And as John fulfilled his course, he said, Whom think ye that I am? I am not he. But, behold, there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose.
Parallel translations
- WEB As John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’
- BSB As John was completing his course, he said, ‘Who do you suppose I am? I am not that One. But He is coming after me whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’
- NKJV And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’
- NASB And while John was completing his course, he kept saying, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not He. But behold, One is coming after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’
- NLT As John was finishing his ministry he asked, ‘Do you think I am the Messiah? No, I am not! But he is coming soon—and I’m not even worthy to be his slave and untie the sandals on his feet.’
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
As John finished his course, he denied being the Christ and pointed to one coming after him whose sandals he was unworthy to untie. John exalts Jesus above himself.
Overview
John's self-effacing testimony makes clear he was only the herald, not the Messiah. His declaration of unworthiness to perform even a slave's task for the coming One magnifies Jesus' surpassing greatness. Paul cites John to establish that all the expectation rightly converges on Jesus.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 19
- Matt 3:11I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
- John 1:26–27John answered them, saying, I baptize with water: but there standeth one among you, whom ye know not;
- Mark 1:7And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.
- Luke 3:15–16And as the people were in expectation, and all men mused in their hearts of John, whether he were the Christ, or not;
- John 1:20–23And he confessed, and denied not; but confessed, I am not the Christ.
- Acts 20:24But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
- John 4:34Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
- Mark 6:16–28But when Herod heard thereof, he said, It is John, whom I beheaded: he is risen from the dead.
- John 19:28–30After this, Jesus knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, saith, I thirst.
- John 1:29The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
- Acts 19:4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
- Rev 11:7And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.
- 2 Cor 4:5For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.
- John 1:34And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.
- John 1:36And looking upon Jesus as he walked, he saith, Behold the Lamb of God!
- John 7:18He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
- 2 Tim 4:7I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
- Acts 13:36For 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:
- John 3:27–29John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
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Acts is the risen Christ continuing his work by the Spirit through the church, as the apostles preach that there is salvation in no other name under heaven.
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Original language
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