John 3:19 bbe — And this is the test by which men are judged: the light has come into the world and men have more love for the dark tha…

Bible in Basic English

"And this is the test by which men are judged: the light has come into the world and men have more love for the dark than for the light, because their acts are evil."

— John 3:19, Bible in Basic English

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John 3:19 in Other Translations

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John 3 — Context

16

For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life.

17

God did not send his Son into the world to be judge of the world; he sent him so that the world might have salvation through him.

18

The man who has faith in him does not come up to be judged; but he who has no faith in him has been judged even now, because he has no faith in the name of the only Son of God.

19

And this is the test by which men are judged: the light has come into the world and men have more love for the dark than for the light, because their acts are evil.

20

The light is hated by everyone whose acts are evil and he does not come to the light for fear that his acts will be seen.

21

But he whose life is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his acts have been done by the help of God.

22

After these things Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judaea, and there he was with them for some time, giving baptism.

John 3:19 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does John 3:19 say?
John 3:19 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “And this is the test by which men are judged: the light has come into the world and men have more love for the dark than for the light, because their acts are evil.”
Where is John 3:19 in the Bible?
John 3:19 is found in the New Testament, in the book of John, chapter 3, verse 19.
Who wrote John?
John is traditionally attributed to John the Apostle, son of Zebedee. It was written c. AD 85–95.
What is the book of John about?
John's Gospel opens not in Bethlehem but "in the beginning," declaring Jesus to be the eternal Word made flesh. Through seven sign-miracles and seven "I AM" sayings, it presents Jesus as the bread, the light, the way, and the resurrection — that we might believe and have life in his name.
What are the major themes of John?
John explores themes including Word Made Flesh, Belief, Eternal Life, I AM, Love. These themes shape the meaning and context of John 3:19.
What translation should I read John 3:19 in?
John 3:19 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize John 3:19?
John 3:19 reads (BBE): “And this is the test by which men are judged: the light has come into the world and men have more love for the dark than for the light, because their acts are evil.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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