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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>John 3:30 He must increase; I must decrease.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/john/3-30.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/17/43_Jhn_03_30.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="John 3:30 - John's Testimony about Jesus" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="He must increase; I must decrease." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; 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I must become less.&#8221<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/john/3.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/john/3.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />He must increase, but I must decrease.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/john/3.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />He must increase; I must decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/3.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />It behooves Him to increase, but me to decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/john/3.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />He must increase, but I <i>must</i> decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/john/3.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />He must increase, but I <i>must</i> decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/john/3.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />He must increase, but I must decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/john/3.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />&#8220He must increase, but I must decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/john/3.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />“He must increase, but I must decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/john/3.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />He must increase, but I must decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/john/3.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />He must increase [in prominence], but I must decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/john/3.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He must increase, but I must decrease.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/john/3.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />He must increase, but I must decrease.&#8221 <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/john/3.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />He must increase, but I must decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/john/3.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />Jesus must become more important, while I become less important. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/john/3.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />He must increase, but I must decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/john/3.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />He must increase in importance, while I must decrease in importance.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/john/3.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />He must become more important while I become less important." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/john/3.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />He must become more important, but I must become less important."<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/john/3.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />He must increase; I must decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/john/3.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He must become more important while I become less important." <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/john/3.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He must increase, but I must decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/john/3.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />He must increase, but I must decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/3.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />He must grow greater, but I must grow less.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/john/3.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He must increase, but I must decrease. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/john/3.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />It is necessary [for] Him to increase, and me to become less;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/blb/john/3.htm">Berean Literal Bible</a></span><br />It behooves Him to increase, but me to decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/john/3.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 'Him it behoveth to increase, and me to become less;<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/john/3.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br />He must increase, and I must be diminished.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/john/3.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />He must increase, but I must decrease. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/john/3.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />He must increase, while I must decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/john/3.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />He must increase; I must decrease.” <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/john/3.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />He must increase, but I must decrease.”<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/john/3.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />He must become greater and I lesser.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/aramaic-plain-english/john/3.htm">Aramaic Bible in Plain English</a></span><br />It is necessary for him to increase and for me to decrease.<div class="vheading2"><b>NT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/anderson/john/3.htm">Anderson New Testament</a></span><br />He must increase, but I must decrease.<CM><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/godbey/john/3.htm">Godbey New Testament</a></span><br />It behooveth Him to increase, and me to decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/haweis/john/3.htm">Haweis New Testament</a></span><br />He must grow great, but I diminutive.