Albert Barnes Commentary John 3:25

"There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John`s disciples with a Jew about purifying." — John 3:25 (ASV)

A question. Rather, a controversy—a dispute.

John's disciples. Those who had been baptized by him, and who attached great efficacy and importance to the teaching of their master. Compare to Acts 19:1 (see Barnes) and Acts 19:2-5.

And the Jews. Many manuscripts, some of the fathers, and the ancient Syriac version, read this in the singular number—"with a Jew," one who, it is commonly supposed, had been baptized by the disciples of Jesus.

About purifying. What the precise subject of this dispute was we do not know. From what follows, it would seem probable that it was about the comparative value and efficacy of the baptism performed by John and by the disciples of Jesus. The word purifying may be applied to baptism, as it was an emblem of repentance and purity, and was thus used by the Jews, by John, and by Jesus. About this subject it seems that a dispute arose, and was carried to such a length that complaint was made to John. From this we may learn:

1. That even in the time of Jesus, when the gospel began to be preached, there was witnessed—what has been ever since—unhappy disputes on the subject of religion. Even young converts may, by overheated zeal and ignorance, fall into angry discussion.
2. That such discussions are commonly about some unimportant matter of religion—something which they may not yet be qualified to understand, and which does not materially affect them if they could.
3. That such disputes are often connected with a spirit of proselytism—with boasting of the superior excellence of the sect with which we are connected, or in connection with which we have been converted, and often with a desire to persuade others to join with us.
4. That such a spirit is eminently improper on such occasions. Love should characterize the feelings of young converts: a disposition to inquire and not to dispute; a willingness that all should follow the dictates of their own consciences, and not a desire to proselyte them to our way of thinking or to our church. It may be added that there is scarcely anything which so certainly and effectually arrests a revival of religion as such a disposition to dispute, and to make proselytes to particular modes of faith and of administering the ordinances of the gospel.