John 3
New Testament for Everyone
Jesus and Nicodemus
3 There was a man of the Pharisees called Nicodemus, a ruler of the Judaeans. 2 He came to Jesus by night.
“Rabbi,” he said to him. “We know that you’re a teacher who’s come from God. Nobody can do these signs that you’re doing, unless God is with him.”
3 “Let me tell you the solemn truth,” replied Jesus. “Unless someone has been born from above, they won’t be able to see God’s kingdom.”
4 “How can someone possibly be born,” asked Nicodemus, “when they’re old? You’re not telling me they can go back a second time into the mother’s womb and be born, are you?”
5 “I’m telling you the solemn truth,” replied Jesus. “Unless someone is born from water and spirit, they can’t enter God’s kingdom. 6 Flesh is born from flesh, but spirit is born from spirit. 7 Don’t be surprised that I said to you, You must be born from above. 8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear the sound it makes; but you don’t know where it’s coming from or where it’s going to. That’s what it’s like with someone who is born from the spirit.”
9 “How can this be so?” asked Nicodemus.
10 “Well, well!” replied Jesus. “You’re a teacher of Israel, and yet you don’t know about all this? 11 I’m telling you the solemn truth: we’re talking about things we know about. We’re giving evidence about things we’ve seen. But you won’t admit our evidence. 12 If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will it be if I tell you heavenly things? Are you going to believe then? 13 And nobody has gone up into heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the son of man.”
The snake and the love of God
14 “So, just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, in the same way the son of man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may share in the life of God’s new age. 16 This, you see, is how much God loved the world: enough to give his only, special son, so that everyone who believes in him should not be lost but should share in the life of God’s new age. 17 After all, God didn’t send the son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world could be saved by him.
18 “Anyone who believes in him is not condemned. But anyone who doesn’t believe is condemned already, because they didn’t believe in the name of God’s only, special son. 19 And this is the condemnation: that light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light, because what they were doing was evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light; people like that don’t come to the light, in case their deeds get shown up and reproved. 21 But people who do the truth come to the light, so that it can become clear that what they have done has been done in God.”
The bridegroom and his friend
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the countryside of Judaea, and he stayed there with them and baptized. 23 John, too, was baptizing at Aenon, close to Salim. There was plenty of water there, and people came to him and were baptized. 24 This, of course, was before John had been put into prison.
25 There was, perhaps inevitably, a dispute between the disciples of John and a Judaean, on the subject of purification. 26 They came to John.
“Rabbi,” they said. “Remember the man who was with you beyond the Jordan, the one you gave evidence about? Well, look! He’s baptizing, and everyone’s going to him!”
27 “Nobody can receive anything unless heaven first gives it,” replied John. 28 “You yourselves can bear me out that I said I wasn’t the Messiah, but that I was sent ahead of him. 29 It’s the bridegroom who gets the bride. The bridegroom’s friend, who stands nearby and hears him, is very happy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. So, you see, my joy is now complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”
31 The one who comes from above is over everything. The one who is from the earth has an earthly character, and what he says has “earth” written all over it. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32 He gives evidence about what he has heard and seen, and nobody accepts his evidence. 33 The one who does accept his evidence has put his signature to the fact that God is true. 34 The one God sent, you see, speaks God’s words, because he gives the spirit lavishly. 35 The father loves the son and has given everything into his hand. 36 Anyone who believes in the son shares in the life of God’s new age. Anyone who doesn’t believe in the son won’t see life, but God’s wrath rests on him.
約翰福音 3
Revised Chinese Union Version (Traditional Script) Shen Edition
耶穌和尼哥德慕談重生
3 有一個法利賽人，名叫尼哥德慕，是猶太人的官。 2 這人夜裏來見耶穌，對他說：「拉比，我們知道你是由 神那裏來作老師的；因為你所行的神蹟，若沒有 神同在，無人能行。」 3 耶穌回答他說：「我實實在在地告訴你，人若不重生[a]，就不能見 神的國。」 4 尼哥德慕對他說：「人已經老了，如何能重生呢？豈能再進母腹生出來嗎？」 5 耶穌回答：「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。 6 從肉身生的就是肉身；從靈生的就是靈。 7 我說『你們必須重生』，你不要驚訝。 8 風[b]隨着意思吹，你聽見風的聲音，卻不知道是從哪裏來，往哪裏去；凡從聖靈生的也是如此。」 9 尼哥德慕問他：「怎麼能有這些事呢？」 10 耶穌回答，對他說：「你是以色列人的老師，還不明白這些事嗎？ 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，若對你們說天上的事，如何能信呢？ 13 除了從天降下[c]的人子，沒有人升過天。 14 摩西在曠野怎樣舉蛇，人子也必須照樣被舉起來， 15 要使一切信他的人都得永生。