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/mace/john/3.htm">Mace New Testament</a></span><br />he must advance,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wey/john/3.htm">Weymouth New Testament</a></span><br />He must grow greater, but I must grow less.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worrell/john/3.htm">Worrell New Testament</a></span><br />He must increase, but I must decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/worsley/john/3.htm">Worsley New Testament</a></span><br />He must increase, but I must decrease.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/john/3-30.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="audio" id="audio"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ixy2bchmXZ0?start=854" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/john/3.htm">John's Testimony about Jesus</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">29</span>The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. <span class="reftext">30</span><span class="highl"><a href="/greek/1565.htm" title="1565: ekeinon (DPro-AMS) -- That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed.">He</a> <a href="/greek/1163.htm" title="1163: dei (V-PIA-3S) -- Third person singular active present of deo; also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is Necessary.">must</a> <a href="/greek/837.htm" title="837: auxanein (V-PNA) -- (a) I cause to increase, become greater (b) I increase, grow. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to grow, i.e. Enlarge.">increase;</a> <a href="/greek/1161.htm" title="1161: de (Conj) -- A primary particle; but, and, etc."></a> <a href="/greek/1473.htm" title="1473: eme (PPro-A1S) -- I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.">I</a> <a href="/greek/1642.htm" title="1642: elattousthai (V-PNM/P) -- To make less (inferior). From elasson; to lessen.">must decrease.</a> </span> <span class="reftext">31</span>The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all.…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/philippians/2-5.htm">Philippians 2:5-8</a></span><br />Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus: / Who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, / but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/23-12.htm">Matthew 23:12</a></span><br />For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/james/4-10.htm">James 4:10</a></span><br />Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_peter/5-6.htm">1 Peter 5:6</a></span><br />Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/14-11.htm">Luke 14:11</a></span><br />For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/20-26.htm">Matthew 20:26-28</a></span><br />It shall not be this way among you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, / and whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave— / just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/9-35.htm">Mark 9:35</a></span><br />Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the last of all and the servant of all.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_corinthians/3-5.htm">1 Corinthians 3:5-7</a></span><br />What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, as the Lord has assigned to each his role. / I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. / So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/galatians/6-14.htm">Galatians 6:14</a></span><br />But as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/colossians/1-18.htm">Colossians 1:18</a></span><br />And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/romans/12-3.htm">Romans 12:3</a></span><br />For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_corinthians/4-5.htm">2 Corinthians 4:5</a></span><br />For we do not proclaim ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/9-7.htm">Isaiah 9:7</a></span><br />Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/isaiah/53-2.htm">Isaiah 53:2-3</a></span><br />He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no stately form or majesty to attract us, no beauty that we should desire Him. / He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. Like one from whom men hide their faces, He was despised, and we esteemed Him not.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/115-1.htm">Psalm 115:1</a></span><br />Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to Your name be the glory, because of Your loving devotion, because of Your faithfulness.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">He must increase, but I must decrease.</p><p class="hdg">must increase.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/72-17.htm">Psalm 72:17-19</a></b></br> His name shall endure for ever: his name shall be continued as long as the sun: and <i>men</i> shall be blessed in him: all nations shall call him blessed… </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/9-7.htm">Isaiah 9:7</a></b></br> Of the increase of <i>his</i> government and peace <i>there shall be</i> no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/isaiah/53-2.htm">Isaiah 53:2,3,12</a></b></br> For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, <i>there is</i> no beauty that we should desire him… </p><p class="hdg">but.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/acts/13-36.htm">Acts 13:36,37</a></b></br> For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep, and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: … </p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/1_corinthians/3-5.htm">1 Corinthians 3:5</a></b></br> Who then is Paul, and who <i>is</i> Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/2_corinthians/3-7.htm">2 Corinthians 3:7-11</a></b></br> But if the ministration of death, written <i>and</i> engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which <i>glory</i> was to be done away: … </p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/john/3-14.htm">Behoveth</a> <a href="/jeremiah/29-6.htm">Decrease</a> <a href="/john/1-50.htm">Greater</a> <a href="/luke/12-33.htm">Grow</a> <a href="/luke/17-5.htm">Increase</a> <a href="/mark/15-40.htm">Less</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/john/4-20.htm">Behoveth</a> <a href="/leviticus/25-16.htm">Decrease</a> <a href="/john/3-31.htm">Greater</a> <a href="/john/21-18.htm">Grow</a> <a href="/acts/6-7.htm">Increase</a> <a href="/romans/9-12.htm">Less</a><div class="vheading2">John 3</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/3-1.htm">Jesus teaches Nicodemus the necessity of being born again,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">14. