John 3
New Matthew Bible
The conversation of Christ with Nicodemus. The teaching and baptism of John, and what witness he bears of Christ.
3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler among the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God. For no man could do such miracles as you do unless God were with him.
3 Jesus answered and said to him, Truly truly I say to you, unless a man be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter into his mother’s womb and be born again?
5 Jesus answered, Truly truly I say to you, unless 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 to you, you must be born anew. 8 The wind blows where it will, and you hear its sound, but cannot tell from whence it comes and where it goes. That is how it is with everyone that is born of the Spirit.
9 And Nicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things be?
10 Jesus answered and said to him, Are you a teacher in Israel, and do not know these things? 11 Truly truly I say to you, we speak what we know and testify what we have seen, and you people do not receive our witness. 12 If when I tell you all earthly things, you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you of heavenly things? 13 And no man ascends up to heaven but he who came down from heaven; that is to say, the Son of man who 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 so that no one who believes in him will perish, but will have eternal life.
16 For God so loves the world that he has given his only Son, so that none who believe in him should perish, but should have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world through him could be saved. 18 Whoever believes on him shall not be condemned. But whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he does not believe in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation: that light has come into the world, and men loved darkness more than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But whoever does truth comes to the light, so that his deeds may be known, that they are wrought in God.
22 After these things, Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and there he spent time with them and baptized. 23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there, and people came and were baptized. 24 For John had not yet been cast into prison.
25 And there arose a question between John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. 26 And they came to John and said to him, Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, of whom you bear witness, behold, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.
27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing at all unless it is given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves are witnesses that I said I am not the Christ, but have been sent before him. 29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom. But the friend of the bridegroom, who stands by and hears him, rejoices greatly to hear the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this my joy is fulfilled. 30 He must increase in renown, and I must decrease.
31 He who comes from on high is above all. He who is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all, 32 and what he has seen and heard, that he testifies; but no one receives his testimony. 33 However, the person who has received his testimony has set to his seal that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God. For God does not give the Spirit by measure (to him). 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. 36 The person who believes on the Son has everlasting life, and the person who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.
John 3
New American Standard Bible
The New Birth
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named (A)Nicodemus, a (B)ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to [a]Jesus at night and said to Him, “(C)Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these [b](D)signs that You do unless (E)God is with him.” 3 Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone (F)is born [c]again he cannot see (G)the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a person be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of (H)water and the Spirit, he cannot enter (I)the kingdom of God. 6 (J)That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born [d]again.’ 8 (K)The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus responded and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “You are (L)the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, (M)we speak of what we know and (N)testify of what we have seen, and (O)you people do not accept our testimony. 12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 (P)No one has ascended into heaven, except (Q)He who descended from heaven: (R)the Son of Man. 14 And just as (S)Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must (T)the Son of Man (U)be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who [e]believes will (V)have eternal life in Him.
16 “For God so (W)loved the world, that He (X)gave His (Y)only Son, so that everyone who (Z)believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God (AA)did not send the Son into the world (AB)to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. 18 (AC)The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of (AD)the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that (AE)the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for (AF)their deeds were evil. 20 (AG)For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. 21 But the one who (AH)practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds will be revealed [f]as having been performed in God.”
John the Baptist’s Last Testimony
22 After these things Jesus and His (AI)disciples came into the land of Judea; and there He was spending time with them and (AJ)baptizing. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there; and people were coming and being baptized— 24 for (AK)John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25 Then a matter of dispute developed on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about [g](AL)purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “(AM)Rabbi, He who was with you (AN)beyond the Jordan, to whom you (AO)have testified—behold, He is baptizing and all the people are coming to Him.” 27 John replied, “(AP)A person can receive not even one thing unless it (AQ)has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves [h]are my witnesses that I said, ‘(AR)I am not the [i]Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is (AS)the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So this (AT)joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must [j]increase, but I must [k]decrease.
31 “(AU)He who comes from above is above all; (AV)the one who is only from the earth is of the earth and speaks of the earth. (AW)He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 What He has seen and heard, of this He (AX)testifies; and (AY)no one accepts His testimony. 33 The one who has accepted His testimony (AZ)has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God (BA)sent speaks the words of God; (BB)for He does not give the Spirit [l]sparingly. 35 (BC)The Father loves the Son and (BD)has entrusted all things to His hand. 36 The one who (BE)believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who (BF)does not [m]obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
Footnotes
- John 3:2 Lit Him
- John 3:2 I.e., confirming miracles
- John 3:3 Or from above
- John 3:7 Or from above
- John 3:15 Or believes in Him will have eternal life
- John 3:21 Lit that they have been
- John 3:25 I.e., ceremonial washing
- John 3:28 Lit testify for me
- John 3:28 I.e., Messiah
- John 3:30 Or become greater
- John 3:30 Or become less important
- John 3:34 Lit from measure
- John 3:36 I.e., in belief
Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
