John 3
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a leading man among his people.
2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.”
This man came to Jesus by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no one could give such signs as you are giving, unless God were with him.”
3 Jesus answered him, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see God’s Kingdom.”
“In truth I tell you,” exclaimed Jesus, “unless a person is reborn, they cannot see the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
“How can a person,” asked Nicodemus, “be born when they are old? Can they be born a second time?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he cannot enter into God’s Kingdom.
“In truth I tell you,” answered Jesus, “unless a person owes their birth to water and Spirit, they cannot enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
All that owes its birth to human nature is human, and all that owes its birth to the Spirit is spiritual.
7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’
Do not wonder at my telling you that you all need to be reborn.
8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
The wind blows wherever it wants, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from, or where it goes; it is the same with everyone who owes his birth to the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?”
“How can that be?” asked Nicodemus.
10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not understand these things?
“What! You a teacher of Israel,” exclaimed Jesus, “and yet do not understand this!
11 Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know and testify of that which we have seen, and you do not receive our witness.
In truth I tell you that we speak of what we know, and state what we have seen; and yet you do not accept our statements.
12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
If, when I tell you earthly things, you do not believe me, how will you believe me when I tell you of heavenly things?
13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.
No one has ascended to heaven, except him who descended from heaven – the Son of Man himself.
14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
And, as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up;
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” (aiōnios g166)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have consummate (aiōnios g166) life.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life. (aiōnios g166)
17 For God did not send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.
18 He who believes in him is not judged. He who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God.
The person who believes in him escapes condemnation, while the person who does not believe in him is already condemned, because they have not believed in the only Son of God.
19 This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil.
The ground of their condemnation is this, that though the light has come into the world, people preferred the darkness to the light, because their actions were wicked.
20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.
For the person who lives an evil life hates the light, and will not come to it, fearing that their actions will be exposed;
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”
but the person who lives by the truth comes into the light, so it can be clearly seen that God is in all they do.
22 After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them and baptized.
After this, Jesus went with his disciples into the country parts of Judea; and there he stayed with them, and baptized.
23 John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came and were baptized;
John, also, was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there were many streams there; and people were constantly coming and being baptized.
24 for John was not yet thrown into prison.
(For John had not yet been imprisoned).
25 Therefore a dispute arose on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification.
Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a fellow Jew on the subject of purification;
26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, he baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”
and the disciples came to John and said, “Rabbi, the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan, and to whom you have yourself borne testimony – he, also, is baptizing, and everybody is going to him.”
27 John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.
John’s answer was – “A person can gain nothing but what is given them from heaven.
28 You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’
You are yourselves witnesses that I said ‘I am not the Christ,’ but ‘I have been sent before him as a messenger.’
29 He 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. Therefore my joy is made full.
It is the groom who has the bride; but the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens to him, is filled with joy when he hears the groom’s voice. This joy I have felt to the full.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
He must become greater, and I less.”
31 “He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
He who comes from above is above all others; but a child of earth is earthly, and his teaching is earthly, too. He who comes from heaven is above all others.
32 What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness.
He states what he has seen and what he heard, and yet no one accepts his statement.
33 He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.
They who did accept his statement confirm the fact that God is true.
34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.
For he whom God sent as his messenger gives us God’s own teaching, for God does not limit the gift of the Spirit.
35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.
The Father loves his Son, and has put everything in his hands.
36 One who believes in the Son has consummate (aiōnios g166) life, but one who disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."
The person who believes in the Son has eternal life, while a person who rejects the Son will not even see that life, but remains under God’s displeasure. (aiōnios g166)
