John
3:23-30
- Reading the Text:
- NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
- Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
- The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
- The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
- The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary & sermons.
- Historical References, Commentary and
Comparative Texts:
- The Five Gospels Parallels, John W. Marshall, University of Toronto.
- Comparative texts about Baptism: Water & Spirit from DSS, Josephus, Babylonian Talmud. At (Rutgers University Dept of Religion) Mahlon H. Smith's Into His Own: Perspective on the World of Jesus companion to the historical study of Christian texts.
- "John's Message," "Jesus Baptizing," The Jesus Database, an online annotated inventory of the traditions concerning the life and teachings of Jesus. Dr. Gregory C. Jenks, FaithFutures Foundation.
- From Augustine's Tractates on John:
- Tractate XIII
- "The eyes, deprived of their food (for they feed on light), become wearied by fasting, and weakened, so that they cannot bear to see the light by which they are refreshed; and if the light is too long absent, they are quenched, and the very sense of sight dies as it were in them."
- Tractate
XIV
- "He that will have joy of himself shall be sad; but he that will have his joy of God will ever rejoice, because God is everlasting."
- Tractate XIII
- From the Geneva Notes.
- "Satan inflames the disciples of John with a fond emulation of their master in order to hinder the course of the gospel: but John, being mindful of his office, not only puts a stop to their endeavours, but also takes occasion by that means to give testimony of Christ, that in him alone the Father has set forth everlasting life."
- From
Matthew
Henry's Commentary.
- "John knew that Jesus came from heaven as the Son of God, while he was a sinful, mortal man, who could only speak about the more plain subjects of religion."
- From
Wesley's Notes.
- "So they who are now, like John, burning and shining lights, must (if not suddenly eclipsed) like him gradually decrease, while others are increasing about them; as they in their turns grew up, amidst the decays of the former generation."
- From the
Commentary on the Whole Bible
(Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
- "As John and Jesus were the only teachers who baptized Jews, discussions might easily arise between the Baptist's disciples and such Jews as declined to submit to that rite."
- From The People's
New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
- "They complain of the fact that Jesus baptized and was very popular at this time, but John refers to the witness he had borne (1:20, 29), and affirms that each is fulfilling the work 'given him of heaven.'"
- Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
-
Commentary
by Hall Harris at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
- "Possibly--and this is speculation--what the Jews reported to John's disciples was that Jesus was now setting aside the Jewish purification rituals as unnecessary."
-
Commentary
by Hall Harris at the Biblical Studies Foundation.
- Articles & Background:
- "Suffering:
The Badge of Discipleship," Douglas John Hall at The Living
Pulpit.
- "The church must suffer in order to find salvation."
- Jordan River, article and photos at Walking in Their Sandals, Journey through the Land of the Bible.
- "Suffering:
The Badge of Discipleship," Douglas John Hall at The Living
Pulpit.
- Recommended articles
from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are
linked below.
ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of
selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices.
- Neyrey, Jerome H., S.J.,
and Richard L. Rohrbaugh,
"'He Must Increase, I Must Decrease' (John 3:30): A Cultural and Social
Interpretation," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2001.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Painter, John,
"Quest Stories in John 1-4," Journal for the Study of the New
Testament, 1991.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Polhill, John B., "John 1-4: The
Revelation of True Life," Review & Expositor, 1988.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Reid, Barbara E.,
"The Cross and Cycles of Violence," Interpretation, 2004. (See
section beginning on p. 380) (See also entire issue:
Violence in the Bible, Interpretation, 2004.)
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Ross, J.M.,
"Some Unnoticed Points in the Text of the New Testament," Novum
Testamentum, 1983. (Section on John 3:25 begins on page 66.)
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials - Whitters, Mark F.,
"Discipleship in John: Four Profiles," Word & World, 1998.
EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Neyrey, Jerome H., S.J.,
and Richard L. Rohrbaugh,
"'He Must Increase, I Must Decrease' (John 3:30): A Cultural and Social
Interpretation," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2001.
- Sermons:
- "Where Meek Souls Will Receive Him Still," Darrik Acre, Preacher's Magazine, 2005.
- With Children:
- Crossword on John 3 & 4, Don Crownover's Bible Puzzles.
- Drama:
- "Nicodemus" monologue, Ross Olson.
- Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
- John 3:22-30, Liturgical Drawing, Maria d.c. Zamora, Claretian Resources, Philippines. ("Download and use these for free.")
- Hymns and Music:
- Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
- 'Hymns with Scripture Allusions: John 3:26. The Cyber Hymnal.
- Fine Arts Images Linked at The Text This Week's Art Index:
- Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
- Study Links and Resources for the Book of John