John 3:25

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:25-30

The Bridegroom's friend true to the last. Notice— I. THE DISCIPLES ' COMPLAINT . It is the embodiment of a blind and angry zeal. And. as such: 1 . It is ever disparaging in its language. "He that was with thee beyond Jordan." They address their own master as "Rabbi," but speak of Jesus as "he that was," etc., as if he had no name; and, if he had, it was not worth mentioning compared with their master's. The memory of angry zeal is very shaft, and its respect for... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 3:25

A question - Rather a controversy a dispute.John’s disciples - Those who had been baptized by him, and who attached great efficacy and importance to the teaching of their master. Compare the notes at Acts 19:1-5.And the Jews - Many manuscripts, some of the fathers, and the ancient Syriac version read this in the singular number “with A Jew,” one who, it is commonly supposed, had been baptized by the disciples of Jesus.About purifying - What the precise subject of this dispute was we do not... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 3:25-26

John 3:25-26. Then there arose a question Or a dispute; between some of John’s disciples and the Jews Or rather, a certain Jew: for, “though the common editions read Jews, the greater number of MSS., among which are some of the most valuable, some ancient expositors also, and critics read, a Jew, in the singular; with which agrees both the Syriac versions. To which may be added some of our best modern critics, as Grotius, Cocceius, Hammond, Mill, and Wetstein.” Campbell. About... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - John 3:22-36

22. John the Baptist’s work complete (John 3:22-36)While Jesus and his disciples were preaching and baptizing in Judea, John the Baptist was spending the closing days of his ministry preaching and baptizing further north, in the region of the Jordan Valley (John 3:22-24). Some of John’s disciples were becoming jealous of Jesus’ popularity, and John had to rebuke them. He reminded them that his work was only to prepare the way for Jesus. That work was now finished. John was like the friend of a... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - John 3:25

Then = Therefore: i.e. on account of the facts stated in verses: John 3:22-24 . question = questioning. between some of = [on the part] of. Greek ek. App-104 . and = with. Greek. meta. App-104 . the Jews. All the texts read "a Jew". Greek. Ioudaion, with Syriac. But it has been suggested that Iou was the primitive abbreviation for Iesou (= of Jesus), and being repeated (by inadvertence) led to the reading Iou[daion] (= a Jew). This would agree better with verses: John 3:22-24 ; with... read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 3:25

There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purifying.It is not known what the question here involved. Hovey thought that the fact of Jesus and John baptizing at the same time might have raised a question of the relative importance of the two administrations, whether both were of equal value, and if Jesus was to supersede John. read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 3:25

John 3:25. And the Jews— It should be observed, that the word Jews, in this place and some others, does not mean persons of that nation in general, but of the country of Judea (see John 3:22.), where baptism had just then been administered under the direction of Jesus; and where, as most of John's disciples were of Galilee, it was natural for persons of these two schools, to bring their respective disciples into competition; and that some Jews or men of Judea, baptized under Christ, would, by... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 3:25

25, 26. between some of—rather, "on the part of." and the Jews—rather (according to the best manuscripts), "and a Jew," about purifying—that is, baptizing, the symbolical meaning of washing with water being put (as in John 2:6) for the act itself. 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. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 3:13-36

C. Jesus’ first visit to Jerusalem 2:13-3:36John is the only evangelist who recorded this trip to Jerusalem and the things that happened then."In distinction from the Synoptics, John’s record focuses mostly on events in Jesus’ life that took place in Jerusalem, and especially at the Passover feasts." [Note: Bailey, p. 164.] Josephus indicated that as many as three million Jews occupied Jerusalem during the Passover feasts. [Note: Josephus, The Wars of the Jews, 6:9:3; cf. 2:14:3.] read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - John 3:22-30

4. John the Baptist’s reaction to Jesus’ ministry 3:22-30The writer next noted the parallel ministries of John the Baptist and Jesus in Judea. John the Baptist readily confessed Jesus’ superiority to him even though they were both doing the same things. This was further testimony to Jesus’ identity. This section constitutes the very core of the Apostle John’s testimony to Jesus’ identity in Jesus’ early ministry (chs. 2-4). read more

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