John 3:30-31 NIV

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - John 3:31

He that cometh from above - The Messiah, represented as coming down from heaven. See John 3:13; John 6:33; John 8:23. It has been doubted whether the remainder of this chapter contains the words of “John the Baptist” or of “the evangelist.” The former is the more probable opinion, but it is difficult to decide it, and it is of very little consequence.Is above all - In nature, rank, and authority. “Is superior to all prophets” Hebrews 1:1-2; “to all angels” Hebrews 1:4-14, “and is over all the... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - John 3:30-31

John 3:30-31. He must increase And appear continually more and more glorious, like the growing moon; but I must decrease Must gradually wane and decline, till I disappear: for the end of my ministry is now, in a great measure, answered, and therefore I quickly expect to be dismissed from it. He that cometh from above is above all As if he had said, It is fit he should increase, while I decrease; for he is a person of infinitely greater dignity than I am, possesses far more knowledge of... 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 3:31

from above . Greek anothen, same as "again" in John 3:3 . earth. Greek. ge. App-129 . earthly = of the earth. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 3:30

He must increase, but I must decrease.The parallel ministries of Jesus and John, both with the design of baptizing multitudes preparatory to the coming kingdom, existed as a transitional device, and without any heavenly intention of promulgating two distinct systems. In God's providence, John would shortly be cast into prison and lose his life to the sword of Herod, an event that would make it easier for John's disciples to follow Christ. read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - John 3:31

He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaketh: he that cometh from heaven is above all.A large school of commentators understand this verse and to the end of the chapter, not as the words of John the Baptist, but as reflections of John the apostle, alleging this on the basis of what they call a change in style, a more advanced recognition of the true status of Christ, and a supposed reference to the conversation with Nicodemus.... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - John 3:30-31

John 3:30-31. He must increase,— "I am not ignorant that his fame and the number of his disciples shall every day increase, while mine shall decrease; for he is a person of infinitely greater dignity than I am, possesses far more intimate knowledge of the divine will; and the discoveries which he makes thereof as far transcend mine, as heaven exceeds earth." read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - John 3:31

31-34. He that, c.—Here is the reason why He must increase while all human teachers must decrease. The Master "cometh from above"—descending from His proper element, the region of those "heavenly things" which He came to reveal, and so, although mingling with men and things on the earth, is not "of the earth," either in Person or Word. The servants, on the contrary, springing of earth, are of the earth, and their testimony, even though divine in authority, partakes necessarily of their own... 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