Joh 3:16-36 | ESV | STEP | For God so loved the world , that he gave his only Son , that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life .

John 3:16-36

For God So Loved the World

16 “For ^aGod so loved ^bthe world, ^{▼▼Or For this is how God loved the world} ^dthat he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not ^eperish but have eternal life. 17 For ^fGod did not send his Son into the world ^gto condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 ^hWhoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not ⁱbelieved in the name of the only Son of God. 19 ^jAnd this is the judgment: ^kthe light has come into the world, and ^lpeople loved the darkness rather than the light because ^mtheir works were evil. 20 ⁿFor everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, ^olest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever ^pdoes what is true ^qcomes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

John the Baptist Exalts Christ

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

25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over ^tpurification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, ^u“Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, ^vto whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and ^wall are going to him.” 27 John answered, ^x“A person cannot receive even one thing ^yunless it is given him ^zfrom heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ^aa‘I am not the Christ, but ^abI have been sent before him.’ 29 ^acThe one who has the bride is the bridegroom. ^adThe friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, ^aerejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 ^afHe must increase, but I must decrease.” ^{▼▼Some interpreters hold that the quotation continues through verse 36}

31 ^ahHe who comes from above ^aiis above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and ^ajspeaks in an earthly way. ^akHe who comes from heaven ^alis above all. 32 ^amHe bears witness to what he has seen and heard, ^anyet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony ^aosets his seal to this, ^apthat God is true. 34 For he whom ^aqGod has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit ^arwithout measure. 35 ^asThe Father loves the Son and ^athas given all things into his hand. 36 ^auWhoever believes in the Son has eternal life; ^avwhoever does not obey the Son shall not ^awsee life, but the wrath of God remains on him.