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耶穌與尼哥迪慕論重生

有一個法利賽人,名叫尼哥迪慕,是猶太人的官。 這人夜裡來見耶穌,說:「拉比,我們知道你是由神那裡來做師傅的,因為你所行的神蹟,若沒有神同在,無人能行。」 耶穌回答說:「我實實在在地告訴你:人若不重生,就不能見神的國。」 尼哥迪慕說:「人已經老了,如何能重生呢?豈能再進母腹生出來嗎?」 耶穌說:「我實實在在地告訴你:人若不是從水和聖靈生的,就不能進神的國。 從肉身生的就是肉身,從靈生的就是靈。 我說你們必須重生,你不要以為稀奇。 風隨著意思吹,你聽見風的響聲,卻不曉得從哪裡來,往哪裡去。凡從聖靈生的,也是如此。」 尼哥迪慕問他說:「怎能有這事呢?」 10 耶穌回答說:「你是以色列人的先生,還不明白這事嗎? 11 我實實在在地告訴你:我們所說的是我們知道的,我們所見證的是我們見過的,你們卻不領受我們的見證。 12 我對你們說地上的事,你們尚且不信,若說天上的事,如何能信呢? 13 除了從天降下仍舊在天的人子,沒有人升過天。 14 摩西在曠野怎樣舉蛇,人子也必照樣被舉起來, 15 叫一切信他的都得永生[a]

神愛世人

16 「神愛世人,甚至將他的獨生子賜給他們,叫一切信他的不致滅亡,反得永生。 17 因為神差他的兒子降世,不是要定世人的罪[b],乃是要叫世人因他得救。 18 信他的人不被定罪,不信的人罪已經定了,因為他不信神獨生子的名。

作惡的恨光

19 「光來到世間,世人因自己的行為是惡的,不愛光倒愛黑暗,定他們的罪就是在此。 20 凡作惡的便恨光,並不來就光,恐怕他的行為受責備; 21 但行真理的必來就光,要顯明他所行的是靠神而行。」

耶穌和約翰施洗

22 這事以後,耶穌和門徒到了猶太地,在那裡居住,施洗。 23 約翰在靠近撒冷哀嫩也施洗,因為那裡水多,眾人都去受洗。 24 那時約翰還沒有下在監裡。 25 約翰的門徒和一個猶太人辯論潔淨的禮, 26 就來見約翰,說:「拉比,從前同你在約旦河外、你所見證的那位,現在施洗,眾人都往他那裡去了。」 27 約翰說:「若不是從天上賜的,人就不能得什麼。 28 我曾說我不是基督,是奉差遣在他前面的,你們自己可以給我作見證。 29 娶新婦的就是新郎,新郎的朋友站著,聽見新郎的聲音就甚喜樂。故此,我這喜樂滿足了。 30 他必興旺,我必衰微。」

信者能得永生

31 從天上來的是在萬有之上,從地上來的是屬乎地,他所說的也是屬乎地。從天上來的是在萬有之上, 32 他將所見所聞的見證出來,只是沒有人領受他的見證。 33 那領受他見證的,就印上印,證明神是真的。 34 神所差來的就說神的話,因為神賜聖靈給他是沒有限量的。 35 父愛子,已將萬有交在他手裡。 36 信子的人有永生,不信子的人得不著永生[c],神的震怒常在他身上。

Footnotes

  1. 約翰福音 3:15 或作:叫一切信的人在他裡面得永生。
  2. 約翰福音 3:17 或作:審判世人。下同。
  3. 約翰福音 3:36 原文作:不得見永生。

Jesus Teaches Nicodemus

Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus(A) who was a member of the Jewish ruling council.(B) He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi,(C) we know(D) that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs(E) you are doing if God were not with him.”(F)

Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a](G)

“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”

Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.(H) Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit.(I) You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You[c] must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[d](J)

“How can this be?”(K) Nicodemus asked.

10 “You are Israel’s teacher,”(L) said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know,(M) and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony.(N) 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven(O) except the one who came from heaven(P)—the Son of Man.[e](Q) 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness,(R) so the Son of Man must be lifted up,[f](S) 15 that everyone who believes(T) may have eternal life in him.”[g](U)

16 For God so loved(V) the world that he gave(W) his one and only Son,(X) that whoever believes(Y) in him shall not perish but have eternal life.(Z) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world(AA) to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.(AB) 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned,(AC) but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.(AD) 19 This is the verdict: Light(AE) has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.(AF) 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.(AG) 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

John Testifies Again About Jesus

22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized.(AH) 23 Now John(AI) also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.)(AJ) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.(AK) 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi,(AL) that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified(AM) about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’(AN) 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom.(AO) The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete.(AP) 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”[h]

31 The one who comes from above(AQ) is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth.(AR) The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard,(AS) but no one accepts his testimony.(AT) 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent(AU) speaks the words of God, for God[i] gives the Spirit(AV) without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands.(AW) 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,(AX) but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

Footnotes

  1. John 3:3 The Greek for again also means from above; also in verse 7.
  2. John 3:6 Or but spirit
  3. John 3:7 The Greek is plural.
  4. John 3:8 The Greek for Spirit is the same as that for wind.
  5. John 3:13 Some manuscripts Man, who is in heaven
  6. John 3:14 The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.
  7. John 3:15 Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 21.
  8. John 3:30 Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 36.
  9. John 3:34 Greek he

Chapter 3

Nicodemus Goes To Visit Jesus. There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus,[a] a member of the Jewish ruling council, who came to Jesus at night. “Rabbi,” he said, “we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one would be able to perform the signs that you do unless God were with him.” Jesus replied,

“Amen, amen, I say to you,
no one can see the kingdom of God[b]
without being born from above.”

