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

You Must Be Born Again

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named (A)Nicodemus, (B)a ruler of the Jews. 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.” 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.” 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?” 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. (K)That which is born of the flesh is (L)flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.[c] (M)Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You[d] must be born (N)again.’ (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.”

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

  1. John 3:2 Greek him
  2. John 3:3 Or from above; the Greek is purposely ambiguous and can mean both again and from above; also verse 7
  3. John 3:6 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit
  4. John 3:7 The Greek for you is plural here
  5. John 3:8 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit
  6. John 3:11 The Greek for you is plural here; also four times in verse 12
  7. John 3:13 Some manuscripts add who is in heaven
  8. John 3:15 Some interpreters hold that the quotation ends at verse 15
  9. John 3:16 Or For this is how God loved the world
  10. John 3:30 Some interpreters hold that the quotation continues through verse 36

Tungkol sa Muling Kapanganakan

May isang taong nagngangalang Nicodemus. Isa siya sa mga pinuno ng mga Judio at kabilang sa grupo ng mga Pariseo. Isang gabi, pumunta siya kay Jesus at sinabi, “Guro, alam naming isa kayong tagapagturo na mula sa Dios, dahil walang makakagawa ng mga himalang ginagawa ninyo, maliban kung sumasakanya ang Dios.” Sumagot si Jesus, “Sinasabi ko sa iyo ang totoo, hindi mapapabilang sa kaharian ng Dios ang hindi ipinanganak na muli.”[a] Nagtanong si Nicodemus, “Paanong maipapanganak muli ang isang taong matanda na? Hindi na siya pwedeng bumalik sa tiyan ng kanyang ina upang ipanganak muli.” Sumagot si Jesus, “Sinasabi ko sa iyo ang totoo, hindi mapapabilang sa kaharian ng Dios ang hindi ipinanganak sa pamamagitan ng tubig at Banal na Espiritu. Ang ipinanganak sa pamamagitan ng tao ay may pisikal na buhay, ngunit ang ipinanganak sa pamamagitan ng Banal na Espiritu ay nagkakaroon ng bagong buhay na espiritwal. Kaya huwag kang magtaka sa sinabi ko sa iyo na kailangang ipanganak kayong muli. Ang hangin ay umiihip kung saan nito gusto. Naririnig natin ang ihip nito, ngunit hindi natin alam kung saan nanggagaling o saan pupunta. Ganoon din ang sinumang ipanganak sa pamamagitan ng Banal na Espiritu.” Nagtanong si Nicodemus, “Paano pong mangyayari iyon?” 10 Sumagot si Jesus, “Isa kang tanyag na tagapagturo sa Israel, pero hindi mo ito alam? 11 Sinasabi ko sa iyo ang totoo, ipinapahayag namin ang nalalaman at nasaksihan namin, ngunit hindi ninyo tinatanggap. 12 Kung hindi kayo naniniwala sa mga sinasabi ko tungkol sa mga bagay dito sa mundo, paano pa kaya kayo maniniwala sa mga sasabihin ko tungkol sa mga bagay sa langit? 13 Walang sinumang nakapunta sa langit maliban sa akin na Anak ng Tao na nagmula sa langit.”

14 Sinabi pa ni Jesus, “Kung paanong itinaas ni Moises ang ahas na tanso sa ilang ay ganoon din naman, ako na Anak ng Tao ay dapat ding itaas,[b] 15 upang ang sinumang sumasampalataya sa akin ay magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan.

