the object of that person's believing - every person who is believing directed-to Jesus)
    • would not destroy himself (utterly-ruin or completely-lose himself away from God)
    • but on the contrary - every believing person would have eternal life (as verse 15 above);

...for God did not apostle the son into the world (the ordered-arrangement that God created)...

• for the purpose and result that
• the son would judge the world (make a decision, pronounce sentence in judgment regarding the world including its inhabitants at the time when the son was apostled into it without giving people the opportunity to be saved),

...but on the contrary - God apostled the son into the world (God sent forth/away His son on a specific mission or assignment)...

• - why? -
• for the purpose and result that
  • the world would be saved (made-safe to God from sins and their consequences, from destruction)
    • by means of him (through God’s only-begotten son).

God apostled Jesus his son to carry-out a specific assignment so that it would be available for people to be saved to God upon completion of that assignment. After God raised Jesus up alive from being dead and after his ascension into heaven and sitting on the right-hand side of God - God again apostled His son into the world via the giving of the gift of holy spirit on the day of Pentecost making redemption and salvation available to all of mankind (refer to Acts 2:33 and 3:26; I Peter 1:12; I John 4:9-14). All holy-people (true Christians living today) have received the gift of holy spirit which is the spirit of Christ in us – he is our life while we live in the present world. The time of final judgment on those in the world by God via His son will not occur until the day of the Lord, which will begin with the Lord gathering all holy-people together with him away from the earth. 

John continues: The person who is presently and actively believing into him (the believer regarding God's son, as verse 16 above) is not judged (a decision is not presently being made, sentence is not being pronounced on the believer)...

• but the person who is not believing (not having faith, not trusting what God has given all of mankind to believe regarding His son)
  • already was judged and continues judged (by this time a decision has been made, sentence has already been pronounced and it has not changed)
• because that person did not believe and continues not to believe (he/she is staying or remaining to be an unbeliever, without faith, lacking trust)
  • into (regarding, directed to)
  • the name of the only-begotten son of God (a name is a word or phrase given to a person, etc, to be called and known-by, in order to designate and describe the distinguishing and distinctive constitution, character, quality, workings, etc, as detailed in John 1:14, 17 and 18, plus refer to verse 16 above - the unbeliever rejects everything involved with God's son, the authority and power that the Lord Jesus Christ is evidencing now after his resurrection from being dead and then pouring-out the gift of holy spirit on the day of Pentecost, recorded in Acts chapter 2);

...but this is the judgment (the action of pronouncing sentence, the process of making a separating decision, the passing of judgment, the decision being made at the present time in judgment of/from God):

• that the light came and continues come into the world (the absolute light that God makes available now to/for mankind, human-beings, went into the ordered-arrangement that God created, and this truth has not changed)
  • and the men (referring to mankind, the human-beings who do not believe what God says regarding Himself and His son, the Lord Jesus Christ - the unbelievers)
    • rather loved¹ the darkness (these people extended love towards the wrong object, instead of towards God and His son which would have been the correct usage or way for them to love - more-so, constantly increasing, more and more they directed this love towards the opposite of the light which is darkness - the object of their love was the lack or absence of light; and the darkness associated with mankind began in Genesis chapter 3)
    • than the light (instead of Godly-loving the light that God provided to/for them by means of His only-begotten son),
  • for their works were evil (the unbeliever's deeds, the effects they produced were continuing to be active with malignancy, exercising badness - their evil works were being repeated on several occasions);

...for all/every-person practicing slight-things (habitually, repeatedly doing and in the process of accomplishing things which are lacking any substance in connection with God and therefore can be blown away as trivia)...

• hates the light (has active ill-will towards the light)
  • and does not come (go) towards the light
    • for the purpose and result that
    • his works would not be refuted (his deeds, the things wrought, the end-products issuing from him, the effects produced with/by his actions expending his energy would not be proved wrong, convicted and convinced of the error),

...but the person who is doing the truth (performing, making, producing the actions and activities in accordance with the truth, which is what God says, the essential reality, God’s inherent verity)...

