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The Life of ChristSection 19 / 113
Section 019 · The Galilean Ministry Begins

John’s Final Witness & Imprisonment

Asked about the one now baptizing more than he, John gives his last great witness (“He must increase, but I must decrease”) and names Jesus the bridegroom from above, into whose hand the Father has given all things. Then John is put in prison, and Jesus withdraws into Galilee.

Mark 1:14; John 3:22–362 of 4 accountsReading: CCE

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ProvenanceJSTJoseph Smith TranslationCCECovenant Christian EditionDeleted text shown struck, attributed
Study: reading text with parallel accounts; changes available.

Note. John’s closing testimony is preserved in John; Mark supplies the note of his imprisonment.

? How to read this edition

The reading is the Joseph Smith Translation, in the text of the Covenant Christian Edition, carried beside each Gospel and set against the King James baseline. Headers give both numbering systems: the CCE chapter and verse, and the traditional KJV reference.

JST
Green: Joseph Smith Translation. Where the Covenant Christian Edition departs in substance from the King James text and the change is in the JST (confirmed against the parallel-column edition). Modernized English (“has” for “hath,” “you” for “thou”) is not marked.
CCE
Burgundy: Covenant Christian Edition. Where the CCE’s reading departs from the King James but the change is not in the Joseph Smith Translation manuscript (e.g. “this day I have begotten you” at the baptism). Some are Joseph’s own readings from his sermons; the section’s Joseph Smith commentary then gives the sermon.
MarkKJVMark 1:14CCEMark 1:4NT 2

14Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God.

No recorded JST change in this account.
JohnKJVJohn 3:22–36CCEJohn 3:1–3NT 2

22After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea, and there he tarried with them and baptized. 23And John also was baptizing in Aenon, near to Salim, because there was much water there. 24And they came and were baptized, for John was not yet cast into prison.

25Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26And they came unto John and said unto him, Rabbi, he who was with you beyond Jordan, to whom you bear witness, behold, the same baptizes, and all men come to him he receives of all people who come unto him.

27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing except it be given him from Heaven. 28You yourselves bear me witness, that I said I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. 29He who has the bride is the bridegroom. But the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. This my joy is therefore fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease. 31He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth. He who comes from Heaven is above all. 32And what he has seen and heard, that he testifies, and no man but few men receive his testimony. 33He who has received his testimony has set to his seal that God is true. 34For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives him not the spirit by measure, for he dwells in him, even the fullness. 35The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands, 36and he who believes on the Son has everlasting life and shall receive of his fullness. But he who believes not the Son shall not see life not receive of his fullness, for the wrath of God is upon him.