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The New Birth

There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. (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.”

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.”

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, “Most assuredly, I say to you, (E)unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is (F)flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ (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.”

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.”

Footnotes

  1. John 3:3 Or from above
  2. John 3:13 NU omits who is in heaven
  3. John 3:15 NU omits not perish but

耶稣与尼哥迪慕论重生

有一个法利赛人,名叫尼哥迪慕,是犹太人的官。 这人夜里来见耶稣,说:“拉比,我们知道你是由神那里来做师傅的,因为你所行的神迹,若没有神同在,无人能行。” 耶稣回答说:“我实实在在地告诉你:人若不重生,就不能见神的国。” 尼哥迪慕说:“人已经老了,如何能重生呢?岂能再进母腹生出来吗?” 耶稣说:“我实实在在地告诉你:人若不是从水和圣灵生的,就不能进神的国。 从肉身生的就是肉身,从灵生的就是灵。 我说你们必须重生,你不要以为稀奇。 风随着意思吹,你听见风的响声,却不晓得从哪里来,往哪里去。凡从圣灵生的,也是如此。” 尼哥迪慕问他说:“怎能有这事呢?” 10 耶稣回答说:“你是以色列人的先生,还不明白这事吗? 11 我实实在在地告诉你:我们所说的是我们知道的,我们所见证的是我们见过的,你们却不领受我们的见证。 12 我对你们说地上的事,你们尚且不信,若说天上的事,如何能信呢? 13 除了从天降下仍旧在天的人子,没有人升过天。 14 摩西在旷野怎样举蛇,人子也必照样被举起来, 15 叫一切信他的都得永生[a]

神爱世人

16 “神爱世人,甚至将他的独生子赐给他们,叫一切信他的不致灭亡,反得永生。 17 因为神差他的儿子降世,不是要定世人的罪[b],乃是要叫世人因他得救。 18 信他的人不被定罪,不信的人罪已经定了,因为他不信神独生子的名。

作恶的恨光

19 “光来到世间,世人因自己的行为是恶的,不爱光倒爱黑暗,定他们的罪就是在此。 20 凡作恶的便恨光,并不来就光,恐怕他的行为受责备; 21 但行真理的必来就光,要显明他所行的是靠神而行。”

耶稣和约翰施洗

22 这事以后,耶稣和门徒到了犹太地,在那里居住,施洗。 23 约翰在靠近撒冷哀嫩也施洗,因为那里水多,众人都去受洗。 24 那时约翰还没有下在监里。 25 约翰的门徒和一个犹太人辩论洁净的礼, 26 就来见约翰,说:“拉比,从前同你在约旦河外、你所见证的那位,现在施洗,众人都往他那里去了。” 27 约翰说:“若不是从天上赐的,人就不能得什么。 28 我曾说我不是基督,是奉差遣在他前面的,你们自己可以给我作见证。 29 娶新妇的就是新郎,新郎的朋友站着,听见新郎的声音就甚喜乐。故此,我这喜乐满足了。 30 他必兴旺,我必衰微。”

信者能得永生

31 从天上来的是在万有之上,从地上来的是属乎地,他所说的也是属乎地。从天上来的是在万有之上, 32 他将所见所闻的见证出来,只是没有人领受他的见证。 33 那领受他见证的,就印上印,证明神是真的。 34 神所差来的就说神的话,因为神赐圣灵给他是没有限量的。 35 父爱子,已将万有交在他手里。 36 信子的人有永生,不信子的人得不着永生[c],神的震怒常在他身上。

Footnotes

  1. 约翰福音 3:15 或作:叫一切信的人在他里面得永生。
  2. 约翰福音 3:17 或作:审判世人。下同。
  3. 约翰福音 3:36 原文作:不得见永生。

The New Birth

Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named (A)Nicodemus, a (B)ruler of the Jews; 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.” 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.”

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?” 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. (J)That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born [d]again.’ (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.”