16 “Sapagkat ganito ang pag-ibig ng Dios sa mga tao sa sanlibutan: Ibinigay niya ang kanyang Bugtong[c] na Anak, upang ang sinumang sumasampalataya sa kanya ay hindi mapahamak kundi magkaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan. 17 Sapagkat hindi sinugo ng Dios ang kanyang Anak dito sa mundo upang hatulan ng parusa ang mga tao, kundi upang iligtas sila. 18 Ang sumasampalataya sa kanya ay hindi hahatulan ng kaparusahan, ngunit ang hindi sumasampalataya ay hinatulan na, dahil hindi siya sumampalataya sa kaisa-isang Anak ng Dios. 19 Hinatulan sila dahil dumating ang Anak ng Dios bilang ilaw dito sa mundo, ngunit mas ginusto nilang manatili sa dilim kaysa sa lumapit sa kanya na nagbibigay-liwanag, dahil masama ang mga ginagawa nila. 20 Ang taong gumagawa ng masama ay ayaw sa liwanag at hindi lumalapit sa liwanag, dahil ayaw niyang malantad ang kanyang mga gawa. 21 Ngunit ang namumuhay sa katotohanan ay lumalapit sa liwanag, upang malaman ng lahat na ang mabubuti niyang gawa ay nagawa niya sa tulong ng Dios.”

Si Jesus at si Juan

22 Pagkatapos nito, pumunta si Jesus at ang mga tagasunod niya sa ibang lugar ng Judea. Nanatili sila roon at nagbautismo ng mga tao. 23 Nagbabautismo rin si Juan sa Enon, malapit sa Salim, dahil maraming tubig doon. Pumupunta sa kanya ang mga tao upang magpabautismo. 24 (Hindi pa nakakulong noon si Juan.)

25 Ngayon, nagkaroon ng pagtatalo ang ilang tagasunod ni Juan at ang isang Judio tungkol sa bautismo.[d] 26 Kaya pumunta sila kay Juan at sinabi, “Guro, ang kasama nʼyo sa kabila ng Ilog ng Jordan, na ipinakilala nʼyo sa mga tao ay nagbabautismo na rin, at nagpupuntahan sa kanya ang halos lahat ng tao.” 27 Sumagot si Juan, “Walang magagawa ang tao kung hindi ipahintulot ng Dios. 28 Kayo na rin ang makakapagpatunay na sinabi kong hindi ako ang Cristo. Isa lang akong sugo na nauna sa kanya upang ipahayag ang pagdating niya. 29 Kagaya sa isang kasal: ang babaeng ikakasal ay para sa lalaking ikakasal, at ang abay na naghihintay ay natutuwa sa pagdating ng lalaking ikakasal. Ganoon din sa akin, tuwang-tuwa ako ngayon na lumalapit na ang mga tao kay Jesus. 30 Kailangang lalo pa siyang makilala, at ako namaʼy makalimutan na.”

Ang Nagmula sa Langit

31 Sinabi pa ni Juan, “Si Cristoʼy nagmula sa langit, kaya dakila siya sa lahat. Tayo naman ay taga-lupa at nagsasalita tungkol lang sa mga bagay dito sa lupa. Ngunit si Cristo na nagmula sa langit ay dakila sa lahat. 32 Ipinapahayag niya ang nakita at narinig niya sa langit, ngunit ilan lang ang naniniwala sa kanyang pahayag. 33 Ngunit ang naniniwala sa pahayag niya ay nagpapatunay na totoo ang mga sinasabi ng Dios. 34 Sapagkat si Cristo na sinugo ng Dios ay nagpapahayag sa atin ng mga sinasabi ng Dios, dahil lubos na ipinagkaloob sa kanya ang Banal na Espiritu. 35 Mahal ng Ama ang kanyang Anak, at ipinailalim sa kapangyarihan niya ang lahat. 36 Ang sumasampalataya sa Anak ng Dios ay may buhay na walang hanggan. Ngunit ang hindi sumusunod sa kanya ay hindi magkakaroon ng buhay na walang hanggan kundi mananatili sa kanya ang galit ng Dios.”

Footnotes

  1. 3:3 ipinanganak na muli: o, isilang mula sa itaas.
  2. 3:14 Bil. 21:8-9.
  3. 3:16 Bugtong: o, bukod-tanging.
  4. 3:25 bautismo: o, ritwal ng paglilinis.