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/3-14.htm">of faith in his death,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">16. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/3-16.htm">the great love of God toward the world,</a></span><br><span class="reftext">18. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/3-18.htm">and the condemnation for unbelief.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">22. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/3-22.htm">Jesus baptizes in Judea.</a></span><br><span class="reftext">23. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/john/3-23.htm">The baptism, witness, and doctrine of John concerning Jesus.</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script> <br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheading"><table width="100%"><tr><td width="99%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/3.htm">Study Bible</a></td><td width="1%" valign="top"><a href="/study/john/" title="Book Summary and Study">Book ◦</a> <a href="/study/chapters/john/3.htm" title="Chapter summary and Study">Chapter </a></tr></table></div><b>He must increase;</b><br>This phrase is spoken by John the Baptist, who recognizes the growing ministry of Jesus Christ. The context is set in the early part of Jesus' public ministry, where John acknowledges that his role is to prepare the way for the Messiah. The use of "must" indicates a divine necessity, reflecting God's sovereign plan. This statement aligns with the prophecy in <a href="/isaiah/40-3.htm">Isaiah 40:3</a>, where a voice cries out to prepare the way for the Lord. John's recognition of Jesus' increasing influence is a fulfillment of his mission as the forerunner. Theologically, this phrase underscores the supremacy of Christ and the transition from the old covenant, represented by John, to the new covenant in Jesus. It also reflects the principle of humility and submission to God's will, a theme echoed in <a href="/philippians/2-9.htm">Philippians 2:9-11</a>, where Jesus is exalted by God.<p><b>I must decrease.</b><br>John the Baptist's acknowledgment of his decreasing role highlights his humility and understanding of his purpose. Historically, John had a significant following, and his ministry was influential in Judea. However, he willingly steps aside for Jesus, demonstrating a selfless attitude. This decrease is not just in terms of followers but also in prominence and authority. The cultural context of the time valued honor and status, making John's statement countercultural. This phrase also serves as a model for Christian discipleship, where believers are called to deny themselves and elevate Christ in their lives, as seen in <a href="/matthew/16-24.htm">Matthew 16:24</a>. John's attitude is a type of Christ's own humility, as Jesus later exemplifies in His sacrificial death. The decrease of John and the increase of Jesus symbolize the transition from the prophetic era to the messianic fulfillment.<div class="vheading2">Persons / Places / Events</div>1. <b><a href="/topical/j/john_the_baptist.htm">John the Baptist</a></b><br>A prophet and forerunner of Jesus Christ, known for baptizing Jesus and calling people to repentance. He is the speaker of <a href="/john/3-30.htm">John 3:30</a>, expressing his understanding of his role in relation to Jesus.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/topical/j/jesus_christ.htm">Jesus Christ</a></b><br>The central figure of Christianity, whom John the Baptist acknowledges as greater than himself. Jesus' ministry is beginning to grow at this point in the Gospel of John.<br><br>3. <b><a href="/topical/a/aenon_near_salim.htm">Aenon near Salim</a></b><br>The location where John the Baptist was baptizing at the time, mentioned earlier in <a href="/bsb/john/3.htm">John 3</a>. It is significant as a place of transition where John's ministry begins to wane as Jesus' ministry rises.<br><br>4. <b><a href="/topical/d/disciples_of_john.htm">Disciples of John</a></b><br>Followers of John the Baptist who were concerned about Jesus' growing popularity. Their concern prompts John's declaration in <a href="/john/3-30.htm">John 3:30</a>.<br><br>5. <b><a href="/topical/j/judean_countryside.htm">Judean Countryside</a></b><br>The broader region where these events are taking place, highlighting the geographical context of Jesus' and John's ministries.<div class="vheading2">Teaching Points</div><b><a href="/topical/h/humility_in_ministry.htm">Humility in Ministry</a></b><br>John the Baptist's statement is a profound example of humility. In our own lives and ministries, we should strive to elevate Christ above ourselves, recognizing that our purpose is to point others to Him.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/u/understanding_our_role.htm">Understanding Our Role</a></b><br>Like John, we must understand our role in God's plan. We are called to be faithful in our tasks, knowing that the ultimate goal is to glorify Christ.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/the_supremacy_of_christ.htm">The Supremacy of Christ</a></b><br>This verse reminds us of the supremacy of Christ in all things. Our lives should reflect a continual process of decreasing self-importance and increasing Christ's presence.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/t/transition_and_change.htm">Transition and Change</a></b><br>John's acceptance of the transition from his ministry to Jesus' highlights the importance of embracing change when it aligns with God's will. We should be open to God's leading, even when it means stepping back.<br><br><b><a href="/topical/i/identity_in_christ.htm">Identity in Christ</a></b><br>Our identity should be rooted in Christ, not in our achievements or status. As we decrease, we find our true identity and purpose in Him.<div class="vheading2">Lists and Questions</div><a href="/top10/lessons_from_john_3.htm">Top 10 Lessons from John 3</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'walk_by_the_spirit'_mean.htm">What does the Bible say about celebrity pastors?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_is_the_youversion_bible_app.htm">How can I become more humble?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/why_is_john_the_baptist_greatest.htm">Why is John the Baptist considered the greatest?