約翰福音 3
Chinese Standard Bible (Traditional)
耶穌與尼克迪莫
3 有一個人，屬於法利賽人，名叫尼克迪莫，是猶太人的一位首領。 2 他夜裡來到耶穌那裡，說：「拉比，我們知道你是從神那裡來的老師，因為你所行的這些神蹟，如果沒有神的同在，沒有人能做得到。」
3 耶穌回答說：「我確確實實地告訴你：一個人如果不重生[a]，就不能見神的國。」
4 尼克迪莫問：「人老了，怎麼能出生呢？他難道能再進母腹又出生嗎？」
5 耶穌回答：「我確確實實地告訴你：一個人如果不是由水和聖靈所生的，就不能進入神的國。 6 由肉體所生的，就是肉體；由聖靈所生的，就是靈。 7 我說『你們必須重生[b]』，你不要感到驚奇。 8 風[c]隨意而吹，你聽見風聲，卻不知道它從哪裡來，往哪裡去。所有由聖靈所生的，也是這樣。」
9 尼克迪莫又問：「怎麼能有這些事呢？」
10 耶穌回答說：「你是以色列的老師，還不明白這些事嗎？ 11 我確確實實地告訴你：我們講論我們所知道的，我們見證我們所看到的，而你們卻不接受我們的見證。 12 我告訴你們地上的事，你們尚且不信，如果我告訴你們天上的事，你們怎麼會信呢？ 13 除了從天上降下來的人子，[d]沒有人升過天。 14 摩西在曠野怎樣把銅蛇舉起，人子也必須照樣被舉起來， 15 好使所有相信他的人[e]，都得到永恆的生命。
16 「神愛世人，甚至賜下他的獨生子，好讓所有信他的人不至於滅亡，反得永恆的生命， 17 因為神差派他的[f]兒子來到世上，不是為了定世人的罪，而是為了世人藉著他得救。 18 信他的人，不被定罪；不信的人，已經被定罪了，因為他不信神獨生子的名。
19 「所定的罪是這樣的：光來到了世界，人們卻因自己的行為邪惡，不喜愛光，反喜愛黑暗。 20 事實上，所有作惡的人，都憎恨光，不來到光那裡，免得自己的行為被揭露出來； 21 但行真理的人，卻來到光那裡，為了顯明自己所做的是在神裡面被做成的。」
耶穌與施洗約翰
22 這些事以後，耶穌和他的門徒們來到猶太地區，住在那裡，並且給人施洗。 23 約翰也在撒令附近的艾嫩施洗，因為那裡水多。眾人紛紛而來受洗。 24 原來，約翰那時候還沒有被投進監獄。
25 約翰的門徒們與一個[g]猶太人，為了潔淨禮起了辯論。 26 他們就到約翰那裡，對他說：「拉比，你看，以前與你在約旦河對岸的，就是你所見證的那一位，他也在施洗，而且大家都到他那裡去了。」
27 約翰回答說：「如果不是從天上賜下的，人就不能得到什麼。 28 你們自己可以為我見證：我曾經說過『我不是基督，而是奉差派在他前面的。』 29 迎娶新娘的是新郎。新郎的朋友站在那裡，聽到新郎的聲音，就歡喜快樂。這樣，我這喜樂得以滿足了。 30 他必興旺，我必衰微。」
來自天上的那一位
31 那從上面來的，是在萬有之上；那從地而出的，屬於地，而且所說的也屬於地。那從天上來的，是在萬有之上， 32 他見證他所看到的、他所聽到的，可是沒有人接受他的見證。 33 那接受他見證的人，就印證了神是真實的。 34 神所差派的那一位，就說神的話語，因為神不靠著量度賜下聖靈。 35 父愛子，把一切都交在他手裡了。 36 信從子的人，就有永恆的生命；但是不肯信從子的人，見不到生命，而且神的震怒也停留在他身上。
John 3
King James Version
3 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.
26 And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
30 He must increase, but I must decrease.
31 He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
35 The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
John 3
English Standard Version
You Must Be Born Again
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named (A)Nicodemus, (B)a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus[a] (C)by night and said to him, (D)“Rabbi, (E)we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do (F)unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is (G)born (H)again[b] he cannot (I)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?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born (J)of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 (K)That which is born of the flesh is (L)flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[c] 7 (M)Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born (N)again.’ 8 (O)The wind[e] blows (P)where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus said to him, (Q)“How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel (R)and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, (S)we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but (T)you[f] do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 (U)No one has (V)ascended into heaven except (W)he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.[g] 14 And (X)as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man (Y)be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes (Z)in him (AA)may have eternal life.[h]
For God So Loved the World
16 “For (AB)God so loved (AC)the world,[i] (AD)that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not (AE)perish but have eternal life. 17 For (AF)God did not send his Son into the world (AG)to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 (AH)Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not (AI)believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 (AJ)And this is the judgment: (AK)the light has come into the world, and (AL)people loved the darkness rather than the light because (AM)their works were evil. 20 (AN)For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, (AO)lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever (AP)does what is true (AQ)comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
John the Baptist Exalts Christ
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and (AR)was baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for (AS)John had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over (AT)purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, (AU)“Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, (AV)to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and (AW)all are going to him.” 27 John answered, (AX)“A person cannot receive even one thing (AY)unless it is given him (AZ)from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, (BA)‘I am not the Christ, but (BB)I have been sent before him.’ 29 (BC)The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. (BD)The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, (BE)rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 (BF)He must increase, but I must decrease.”[j]
31 (BG)He who comes from above (BH)is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and (BI)speaks in an earthly way. (BJ)He who comes from heaven (BK)is above all. 32 (BL)He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, (BM)yet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony (BN)sets his seal to this, (BO)that God is true. 34 For he whom (BP)God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit (BQ)without measure. 35 (BR)The Father loves the Son and (BS)has given all things into his hand. 36 (BT)Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; (BU)whoever does not obey the Son shall not (BV)see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Footnotes
- John 3:2 Greek him
- John 3:3 Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above; also verse 7
- John 3:6 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit
- John 3:7 The Greek for you is plural here
- John 3:8 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit
- John 3:11 The Greek for you is plural here; also four times in verse 12
- John 3:13 Some manuscripts add who is in heaven
- John 3:15 Some interpreters hold that the quotation ends at verse 15
- John 3:16 Or For this is how God loved the world
- John 3:30 Some interpreters hold that the quotation continues through verse 36
Copyright © 2011 by Global Bible Initiative
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
