Matthew Poole and continuators on John 3:25

25 ¶ Then arose a question between some of Johns disciples and the Jews, about purifying .

The Iews had so many Purifyings, some legal, instituted by God, ordained by Moses as Gods Minister; some Traditional, brought in by the Pharisees, as their washings before meat, Matth. 15. Mark 7. that it seemeth an hard thing to determine, what the Question was betwixt Iohns Disciples and the Iews, about what Purifying; and the boldest determiners in this case, are no better than guessers: some would have Baptism to be meant here by Purifying. It would much conduce to the resolution of the Question, if we knew what these Iews were, with whom Iohns Disciples argued. If they were of the Pharisees, it is probable, the Question was about Iohns Baptism, considering the frequent washings and purifyings that they had in use amongst them. If they were other Iews, the Question might be about the virtue and efficacy of the ceremonial washings, ordained by the Law of God, whether they were mere types, and now to cease? Whether in themselves they conduced any thing to the washing and cleansing of a Soul? If these Iews were (as some think, but I know not how it can be proved) Disciples of Christ, the Question might be, about Iohns and Christs Baptism: This Notion seemeth to be favoured by what went before; Where the Evangelist had been speaking of Baptism, as administred by Christs Disciples, and by Iohn; as also from what followeth, viz. Iohns Disciples coming to him and, complaining, That Christ by his Disciples baptized more than their Master. But there seemeth to be this great prejudice against the Notion of those learned Men that have imbraced that Notion, viz. That the Question is said to have risen betwixt Iohns Disciples and the Iews; now we want an instance in Scripture, where the Disciples of Iohn are put in opposition to the Disciples of Christ, and under Notion of the Iews. The term Iews, generally signifying, that part of the people who adhered to the Iudaical Rites and Religion; especially where (as here) it is used in opposition, either to the Disciples of Iohn, or of Christ. It is most probable therefore the Question was, either about the washings ordained by the Law of Moses, or about the Traditional washings observed by the Pharisees.