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John 3
New American Bible (Revised Edition)

Chapter 3

Nicodemus.[a] 1 (A)Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.[b] 2 He came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.”(B) 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born[c] from above.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a person once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot reenter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?”(C) 5 Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.(D) 6 What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit.(E) 7 Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8 The wind[d] blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”(F) 9 Nicodemus answered and said to him, “How can this happen?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “You are the teacher of Israel and you do not understand this? 11 Amen, amen, I say to you, we speak of what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony.(G) 12 If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?(H) 13 No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.(I) 14 And just as Moses lifted up[e] the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,(J) 15 [f]so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”

16 For God so loved the world that he gave[g] his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.(K) 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn[h] the world, but that the world might be saved through him.(L) 18 Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.(M) 19 [i]And this is the verdict,(N) that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.(O) 21 But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.(P)

Final Witness of the Baptist. 22 [j]After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, where he spent some time with them baptizing.(Q) 23 John was also baptizing in Aenon near Salim,[k] because there was an abundance of water there, and people came to be baptized, 24 [l](R)for John had not yet been imprisoned. 25 Now a dispute arose between the disciples of John and a Jew[m] about ceremonial washings. 26 So they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing and everyone is coming to him.”(S) 27 John answered and said, “No one can receive anything except what has been given him from heaven.(T) 28 You yourselves can testify that I said [that] I am not the Messiah, but that I was sent before him.(U) 29 The one who has the bride is the bridegroom; the best man,[n] who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine has been made complete.(V) 30 He must increase; I must decrease.”(W)

The One from Heaven.[o] 31 The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven [is above all].(X) 32 He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony.(Y) 33 Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy.(Z) 34 For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift[p] of the Spirit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him.(AA) 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.(AB)

Footnotes

  1. 3:1–21 Jesus instructs Nicodemus on the necessity of a new birth from above. This scene in Jerusalem at Passover exemplifies the faith engendered by signs (Jn 2:23). It continues the self-manifestation of Jesus in Jerusalem begun in Jn 2. This is the first of the Johannine discourses, shifting from dialogue to monologue (Jn 3:11–15) to reflection of the evangelist (Jn 3:16–21). The shift from singular through Jn 3:10 to plural in Jn 3:11 may reflect the early church’s controversy with the Jews.
  2. 3:1 A ruler of the Jews: most likely a member of the Jewish council, the Sanhedrin; see note on Mk 8:31.
  3. 3:3 Born: see note on Jn 1:13. From above: the Greek adverb anōthen means both “from above” and “again.” Jesus means “from above” (see Jn 3:31) but Nicodemus misunderstands it as “again.” This misunderstanding serves as a springboard for further instruction.
  4. 3:8 Wind: the Greek word pneuma (as well as the Hebrew rûah) means both “wind” and “spirit.” In the play on the double meaning, “wind” is primary.
  5. 3:14 Lifted up: in Nm 21:9, Moses simply “mounted” a serpent upon a pole. John here substitutes a verb implying glorification. Jesus, exalted to glory at his cross and resurrection, represents healing for all.
  6. 3:15 Eternal life: used here for the first time in John, this term stresses quality of life rather than duration.
  7. 3:16 Gave: as a gift in the incarnation, and also “over to death” in the crucifixion; cf. Rom 8:32.
  8. 3:17–19 Condemn: the Greek root means both judgment and condemnation. Jesus’ purpose is to save, but his coming provokes judgment; some condemn themselves by turning from the light.
  9. 3:19 Judgment is not only future but is partially realized here and now.
  10. 3:22–26 Jesus’ ministry in Judea is only loosely connected with Jn 2:13–3:21; cf. Jn 1:19–36. Perhaps John the Baptist’s further testimony was transposed here to give meaning to “water” in Jn 3:5. Jesus is depicted as baptizing (Jn 3:22); contrast Jn 4:2.
  11. 3:23 Aenon near Salim: site uncertain, either in the upper Jordan valley or in Samaria.
  12. 3:24 A remark probably intended to avoid objections based on a chronology like that of the synoptics (Mt 4:12; Mk 1:14).
  13. 3:25 A Jew: some think Jesus is meant. Many manuscripts read “Jews.”
  14. 3:29 The best man: literally, “the friend of the groom,” the shoshben of Jewish tradition, who arranged the wedding. Competition between him and the groom would be unthinkable.
  15. 3:31–36 It is uncertain whether these are words by the Baptist, Jesus, or the evangelist. They are reflections on the two preceding scenes.
  16. 3:34 His gift: of God or to Jesus, perhaps both. This verse echoes Jn 3:5, 8.
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约翰福音 3
Chinese New Version (Traditional)