• comes (goes) towards the light
  • for the purpose and result that
  • his works would be manifested (evidenced, brought to light, shown-forth)
    • that they are (that his works are presently)
    • being caused-to-work and continue working (producing effects by being in work, being energized)
    • within the cause and sphere of action of God.

In verses 16 and 18, the word translated as “only-begotten” is taken from the Greek word monogenes which literally means: an only genus born (the sole kind begotten, the only descendant born), as an only child of the parent(s), the single/unique offspring of its kind/genus, because the parent(s) have no other children. The only child is loved with deepest love, affection and tenderness by his/her parent(s), and that child would have the attributes, characteristics, etc, given to him/her by the parent(s). Regarding Jesus Christ – he is the monogenes son relative to God his Father because Jesus is the only kind/genus of being who truly is: the son of God. Jesus is the MONOGENES. This word emphasizes genus/kind. Refer to Luke 9:38; John 1:14 and 18, 3:16; Romans 1:3 and 4; Hebrews 11:17; and I John 4:9.

In verses 16 and 19, the verb "to love¹" comes from the Greek word agape which is God's kind of love. It is the carrying out of God's commandments, His Word, which is the correct usage or way to manifest God's kind of love according to His will by any member of mankind (refer to I Corinthians chapter 13 and I John 5:1-3). It is not the same as the brotherly or friendly kind of love, nor is it the same as the emotional/feelings/sexual kind of love.

[Reference: Genesis chapter 1-3; Numbers 21:5-9; John 1:14 and 18, 5:36-38, 6:29-35, 12:30-33 and 47; Acts 2:33, 3:26, 5:31 and 32, 13:41, 17:30 and 31; Romans 2:3, 3:6, 5:8 and 17, 8:32, 10:6-10; I Corinthians 3:9, 5:13, 10:9, 15:45-47, 16:10; Ephesians 4:4-12, 5:11-14; Philippians 2:13; II Thessalonians 1:5-10; I Timothy 1:15 and 16, 2:3-6, 4:10; II Timothy 1:10, 4:1 and 8; Hebrews 3:1; James 3:16; I Peter 1:12; I John 1:1-6, 3:12, 4:9-14, 5:13. Also refer to the articles on Love in I Corinthians Chapter 13 and Hope and Resurrection.]

Next, John the writer of this book returns to what Jesus did following verse 12 above, and also what John the baptizer was doing at that time:

Verses 22-30:

^.22After these-things Jesus went and his learning-disciples into the Judean land and there he spent-time with them and baptized; ^.23but John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim because many waters were there, and they arrived and were baptized, ^.24for John was not-yet thrown² into the prison.

^.25Therefore a seeking came-to-pass out-from John's learning-disciples with a Judean concerning cleaning, ^.26and they came towards John and said to him, "Rabbi, he-who was with you (on the) other-side of the Jordan, whom you bore-witness², look!, this-one baptizes and all-people go towards him." ^.27John answered and said, "A man is not able to receive not-even one-thing except it may be given² to him out-from heaven. ^.28You yourselves bear me witness that I said that I am not the Christ but that I am having been apostled² in-front-of that-one. ^.29The (person) having the bride is a bridegroom, but the friend of the bridegroom, the (friend) having stood² and hearing him, joys with joy because-of the sound of the bridegroom; therefore this joy, my (joy) was fulfilled²; ^.30it is necessary (for) that-one to increase, but (for) me to be made-less."

After the things described in verses 1-12 above which had taken place in Jerusalem during the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, Jesus went (came) and his learning-disciples (students) into the countryside of Judea from the city of Jerusalem, and in that location he spent time (as wearing through time, like rubbing his time away) in company and association with them and baptizing during that past time. Refer to John 4:2 where it states that Jesus himself was not baptizing anyone, but it was his learning-disciples who were baptizing others with water like John the baptizer.

