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.
John 3
New King James Version
The New Birth
3 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 (A)This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for (B)no one can do these signs that You do unless (C)God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, (D)unless one is born [a]again, 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 a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, (E)unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is (F)flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 (G)The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, (H)“How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? 11 (I)Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and (J)you do not receive Our witness. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 (K)No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man [b]who is in heaven. 14 (L)And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so (M)must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever (N)believes in Him should [c]not perish but (O)have eternal life. 16 (P)For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten (Q)Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 (R)For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
18 (S)“He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, (T)that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For (U)everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been (V)done in God.”
John the Baptist Exalts Christ
22 After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He remained with them (W)and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near (X)Salim, because there was much water there. (Y)And they came and were baptized. 24 For (Z)John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25 Then there arose a dispute between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, (AA)to whom you have testified—behold, He is baptizing, and all (AB)are coming to Him!”
27 John answered and said, (AC)“A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, (AD)‘I am not the Christ,’ but, (AE)‘I have been sent before Him.’ 29 (AF)He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but (AG)the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled. 30 (AH)He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 (AI)He who comes from above (AJ)is above all; (AK)he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. (AL)He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 And (AM)what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. 33 He who has received His testimony (AN)has certified that God is true. 34 (AO)For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God does not give the Spirit (AP)by measure. 35 (AQ)The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into His hand. 36 (AR)He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the (AS)wrath of God abides on him.”
Ioan 3
Cornilescu 1924 - Revised 2010, 2014
Isus şi Nicodim
3 Între farisei era un om cu numele Nicodim, un fruntaş al iudeilor. 2 Acesta(A) a venit la Isus noaptea şi I-a zis: „Învăţătorule, ştim că eşti un Învăţător venit de la Dumnezeu, căci nimeni(B) nu poate face semnele pe care le faci Tu, dacă nu este(C) Dumnezeu cu el”. 3 Drept răspuns, Isus i-a zis: „Adevărat, adevărat îţi spun că, dacă(D) un om nu se naşte din nou, nu poate vedea Împărăţia lui Dumnezeu”. 4 Nicodim I-a zis: „Cum se poate naşte un om bătrân? Poate el să intre a doua oară în pântecele maicii sale şi să se nască?” 5 Isus i-a răspuns: „Adevărat, adevărat îţi spun că, dacă(E) nu se naşte cineva din apă şi din Duh, nu poate să intre în Împărăţia lui Dumnezeu. 6 Ce este născut din carne este carne şi ce este născut din Duh este duh. 7 Nu te mira că ţi-am zis: ‘Trebuie să vă naşteţi din nou’. 8 Vântul(F) suflă încotro vrea şi-i auzi vuietul, dar nu ştii de unde vine, nici încotro merge. Tot aşa este cu oricine este născut din Duhul.” 9 Nicodim I-a zis: „Cum(G) se poate face aşa ceva?” 10 Isus i-a răspuns: „Tu eşti învăţătorul lui Israel şi nu pricepi aceste lucruri? 11 Adevărat(H), adevărat îţi spun că noi vorbim ce ştim şi mărturisim ce am văzut, şi voi(I) nu primiţi mărturia noastră. 12 Dacă v-am vorbit despre lucruri pământeşti şi nu credeţi, cum veţi crede când vă voi vorbi despre lucrurile cereşti? 13 Nimeni(J) nu s-a suit în cer, afară de Cel ce S-a pogorât din cer, adică Fiul omului, care este în cer.
Şarpele de aramă
14 Şi(K), după cum a înălţat Moise şarpele în pustie, tot aşa trebuie(L) să fie înălţat şi Fiul omului, 15 pentru ca oricine crede în El să nu piară, ci să aibă viaţa(M) veşnică. 16 Fiindcă(N) atât de mult a iubit Dumnezeu lumea, că a dat pe singurul Lui Fiu, pentru ca oricine crede în El să nu piară, ci să aibă viaţa veşnică. 17 Dumnezeu, în adevăr, n-a(O) trimis pe Fiul Său în lume ca să judece lumea, ci ca lumea să fie mântuită prin El. 18 Oricine(P) crede în El nu este judecat, dar cine nu crede a şi fost judecat, pentru că n-a crezut în Numele singurului Fiu al lui Dumnezeu. 19 Şi judecata aceasta stă în faptul că(Q), odată venită Lumina în lume, oamenii au iubit mai mult întunericul decât lumina, pentru că faptele lor erau rele. 20 Căci oricine(R) face răul urăşte lumina şi nu vine la lumină, ca să nu i se vădească faptele. 21 Dar cine lucrează după adevăr vine la lumină, pentru ca să i se arate faptele, fiindcă sunt făcute în Dumnezeu.”
O nouă mărturie a lui Ioan Botezătorul
22 După aceea, Isus şi ucenicii Lui au venit în ţinutul Iudeii; şi stătea acolo cu ei şi(S) boteza. 23 Ioan boteza şi el în Enon, aproape de Salim(T), pentru că acolo erau multe ape, şi(U) oamenii veneau ca să fie botezaţi. 24 Căci(V) Ioan încă nu fusese aruncat în temniţă. 25 Între ucenicii lui Ioan şi între un iudeu s-a iscat o neînţelegere cu privire la curăţire. 26 Au venit deci la Ioan şi i-au zis: „Învăţătorule, Cel ce era cu tine dincolo de Iordan şi despre(W) care ai mărturisit tu iată că botează şi toţi oamenii se duc la El”. 27 Drept răspuns, Ioan i-a zis: „Omul nu poate primi(X) decât ce-i este dat din cer. 28 Voi înşivă îmi sunteţi martori că am zis: Nu(Y) sunt eu Hristosul, ci sunt(Z) trimis înaintea Lui. 29 Cine(AA) are mireasă este mire, dar prietenul(AB) mirelui, care stă şi-l ascultă, se bucură foarte mult când aude glasul mirelui, şi această bucurie, care este a mea, este deplină. 30 Trebuie ca El să crească, iar eu să mă micşorez. 31 Cel ce(AC) vine din cer este(AD) mai presus de toţi; cel ce(AE) este de pe pământ este pământesc şi vorbeşte ca de pe pământ. Cel ce(AF) vine din cer este mai presus de toţi. 32 El mărturiseşte ce(AG) a văzut şi a auzit, şi totuşi nimeni nu primeşte mărturia Lui. 33 Cine primeşte mărturia Lui adevereşte(AH) prin aceasta că Dumnezeu spune adevărul. 34 Căci(AI) Acela pe care L-a trimis Dumnezeu vorbeşte cuvintele lui Dumnezeu, pentru că Dumnezeu nu-I dă Duhul cu(AJ) măsură. 35 Tatăl(AK) iubeşte pe Fiul şi a dat toate lucrurile în mâna Lui. 36 Cine(AL) crede în Fiul are viaţa veşnică, dar cine nu crede în Fiul nu va vedea viaţa, ci mânia lui Dumnezeu rămâne peste el.”
Scripture quotations from The New Testament for Everyone are copyright © Nicholas Thomas Wright 2011, 2018, 2019.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Copyright of the Cornilescu Bible © 1924 belongs to British and Foreign Bible Society. Copyright © 2010, 2014 of the revised edition in Romanian language belongs to the Interconfessional Bible Society of Romania, with the approval of the British and Foreign Bible Society.
