3:27 John replied, 1 “No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. 3:28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ 2 but rather, ‘I have been sent before him.’ 3:29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly 3 when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. This then is my joy, and it is complete. 4 3:30 He must become more important while I become less important.” 5
1 tn Grk “answered and said.”
2 tn Or “the Messiah” (Both Greek “Christ” and Hebrew and Aramaic “Messiah” mean “one who has been anointed”).
3 tn Grk “rejoices with joy” (an idiom).
4 tn Grk “Therefore this my joy is fulfilled.”
5 sn Some interpreters extend the quotation of John the Baptist’s words through v. 36.