</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/q/what_does_'love_does_not_boast'_mean.htm">What does "Love does not boast" mean?</a><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/john/3.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(30) <span class= "bld">He must increase, but I must decrease.</span>--The office of the paranymph ceases to exist when the marriage is accomplished. It must be so. So too in the interpretation. His own work was well-nigh done, but he is filled with the joy of having done his work, not with disappointment that it pales before the brightness of the work which is to follow. This is the text of the Forerunner's life. Well will it be for those followers of Christ whose lives shall be sermons on it!<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/john/3.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 30.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">He must -</span> by a Divine necessity of things (cf. vers. 7, 14; <a href="/john/9-4.htm">John 9:4</a>; <a href="/john/10-16.htm">John 10:16</a>; <a href="/john/20-9.htm">John 20:9</a>; <a href="/revelation/1-1.htm">Revelation 1:1</a>), he must - <span class="cmt_word">increase</span>; augment in power and following and great joy. He must win eventually all hearts. His enemies must become the footstool of his feet. His is the beginning of an eternal blessedness. <span class="cmt_word">I must decrease;</span> not become annihilated, though through the very completion of the purpose of my calling of God, my scope must, by the nature of the case, become narrower and smaller. Some have felt the improbability of the great prophet, the ascetic reformer, acquiescing so patiently in the diminution of his influence or the virtual cessation of the primary importance of his career. Yet this is in complete harmony with John's repeated and continuous recognition of the preparatory and transitory nature of his own work. He cannot lay down his commission, but he knows that, like prophetism, priesthood, Nazarite asceticism, and the like, it will be merged in the grander life of which he was the herald. The ministers of the New Testament all take up the same note of Divine praise and of self-depletion as they prepare the way of the Lord to human hearts. They hide themselves behind the greater glory of their Lord. However considerable their powers, they are serviceable only as they contribute to the glory, and succeed in unveiling the thee, of their Lord. There is a Johannine message still required to disturb the fleshly equanimity and to break up the narcotized sleep of the unbeliever. The stern spirit of rebuke and warning is still indispensable; yet the voice of him that cries, "Repent!" knows that his voice may fade away into faint echoes and stillness, so soon as the promises of redemption and salvation are uttered by the Divine Lord. When the absolution of grace gives the kiss of peace to the broken-hearted, the morning star fades into the dawning of the day. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/john/3-30.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Greek</div><span class="word">He</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐκεῖνον</span> <span class="translit">(ekeinon)</span><br /><span class="parse">Demonstrative Pronoun - Accusative Masculine Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1565.htm">Strong's 1565: </a> </span><span class="str2">That, that one there, yonder. From ekei; that one (neuter) thing); often intensified by the article prefixed.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">must</span><br /><span class="grk">δεῖ</span> <span class="translit">(dei)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1163.htm">Strong's 1163: </a> </span><span class="str2">Third person singular active present of deo; also deon deh-on'; neuter active participle of the same; both used impersonally; it is Necessary.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">increase;</span><br /><span class="grk">αὐξάνειν</span> <span class="translit">(auxanein)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Infinitive Active<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_837.htm">Strong's 837: </a> </span><span class="str2">(a) I cause to increase, become greater (b) I increase, grow. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to grow, i.e. Enlarge.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">I</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐμὲ</span> <span class="translit">(eme)</span><br /><span class="parse">Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Accusative 1st Person Singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1473.htm">Strong's 1473: </a> </span><span class="str2">I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.</span><br /><br /><span class="word">[must] decrease.</span><br /><span class="grk">ἐλαττοῦσθαι</span> <span class="translit">(elattousthai)</span><br /><span class="parse">Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/greek/strongs_1642.htm">Strong's 1642: </a> </span><span class="str2">To make less (inferior). From elasson; to lessen.</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/john/3-30.htm">John 3:30 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/john/3-30.htm">John 3:30 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/john/3-30.htm">John 3:30 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/john/3-30.htm">John 3:30 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/john/3-30.htm">John 3:30 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/john/3-30.htm">John 3:30 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/john/3-30.htm">John 3:30 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/john/3-30.htm">John 3:30 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/john/3-30.htm">John 3:30 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/john/3-30.htm">John 3:30 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/john/3-30.htm">NT Gospels: John 3:30 He must increase but I must decrease (Jhn Jo Jn) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/john/3-29.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="John 3:29"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="John 3:29" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/john/3-31.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="John 3:31"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="John 3:31" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>