Also, after the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread, John was continuing during that same past time, historically, to be baptizing in Aenon close to Salim because a lot of waters were there (referring to the springs in that location on the west side of the Jordan river, south from the Sea of Galilee, and north from the land of Judea).

People used to arrive (they were continuing to approach and come beside them) and they were being baptized (water was John's type of baptism; refer to John 1:26-34)...

• for continuing up until that time
  • John had not been thrown (cast) into the prison where he remained until his death.

Following-on logically from what is written in verses 22-24 above...

• a seeking came to pass (there became an action of seeking after something, questioning, looking for an answer, a search, an inquiry happened, a quest occurred)
  • from among John's students
  • in company and association with a Judean (a man of the Judean/Israeli background)
    • concerning cleaning (cleansing, catharsis, becoming free from all mixture - in this context referring to the cleansings that the Judeans would do in their washing, purification, ceremonial rituals; refer to John 2:6),

...and they came towards John and said to him...

• "Rabbi (Teacher; as verse 2 above),
• he who used to be in company and association with you on the other-side of the Jordan (across, beyond, at the eastern side of the river Jordan; refer to John 1:28-37),
  • whom emphatically you bore witness and you continue to witness about him (again there is emphasis by including a definite word for “you” – you yourself attested and you still attest with information that you personally have about him and therefore you state with authority regarding him),
• look (behold, see, pay attention)!,
• this man is baptizing (John 4:2 explains that Jesus himself was not baptizing anyone but his learning-disciples were baptizing others with water just like John was baptizing others)
  • and all-people are going (coming) towards him."

However, instead of getting all upset as a result of the wrong information that they told him about Jesus' activities - John judicially replied to their statement by saying...

• "A man (human-being) does not have the able-power (the capability)
  • to receive not-even one thing (to presently and actively take anything so as to use it)
    • except/unless it may be given and continue given to him (if it should ever happen that it would not be presented to him)
    • originating from heaven (the area above the earth, the sky above, but figuratively referring to God being the source of it).
• Emphatically you yourselves bear me witness (in Greek there is a definite word for “you” plus the pronoun for “yourselves” plus the verb meaning “you witness” giving great emphasis – you emphatically yourselves attest with information that you personally have about me and therefore you state with authority regarding me)
  • that I said that emphatically I am not the Christ (again giving emphasis - I myself am not the Anointed-one, the Messiah; refer to John 1:20)
  • but on the contrary, I said that presently I am in the state of already being apostled and continue apostled (I have been sent forth/away on a specific mission or assignment to a person or people)
    • in front of that man (before, ahead of him; refer to John 1:15 and 30)."

John continues to explain to them why there was no problem with Jesus doing what he was doing, while John was doing what he was doing, by using an example:

• "The person (man) who has the bride is a bridegroom,
  • but the friend of the bridegroom (the man who loves the bridegroom with the brotherly or friendly kind of love - referring to the best or principal man assigned to have the responsibility of preparing details for the bridegroom's wedding, the marriage celebration),
    • emphatically and specifically the friend who stood and remains standing in the position/function assigned to him
    • and hearing him (hearing or listening to the bridegroom),
  • joys with joy (the verb and noun are from the same Greek root word giving emphasis - rejoices with rejoicing, the state of elation or enjoyment because of receiving something good ultimately from God)
    • on account of the sound (voice) of the bridegroom (indicating that he has arrived and is present for the marriage to take place);
• following-on logically from this example -
  • this joy,
    • which emphatically and specifically is my joy (mine)
    • was fulfilled and is still fulfilled (made-full, caused to be filled with the full-contents, filled-up, accomplished);
• it is necessary (it is binding, must, ought to happen)
  • for that specific man to increase (to augment, grow, expand),
    • but for me to be made-less (caused to be smaller in quality, degree, magnitude, a small bit lower, inferior when compared side by side to/with him; both John and Jesus were aware that there was a balance between their individual ministries - and John had not been put into prison yet, as stated in verse 24 above; refer also to Matthew 4:12-17; Mark 1:14 and 15; Luke 4:14-30)."

