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John 3
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Chapter 3

Nicodemus.[a] 1 (A)Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.[b] 2 He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.”(B) 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born[c] from above.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?”(C) 5 Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.(D) 6 What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit.(E) 7 Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8 The wind[d] blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”(F) 9 Nicodemus answered and said to him, “How can this happen?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? 11 Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.(G) 12 If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?(H) 13 No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.(I) 14 And just as Moses lifted up[e] the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,(J) 15 [f]so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

16 For God so loved the world that he gave[g] his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.(K) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn[h] the world, but that the world might be saved through him.(L) 18 Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.(M) 19 [i]And this is the verdict,(N) that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.(O) 21 But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.(P)

Final Witness of the Baptist. 22 [j]After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing.(Q) 23 John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim,[k] because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, 24 [l](R)for John had not yet been imprisoned. 25 Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew[m] about ceremonial washings. 26 So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.”(S) 27 John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven.(T) 28 You yourselves can testify that I said [that] I am not the Messiah, but that I was sent before him.(U) 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man,[n] who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete.(V) 30 He must increase; I must decrease.”(W)

The One from Heaven.[o] 31 The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven [is above all].(X) 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.(Y) 33 Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.(Z) 34 For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift[p] of the Spirit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him.(AA) 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.(AB)

Footnotes

  1. 3:1–21 Jesus instructs Nicodemus on the necessity of a new birth from above. This scene in Jerusalem at Passover exemplifies the faith engendered by signs (Jn 2:23). It continues the self-manifestation of Jesus in Jerusalem begun in Jn 2. This is the first of the Johannine discourses, shifting from dialogue to monologue (Jn 3:11–15) to reflection of the evangelist (Jn 3:16–21). The shift from singular through Jn 3:10 to plural in Jn 3:11 may reflect the early church’s controversy with the Jews.
  2. 3:1 A ruler of the Jews: most likely a member of the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin; see note on Mk 8:31.
  3. 3:3 Born: see note on Jn 1:13. From above: the Greek adverb anōthen means both “from above” and “again.” Jesus means “from above” (see Jn 3:31) but Nicodemus misunderstands it as “again.” This misunderstanding serves as a springboard for further instruction.
  4. 3:8 Wind: the Greek word pneuma (as well as the Hebrew rûah) means both “wind” and “spirit.” In the play on the double meaning, “wind” is primary.
  5. 3:14 Lifted up: in Nm 21:9, Moses simply “mounted” a serpent upon a pole. John here substitutes a verb implying glorification. Jesus, exalted to glory at his cross and resurrection, represents healing for all.
  6. 3:15 Eternal life: used here for the first time in John, this term stresses quality of life rather than duration.
  7. 3:16 Gave: as a gift in the incarnation, and also “over to death” in the crucifixion; cf. Rom 8:32.
  8. 3:17–19 Condemn: the Greek root means both judgment and condemnation. Jesus’ purpose is to save, but his coming provokes judgment; some condemn themselves by turning from the light.
  9. 3:19 Judgment is not only future but is partially realized here and now.
  10. 3:22–26 Jesus’ ministry in Judea is only loosely connected with Jn 2:13–3:21; cf. Jn 1:19–36. Perhaps John the Baptist’s further testimony was transposed here to give meaning to “water” in Jn 3:5. Jesus is depicted as baptizing (Jn 3:22); contrast Jn 4:2.
  11. 3:23 Aenon near Salim: site uncertain, either in the upper Jordan valley or in Samaria.
  12. 3:24 A remark probably intended to avoid objections based on a chronology like that of the synoptics (Mt 4:12; Mk 1:14).
  13. 3:25 A Jew: some think Jesus is meant. Many manuscripts read “Jews.”
  14. 3:29 The best man: literally, “the friend of the groom,” the shoshben of Jewish tradition, who arranged the wedding. Competition between him and the groom would be unthinkable.
  15. 3:31–36 It is uncertain whether these are words by the Baptist, Jesus, or the evangelist. They are reflections on the two preceding scenes.
  16. 3:34 His gift: of God or to Jesus, perhaps both. This verse echoes Jn 3:5, 8.
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约翰福音 3
Chinese New Version (Simplified)

人必须重生

3 有一个法利赛人，名叫尼哥德慕，是犹太人的官长。 2 他夜间来到耶稣那里，对他说：“拉比，我们知道你是从　神那里来的教师，因为如果没有　神同在，你所行的这些神迹，就没有人能行。” 3 耶稣回答：“我实实在在告诉你，人若不重生，就不能见　神的国。” 4 尼哥德慕说：“人老了，怎能重生呢？难道他能再进母腹生出来吗？” 5 耶稣回答：“我实实在在告诉你，人若不是从水和圣灵生的，就不能进　神的国。 6 从肉身生的就是肉身，从灵生的就是灵。 7 你不要因为我对你说‘你们必须重生’而感到希奇。 8 风随意而吹，你听见它的响声，却不知道它从哪里来，往哪里去；凡从圣灵生的，也是这样。” 9 尼哥德慕说：“怎能有这事呢？” 10 耶稣说：“你是以色列人的教师，还不明白这事吗？ 11 我实实在在告诉你，我们知道的，才讲论；见过的，就作证，然而你们却不接受我们的见证。 12 我对你们讲地上的事，你们尚且不信，如果讲天上的事，怎能相信呢？ 13 除了那从天上降下来的人子（有些抄本作“除了那从天上降下来仍旧在天上的人子”），没有人升过天。 14 摩西在旷野怎样把铜蛇举起，人子也必照样被举起来， 15 使所有信他的人都得永生。

16 “　神爱世人，甚至把他的独生子赐给他们，叫一切信他的，不至灭亡，反得永生。 17 因为　神差他的儿子到世上来，不是要定世人的罪，而是要使世人借着他得救。 18 信他的，不被定罪；不信的，罪已经定了，因为他不信　神独生子的名。 19 光来到世上，世人因为自己的行为邪恶，不爱光倒爱黑暗，定他们罪的原因，就在这里。 20 凡作恶的都恨光，不来接近光，免得他的恶行暴露出来。 21 凡行真理的，就来接近光，好显明他所作的都是靠着　神而作的。”

他必兴旺，我必衰微

22 这事以后，耶稣和门徒来到犹太地，他和他们住在那里，并且施洗。 23 约翰也在靠近撒冷的艾嫩施洗，因为那里水多；众人都去受洗。 24 那时约翰还没有入狱。 25 约翰的门徒和一个犹太人为洁净礼发生辩论。 26 他们来到约翰那里，对他说：“拉比，你看，从前和你在约旦河东，你为他作见证的那一位，他也在施洗，众人都到他那里去了。” 27 约翰回答：“除了从天上赐下来给他的，人就不能得到甚么。 28 你们自己可以为我作证：我曾说，我不是基督，不过是奉差遣作他的先锋的。 29 娶新娘的是新郎。新郎的好友站在那里听着，听见新郎的声音就非常喜乐。因此，我这喜乐满溢了！ 30 他必兴旺，我必衰微。

从天上来的

31 “那从天上来的，是在万有之上；从地上来的，是属于地，所讲的也是属于地。那从天上来的，是超越万有之上。 32 他把所见所闻的见证出来，可是没有人接受他的见证。 33 那接受他的见证的，就确认　神是真的。 34 　神所差来的那一位讲　神的话，因为　神把圣灵无限地赐给他。 35 父爱子，已经把万有交在他手里。 36 信子的，有永生；不信从子的，必不得见永生，　神的震怒却常在他身上。”

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New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Chinese New Version (Simplified) (CNVS)

Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.