Nicodemus asked, “How can a man be born again once he is old? Is it possible for him to enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus said,

“Amen, amen, I say to you,
no one can enter the kingdom of God
unless he is born of water and the Spirit.[c]
What is born of the flesh is flesh,
and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.
“You should not be astonished when I say,
‘You must be born from above.’
The wind blows where it chooses,
and you hear the sound of it,
but you do not know where it comes from
or where it goes.
So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

“How is this possible?” asked Nicodemus. 10 Jesus responded, “You are a teacher of Israel and you do not know these things?

11 “Amen, amen, I say to you,
we speak of what we know
and we testify to what we have seen,
and yet you do not accept our testimony.
12 If I tell you about earthly things
and you do not believe,
how will you believe
when I speak to you about heavenly things?

Jesus Christ, Savior and Judge[d]

13 “No one has gone up to heaven
except the one who descended from heaven,
the Son of Man.
14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert,
so must the Son of Man be lifted up,[e]
15 in order that everyone who believes in him
may have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world
that he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him
may not perish
but may attain eternal life.
17 “For God did not send his Son into the world
to condemn the world
but in order that the world might be saved through him.
18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned,
but whoever does not believe in him
already stands condemned,
because he has not believed in the name
of the only-begotten Son of God.
19 “And the judgment is this:
the light has come into the world,
but people preferred darkness to light
because their deeds were evil.
20 Everyone who does evil hates the light
and avoids coming near the light
so that his misdeeds may not be exposed.
21 However, whoever lives by the truth
comes to the light
so that it may be clearly seen
that his deeds have been done
in God.”

22 Final Witness of John the Baptist.[f] After this, Jesus went with his disciples into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them and baptized. 23 John was also baptizing at Aenon[g] near Salem, because there was an abundance of water there, and people were coming to be baptized. 24 At that time, John had not yet been imprisoned.

25 Now a dispute about ceremonial washings arose between a certain Jew and the disciples of John. 26 Therefore, they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, is baptizing, and everyone is flocking to him.” 27 John replied,

“No one can receive anything
except what has been given to him from heaven.
28 You yourselves can testify that I said,
‘I am not the Christ.
I have been sent before him.’
29 “It is the bridegroom who has the bride,
but the friend of the bridegroom
who stands by and listens for him
rejoices greatly when he hears the bridegroom’s voice.
This joy of mine
is complete.
30 He must increase;
I must decrease.

He Who Comes from Above[h]

31 “The one who comes from above is above all.
The one who is of the earth is earthly
and speaks of earthly things.
The one who comes from heaven is above all.
32 He bears witness to the things he has seen and heard,
yet no one accepts his testimony.
33 “Whoever accepts his testimony
attests that God speaks the truth.
34 For the one whom God has sent
speaks the words of God,
for God gives him the Spirit without measure.[i]
35 The Father loves the Son,
and he has entrusted everything into his hand.
36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life;
whoever does not believe in the Son will not see life,
but the wrath of God rests upon him.”

Footnotes

  1. John 3:1 Nicodemus: a member of the Sanhedrin or ruling council in virtue of his being a teacher of the Law.
  2. John 3:3 Kingdom of God: this is the basic theme of the preaching of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels. In John, it appears explicitly only in this verse. However, in the Synoptics it almost disappears in the Passion Narrative, whereas in John it is given particular emphasis there. John identifies the kingdom of God with the very person of Jesus. During the public ministry, the splendor of Jesus’ kingship was somewhat veiled by his fragile humanity, but in the Passion it comes shining through in his exaltation on the cross, which, for John, is intrinsically connected with Jesus’ glorification in heaven. From above: the Greek word anothen could be translated “from above” or “again.” Jesus means “from above,” but Nicodemus understands “again.”
  3. John 3:5 Born of water and the Spirit: this phrase refers to Christian Baptism, the necessary vehicle for our spiritual rebirth, wrought by the Holy Spirit. It may be that here the evangelist is clarifying the words of the Lord according to a later and more mature understanding of Christian teaching, as lived in the primitive community.
  4. John 3:13 The evangelist prolongs the conversation with Nicodemus in meditation on Jesus. What, then, is the mystery of Jesus and what does he bring to the human condition? The evangelist meditates on the Son of God, the divine messenger now glorified at his Father’s side.
    From Jesus, life came through the cross—as is suggested by the allusion to the bronze serpent intended to cure dying Hebrews (see Num 21:9). The cross was a testimony of God’s love for the world and for each one of us. The cross was also the light given to us. This light enables us to recognize our conduct in truth and compels us to make a decisive choice: either to submit to Jesus and be saved, or to flee and be condemned.
  5. John 3:14 So must the Son of Man be lifted up: the reference is to the lifting up on the cross, which in John’s view is identical with the glorification of Jesus.
  6. John 3:22 Using an image familiar to the Jews (see Deut 31:16; Jer 2:2; Hos 2:18f; Mt 9:15), John attests that Jesus is the true Bridegroom, that is, the one in whose person God enters into the new and definitive covenant with his own.
    The witness, moreover, sets himself aside: he is only the friend of the Bridegroom, whose role is to ask for the hand of the bride and, when the wedding feast is prepared, to introduce her to the Bridegroom.
  7. John 3:23 Aenon: the place has not been identified with certainty.
  8. John 3:31 The evangelist continues his reflection on the mystery of Christ. Jesus is the Son who receives from his Father the fullness of life. He has the mission to reveal it and communicate it to those who believe in him, by giving them the Spirit with whom he himself is filled (v. 34). In rich and symbolic words, he is to show how much the believer’s life is a gift of God and a newness of existence beyond anything that is in the earthly power of people.
  9. John 3:34 For God gives him the Spirit without measure: another translation is: “And he gives the Spirit without measure.”