A Study of John's Gospel

John 3:25-30: He Must Increase, but I Must Decrease

He Must Increase, but I Must Decrease

A Study of John 3:25-30

"Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification. And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him." John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven. You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.' The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease.""

‭‭John‬ ‭3‬:‭25‬-‭30‬ ESV

Definitions of the original language in the context of this passage:

-John (the Baptist): "Iōannēs", "Ἰωάννης"; proper masculine noun - John = 'Jehovah is a gracious giver'; John the Baptist was the son of Zacharias and Elisabeth, the forerunner of Christ. By order of Herod Antipas he was cast into prison and afterwards beheaded.

-Purification: "katharismos", "καθαρισμός"; masculine noun - of baptism, a symbol of moral cleansing.

-Beyond: "peran", "πέραν"; adverb - the region beyond, the opposite shore.

-Jordan: "Iordanēs", "Ἰορδάνης"; proper locative noun - Jordan = 'the descender'; the one river of Palestine, has its course of little more than 200 miles (300 km), from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the head of the Dead Sea.

-Bore Witness (Have Testified): "martyreō", "μαρτυρέω"; verb - to give testimony in one's favor, to commend.

-Heaven: "ouranos", "οὐρανός"; masculine noun - equivalent to: by God.

-Christ: "Christos", "Χριστός"; adjective - Christ = 'anointed'; Christ was and is the Messiah, the Son of God.

-Sent: "apostellō", "ἀποστέλλω"; verb - to order one to go to a place appointed; either persons sent with commissions, or things intended for someone.

Ahead: "emprosthen", "ἔμπροσθεν"; adverb - before, i.e. to be sent before one.

-Bride: "nymphē", "νύμφη"; feminine noun - a betrothed woman, a bride.

-Bridegroom: "nymphios", "νυμφίος"; masculine noun - a bridegroom.

-Friend: "philos", "φίλος"; adjective - he who associated familiarly with one, a companion.

-Rejoices: "chairō", "χαίρω"; verb - to rejoice, be glad.

-Greatly: "chara", "χαρά"; feminine noun - joy, gladness; joyousness caused by the Holy Spirit.

-Joy: "chara","χαρά"; feminine noun - joy, gladness; joyousness caused by the Holy Spirit.

-Complete (Made Full): "plēroō", "πληρόω"; verb - to make complete in every particular; to render perfect.

-Must: "dei", "δεῖ"; verb - necessary, there is need of, it behooves, is right and proper.

-Increase: "auxanō", "αὐξάνω"; verb - to grow, increase, become greater; of the growing authority of a teacher and the number of his adherents.

-Decrease: "elattoō", "ἐλαττόω"; verb - to decrease in authority and popularity.

Observation/Summary (short explanation of what the passage says in your own words):

Some of John the Baptist's (JB) disciples noticed that more and more people were going to Jesus instead of JB for teaching and baptism. They told JB about this because they were upset their teacher was being overshadowed. JB sets things straight by telling them this is exactly what is supposed to happen. He came to prepare the way for Jesus the Christ, and now that the Christ had come it was only right and proper that Christ's ministry and following increase, while JB's decreased as people flocked to the One he had come to proclaim.