16 「 神愛世人，甚至將他獨一的兒子[d]賜給他們，叫一切信他的人不致滅亡，反得永生。 17 因為 神差他的兒子到世上來，不是要定世人的罪[e]，而是要使世人因他得救。 18 信他的人不被定罪；不信的人已經被定罪了，因為他不信 神獨一兒子的名。 19 光來到世上，世人因自己的行為是惡的，不愛光，倒愛黑暗，這就定了他們的罪。 20 凡作惡的人都恨惡光，不來接近光，恐怕他的行為被暴露。 21 但實行真理的人就來接近光，為要顯明他的行為是靠 神而行的。」
耶穌和施洗約翰
22 這些事以後，耶穌和門徒到了猶太地區，在那裏他和他們同住，並且施洗。 23 約翰也在靠近撒冷的哀嫩施洗，因為那裏水多，眾人都去受洗。 24 那時約翰還沒有下在監裏。
25 約翰的門徒和一個猶太人辯論潔淨的禮儀， 26 就來見約翰，對他說：「拉比，從前同你在約旦河的東邊，你所見證的那位，你看，他在施洗，眾人都到他那裏去了。」 27 約翰回答說：「若不是從天上賜的，人就不能得到甚麼。 28 你們自己可以為我作見證，我曾說，我不是基督，只是奉差遣在他前面開路的。 29 娶新娘的是新郎；新郎的朋友站在一旁聽，一聽見新郎的聲音就歡喜快樂。因此，我這喜樂得以滿足了。 30 他必興旺；我必衰微。」
從天上來的那一位
31 「從上頭來的是在萬有之上；出於地的是屬於地，他所說的也是屬於地。從天上來的是在萬有之上。 32 他把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，就印證 神是真實的。 34 神所差來的說 神的話，因為 神所賜給他的聖靈是沒有限量的。 35 父愛子，已把萬有交在他手裏。 36 信子的人有永生；不信子的人得不到永生，而且 神的憤怒常在他身上。」
John 3
Christian Standard Bible Anglicised
Jesus and Nicodemus
3 There was a man from the Pharisees(A) named Nicodemus,(B) a ruler(C) of the Jews. 2 This man came to him at night and said, ‘Rabbi,(D) we know that you are a teacher(E) who has come from God,(F) for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him.’(G)
3 Jesus replied, ‘Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again,[a](H) he cannot see the kingdom of God.’(I)
4 ‘How can anyone be born when he is old? ’ Nicodemus asked him. ‘Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born? ’
5 Jesus answered, ‘Truly I tell you, unless someone is born(J) of water and the Spirit,(K) he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh(L) is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit(M) is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born(N) again. 8 The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going.(O) So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.’(P)
9 ‘How can these things be? ’ asked Nicodemus.
10 ‘Are you a teacher[b] of Israel and don’t know these things? ’ Jesus replied. 11 ‘Truly I tell you,(Q) we speak what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended(R) into heaven(S) except the one who descended from heaven(T) #– #the Son of Man.[c](U)
14 ‘Just as Moses(V) lifted up the snake in the wilderness,(W) so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may[d] have eternal life.(X) 16 For God loved(Y) the world in this way:[e] He gave[f] his one and only(Z) Son,(AA) so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.(AB) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn(AC) the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned,(AD) because he has not believed in the name(AE) of the one and only Son(AF) of God. 19 This is the judgement: The light(AG) has come into the world,(AH) and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates(AI) the light and avoids it,[g] so that his deeds(AJ) may not be exposed. 21 But anyone who lives by[h] the truth comes to the light, so that his works(AK) may be shown to be accomplished by God.’
Jesus and John the Baptist
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went to the Judean countryside, where he spent time with them and baptised.
23 John(AL) also was baptising in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were coming and being baptised, 24 since John had not yet been thrown into prison.(AM)
25 Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples(AN) and a Jew[i] about purification.(AO) 26 So they came to John and told him, ‘Rabbi,(AP) the one you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan,(AQ) is baptising – and everyone is going to him.’(AR)
27 John responded, ‘No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, “I am not the Messiah,(AS) but I’ve been sent ahead of him.”(AT) 29 He who has the bride(AU) is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly[j] at the groom’s voice. So this joy(AV) of mine is complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.’
The One from Heaven
31 The one who comes from above(AW) is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms.[k] The one who comes from heaven is above all.(AX) 32 He testifies(AY) to what he has seen and heard, and yet no one accepts his testimony. 33 The one who has accepted his testimony has affirmed that God is true.(AZ) 34 For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since he[l] gives the Spirit(BA) without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son(BB) and has given all things into his hands.(BC) 36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son[m] will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.(BD)
Footnotes
- 3:3 Or from above, also in v. 7
- 3:10 Or the teacher
- 3:13 Other mss add who is in heaven
- 3:15 Other mss add not perish, but
- 3:16 Or this much
- 3:16 Or For in this way God loved the world, and so he gave, or For God so loved the world that he gave
- 3:20 Lit and does not come to the light
- 3:21 Lit who does
- 3:25 Other mss read and the Jews
- 3:29 Lit with joy rejoices
- 3:31 Or of earthly things
- 3:34 Other mss read since God
- 3:36 Or refuses to believe in the Son, or disobeys the Son
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.
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
和合本修訂版經文 © 2006, 2010, 2017 香港聖經公會。蒙允許使用。 Scripture Text of Revised Chinese Union Version © 2006, 2010, 2017 Hong Kong Bible Society. www.hkbs.org.hk/en/ Used by permission.
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