These are the last words spoken by John the baptizer (baptist) that John records in this writing telling others that Jesus would increase with what God would give to him to receive/take so as to use it (refer to verse 27 above).

[Reference: Matthew 4:12, 14:3-12; Mark 6:17; Luke 3:20; John 1:6, 15, 20 and 26-34, 2:6; Acts 5:39; I Corinthians 4:7.]

In the following verses (31-36), John the writer explains to the readers of this writing the fullness of how Jesus increased as prophesied by John the baptizer in verse 30 above.

Verses 31-36:

^.31The (one) coming from-the-top is over all-people: the (one) being out-from the earth is out-from the earth and utters-forth out-from the earth; the (one) coming out-from heaven is over all-people.

^.32That-which he saw² and heard he witnesses this, and not-one-person receives his witness; ^.33the (one) having received sealed his witness that God is (the) True-One, ^.34for whom God apostled utters-forth the spoken-matters of God for He gives the spirit not out-from a measure; ^.35the Father loves¹ the son and He gave² all-things in his hand.

^.36The (person) believing into the son has eternal life, but the (person) being un-persuaded by the son will not see life but the wrath of God remains on him.

The one who is presently in the process of coming from-the-top (from the place that is above, upwards, figuratively referring to heaven which is God's location - and also including the truth of the start or commencement of the process of his coming, first promised by God recorded in Genesis 3:15)...

• is over all-people (he is presently and actively up-above, on top of everyone right now, today)
• - and the explanation for this statement is:
  • the one who is being (any person or spirit who is existing)
  • originating from the earth (as opposed to heaven where God's location is) 
    • is definitely originating from the earth (limited with/by the realm and sphere of action of mankind, human-beings)
    • and speaks things which originate from the earth (refer to verses 5-8 and 12 above);
  • the one who is coming (the Lord Jesus Christ)
  • originating from heaven (from God Himself Who is the source; refer to verses 5-8, 12-14 and 27 above)
    • is over all-people (as the beginning of this verse [some Greek texts omit this phrase]).

That-which God's son...

• saw and continues to see (what he perceived with his eyes and understood in his mind's thoughts, which has not changed)
• and heard

...he witnesses this (no-one else - it is God's son who continues attesting with information of what he saw and heard, he gives the declaration of knowledge that he personally has and therefore he states and confirms what he saw and heard on the strength of his own authority),

• and not-one-person receives his witness (nobody presently and actively takes the witness belonging-to the Lord Jesus Christ so as to use it - without being given it first; refer to verses 11 and 27 above).

The one who has already received (it was the Lord Jesus Christ who took what was given to him from/by God so as to use it - how did he use this witness?)...

• sealed (he securely fastened, put on the mark of authentication and approval, ratification, he made fast, as sealing a letter so it is not opened and read by anyone except by the one to whom the letter is addressed)
  • - he sealed what? -
  • his witness
    • with the cause being that (as stamping his witness with the following words)
    • God is the True-One (the One Who is true, being and having the essential reality, inherent verity; God is true in all of His words and actions),
• in truth, whom (referring to God's son who is the Lord Jesus Christ)
  • God apostled (God sent forth/away His son on a specific mission or assignment after God raised him up alive and placed him at His right-hand side)
• utters-forth the spoken-matters of God (the portions of the whole of God’s Word, each containing a specific discourse necessary for that particular situation or circumstance - what he is speaking originates from God)
  • for God presently gives the spirit to His son (God has already raised Jesus from being dead by causing him to be alive in his new spiritual body, the life of which is holy spirit-life - and God continues giving spiritual information to him today, the heavenly-things referenced in verse 12 above)
    • not out-from a measure (in the Greek texts these words are at the beginning of the phrase to emphasize that it is NOT originating from a measure, a standard by which it would be measured - God does not limit His spiritual communications to His son as though only giving him a deposit or a token of holy spirit - God gives His son the spirit without applying a measure or limit to it, and so God's son is able to utter-forth the spoken-matters of/from God);

...the Father (emphasizing the truth that God is the Lord Jesus Christ's Father, there is a Father/son relationship between them) loves the son with His kind of love (Godly-love) and...

