John 3:1-7

Contemporary English Version

Jesus and Nicodemus

3 There was a man named Nicodemus who was a Pharisee and a Jewish leader. ² One night he went to Jesus and said, “Rabbi, we know that God has sent you to teach us. You could not work these miracles, unless God were with you.”

³ Jesus replied, “I tell you for certain that you must be born from above^[a] before you can see God's kingdom!”

⁴ Nicodemus asked, “How can a grown man ever be born a second time?”

⁵ Jesus answered:

I tell you for certain that before you can get into God's kingdom, you must be born not only by water, but by the Spirit. ⁶ Humans give life to their children. Yet only God's Spirit can change you into a child of God. ⁷ Don't be surprised when I say that you must be born from above.