John 3:23 - Printer Friendly

ESV: John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized

NIV: Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized.

NASB: Now John also was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there; and people were coming and being baptized—

CSB: John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were coming and being baptized,

NLT: At this time John the Baptist was baptizing at Aenon, near Salim, because there was plenty of water there; and people kept coming to him for baptism.

KJV: And John also was baptizing in AEnon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

NKJV: Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.

For a while, both Jesus and John the Baptist preached in the region around Jerusalem. This helps explain why the local religious leaders were concerned. These two men were not like the random, tiny groups of heretics Jerusalem typically saw. According to verse 23, people were responding to this message. Jesus and John the Baptist were a legitimate (spiritual) threat to Jerusalem's established religious order. In fact, there must have been an extremely strong response. This verse says that John chose his location "because there was plenty of water." If so many people are being baptized that it's necessary to find a place with "plenty of water," the message is having an impact.

Like many ancient places, we don't know exactly where Aenon near Salim was located. One strong possibility is somewhere between the Dead Sea and the Sea of Galilee. The Greek word aenon literally means "springs," so there was probably a natural fountain or other water source there.

John 3:22–30 describes an argument between followers of John the Baptist and a Jewish religious leader, over purification. Though the passage does not name him, it’s possible this man was Nicodemus, who had just been discussing that topic with Jesus. The Baptist isn’t upset that his followers are dwindling, while Jesus attracts crowds. Instead, he makes it clear that Christ’s glory was his mission, and seeing it succeed makes him happy. Rather than being selfish about our own applause, we should be happy when our efforts cause people to praise God.

John chapter 3 is one of the most important in the entire gospel. Many crucial ideas are explained in this passage, including the role of Jesus as Savior. After the loud, public commotion at the temple, John transitions to a quiet, nighttime discussion. These verses make it clear that Christ—and Christ alone—is the means of salvation for the entire world. This text also states that those who reject Jesus are rejecting God.

The gospel of John is meant to prove that Jesus is God. Chapter 3 contains some of the most direct, most important concepts in Christianity. The ideas of spiritual rebirth, and the need to believe in Christ, are reinforced by the rest of the information in this gospel. John continues to use contrast, moving from the loud and public temple cleansing to the quiet of this conversation. After Jesus injects humility into a powerful leader, chapter 4 will transition again, as Jesus gives dignity to an outcast stranger.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 5/3/2024 12:38:22 AM