人必須重生

3 有一個法利賽人，名叫尼哥德慕，是猶太人的官長。 2 他夜間來到耶穌那裡，對他說：“拉比，我們知道你是從　神那裡來的教師，因為如果沒有　神同在，你所行的這些神蹟，就沒有人能行。” 3 耶穌回答：“我實實在在告訴你，人若不重生，就不能見　神的國。” 4 尼哥德慕說：“人老了，怎能重生呢？難道他能再進母腹生出來嗎？” 5 耶穌回答：“我實實在在告訴你，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 你不要因為我對你說‘你們必須重生’而感到希奇。 8 風隨意而吹，你聽見它的響聲，卻不知道它從哪裡來，往哪裡去；凡從聖靈生的，也是這樣。” 9 尼哥德慕說：“怎能有這事呢？” 10 耶穌說：“你是以色列人的教師，還不明白這事嗎？ 11 我實實在在告訴你，我們知道的，才講論；見過的，就作證，然而你們卻不接受我們的見證。 12 我對你們講地上的事，你們尚且不信，如果講天上的事，怎能相信呢？ 13 除了那從天上降下來的人子（有些抄本作“除了那從天上降下來仍舊在天上的人子”），沒有人升過天。 14 摩西在曠野怎樣把銅蛇舉起，人子也必照樣被舉起來， 15 使所有信他的人都得永生。

16 “　神愛世人，甚至把他的獨生子賜給他們，叫一切信他的，不至滅亡，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，而是要使世人藉著他得救。 18 信他的，不被定罪；不信的，罪已經定了，因為他不信　神獨生子的名。 19 光來到世上，世人因為自己的行為邪惡，不愛光倒愛黑暗，定他們罪的原因，就在這裡。 20 凡作惡的都恨光，不來接近光，免得他的惡行暴露出來。 21 凡行真理的，就來接近光，好顯明他所作的都是靠著　神而作的。”

他必興旺，我必衰微

22 這事以後，耶穌和門徒來到猶太地，他和他們住在那裡，並且施洗。 23 約翰也在靠近撒冷的艾嫩施洗，因為那裡水多；眾人都去受洗。 24 那時約翰還沒有入獄。 25 約翰的門徒和一個猶太人為潔淨禮發生辯論。 26 他們來到約翰那裡，對他說：“拉比，你看，從前和你在約旦河東，你為他作見證的那一位，他也在施洗，眾人都到他那裡去了。” 27 約翰回答：“除了從天上賜下來給他的，人就不能得到甚麼。 28 你們自己可以為我作證：我曾說，我不是基督，不過是奉差遣作他的先鋒的。 29 娶新娘的是新郎。新郎的好友站在那裡聽著，聽見新郎的聲音就非常喜樂。因此，我這喜樂滿溢了！ 30 他必興旺，我必衰微。

從天上來的

31 “那從天上來的，是在萬有之上；從地上來的，是屬於地，所講的也是屬於地。那從天上來的，是超越萬有之上。 32 他把所見所聞的見證出來，可是沒有人接受他的見證。 33 那接受他的見證的，就確認　神是真的。 34 　神所差來的那一位講　神的話，因為　神把聖靈無限地賜給他。 35 父愛子，已經把萬有交在他手裡。 36 信子的，有永生；不信從子的，必不得見永生，　神的震怒卻常在他身上。”

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New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Chinese New Version (Traditional) (CNVT)

Chinese New Version (CNV). Copyright © 1976, 1992, 1999, 2001, 2005 by Worldwide Bible Society.

The Chinese New Version is made available by Worldwide Bible Society