John 3:25

25 There was therefore a reasoning of the disciples of John with a Jew about purification.

John 3:25 Meaning and Commentary

John 3:25

Then there arose a question
A dispute, or controversy, occasioned by the baptism, of John and Christ: between [some] of John's disciples, and the Jews.
The Syriac and Persic versions read, "between one of John's disciples, and a certain Jew"; and Nonnus renders it, "with an Hebrew man"; and so the Alexandrian manuscript; many others read, "with a Jew": the contention between them was about purifying;
either about the ceremonial purifications, and ablutions commanded in the law of Moses; or concerning the various washings of persons, and vessels, according to the traditions of the elders, which the Jews in common were very tenacious of; and which they thought were brought into neglect, and contempt, by the baptism of John: and this seems to have been occasioned by the baptism of Christ; which the Jew might improve against the disciple of John, and urge, that since another, besides his master, had set up baptizing, who could tell which was most right and safest to follow? and therefore it would have been much better, if no such rite at all had been used by any, but that the purifications required by the law of Moses, and by their elders, had been strictly and solely attended to.

John 3:25 In-Context

23 And John also was baptising in Aenon, near Salim, because there was a great deal of water there; and they came to [him] and were baptised:

24 for John was not yet cast into prison.

25 There was therefore a reasoning of the disciples of John with a Jew about purification.

26 And they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, he who was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, he baptises, and all come to him.

27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing unless it be given him out of heaven.