• God (emphasizing the truth that God is the First, Superior or Ultimate One, the One Who has power, executes judgment, and emanates what He is, His power and light)
  • gave and continues given (the truth of which remains unchanged)
  • - given what? -
    • all-things in his hand (this usage of the word "hand" figuratively refers to everything within the cause and sphere of action of the son - all things are within the directive, power, rule, and authority of God's son who is the Lord Jesus Christ).

The person (man, human-being) who is presently believing into the son (having faith, trusting regarding the son whereby he is the object of belief - the person who is believing directed-to him)...

• has eternal life (presently has life that is eternal, which lasts throughout all durations of life, all ages - he/she has received the gift of holy spirit and so he/she is a three-part being: holy spirit-life, a physical body, and soul/breath-life; refer to verses 5-8 and 14-17 above),

...but the person who is actively unwilling to be persuaded (not convinced) by/with the son (who is the Lord Jesus Christ)...

• will not see life (in the sense that eternal life will not be presented to that person to be perceived with his eyes and known by him)
• but contrary to life -
  • the wrath of God (God’s wrath is God's lasting-angry-vengeance – like the heat of a burning fire; this is not a spur-of-the-moment thing on God's part because He has foretold regarding the consequences of unbelief and rejection of His Word all through the ages, the wrath of God is righteous and issues right/just judgment)
    • remains (stays, continues)
    • down on him (upon that person, in the sense that he will receive the effects of God's wrath permanently).

God's son is the Lord Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ was dead but now he is alive. God marked Jesus Christ out as the son of God by raising him up from among the dead-people giving him his spiritual body. God gave him the name that is above every other name, designating the resurrected Jesus being Lord and Christ, and his name includes the name – SON – God’s son; he inherits everything that the firstborn son should inherit from his Father, the only true God. The word ‘son’ emphasizes origin, quality, and essence. The spirit of holiness is the spiritual essence of the resurrected Christ Jesus. Refer to Matthew 3:17, 17:5; John 17:1; Acts 2:21 and 38, 3:6 and 16, 4:7-12 and 30, 9:20, 13:33, 26:23; Romans 1:3, 4 and 9, 5:10, 8:3, 29 and 32; I Corinthians 1:9, chapter 15; II Corinthians 1:19; Galatians 2:20, 4:4 and 6; Ephesians 1:19-23, 4:13; Philippians 2:9 and 10; Colossians 1:13 and 18; I Thessalonians 1:10; II Thessalonians 3:6; Hebrews 1:1-8, 3:6, 4:14, 5:5-10, 6:6, 7:3, 21 and 28, 10:29; II Peter 1:17; I John 1:3 and 7, 2:22-24, 3:8 and 23, 4:9, 10, 14 and 15, 5:5, 9-13 and 20; II John 1:3 and 9; Revelation 2:18.

[Reference: Matthew 4:4, 28:18; John 1:14 and 18; Acts 1:5 and 8, 2:33; Romans 1:3, 4 and 8, 2:5-8, 3:4; I Corinthians 2:10, 15:45-50; II Corinthians 1:21 and 22; Ephesians 1:13 and 19-23, 4:13 and 30, 5:6, 6:17; Colossians 1:19, 2:9 and 10, 3:6; Hebrews 1:5; I John 1:3, 4:14 and 15, 5:6-13; Revelation 1:5, 3:14, 22:17-20. Note: verbs with a superscript 2 (²) immediately following them indicate the "perfect" tense - details are provided in the "Relevant Notes" link of this study.]

John Chapter 4