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

  1. John 3:2 Lit Him
  2. John 3:2 I.e., confirming miracles
  3. John 3:3 Or from above
  4. John 3:7 Or from above
  5. John 3:15 Or believes in Him will have eternal life
  6. John 3:21 Lit that they have been
  7. John 3:25 I.e., ceremonial washing
  8. John 3:28 Lit testify for me
  9. John 3:28 I.e., Messiah
  10. John 3:30 Or become greater
  11. John 3:30 Or become less important
  12. John 3:34 Lit from measure
  13. John 3:36 I.e., in belief

耶稣与尼克迪莫

有一个人,属于法利赛人,名叫尼克迪莫,是犹太人的一位首领。 他夜里来到耶稣那里,说:“拉比,我们知道你是从神那里来的老师,因为你所行的这些神迹,如果没有神的同在,没有人能做得到。”

耶稣回答说:“我确确实实地告诉你:一个人如果不重生[a],就不能见神的国。”

尼克迪莫问:“人老了,怎么能出生呢?他难道能再进母腹又出生吗?”

耶稣回答:“我确确实实地告诉你:一个人如果不是由水和圣灵所生的,就不能进入神的国。 由肉体所生的,就是肉体;由圣灵所生的,就是灵。 我说‘你们必须重生[b]’,你不要感到惊奇。 [c]随意而吹,你听见风声,却不知道它从哪里来,往哪里去。所有由圣灵所生的,也是这样。”

尼克迪莫又问:“怎么能有这些事呢?”

10 耶稣回答说:“你是以色列的老师,还不明白这些事吗? 11 我确确实实地告诉你:我们讲论我们所知道的,我们见证我们所看到的,而你们却不接受我们的见证。 12 我告诉你们地上的事,你们尚且不信,如果我告诉你们天上的事,你们怎么会信呢? 13 除了从天上降下来的人子,[d]没有人升过天。 14 摩西在旷野怎样把铜蛇举起,人子也必须照样被举起来, 15 好使所有相信他的人[e],都得到永恒的生命。

16 “神爱世人,甚至赐下他的独生子,好让所有信他的人不至于灭亡,反得永恒的生命, 17 因为神差派他的[f]儿子来到世上,不是为了定世人的罪,而是为了世人藉着他得救。 18 信他的人,不被定罪;不信的人,已经被定罪了,因为他不信神独生子的名。

19 “所定的罪是这样的:光来到了世界,人们却因自己的行为邪恶,不喜爱光,反喜爱黑暗。 20 事实上,所有作恶的人,都憎恨光,不来到光那里,免得自己的行为被揭露出来; 21 但行真理的人,却来到光那里,为了显明自己所做的是在神里面被做成的。”

耶稣与施洗约翰

22 这些事以后,耶稣和他的门徒们来到犹太地区,住在那里,并且给人施洗。 23 约翰也在撒令附近的艾嫩施洗,因为那里水多。众人纷纷而来受洗。 24 原来,约翰那时候还没有被投进监狱。

25 约翰的门徒们与一个[g]犹太人,为了洁净礼起了辩论。 26 他们就到约翰那里,对他说:“拉比,你看,以前与你在约旦河对岸的,就是你所见证的那一位,他也在施洗,而且大家都到他那里去了。”

27 约翰回答说:“如果不是从天上赐下的,人就不能得到什么。 28 你们自己可以为我见证:我曾经说过‘我不是基督,而是奉差派在他前面的。’ 29 迎娶新娘的是新郎。新郎的朋友站在那里,听到新郎的声音,就欢喜快乐。这样,我这喜乐得以满足了。 30 他必兴旺,我必衰微。”

来自天上的那一位

31 那从上面来的,是在万有之上;那从地而出的,属于地,而且所说的也属于地。那从天上来的,是在万有之上, 32 他见证他所看到的、他所听到的,可是没有人接受他的见证。 33 那接受他见证的人,就印证了神是真实的。 34 神所差派的那一位,就说神的话语,因为神不靠着量度赐下圣灵。 35 父爱子,把一切都交在他手里了。 36 信从子的人,就有永恒的生命;但是不肯信从子的人,见不到生命,而且神的震怒也停留在他身上。

Footnotes

  1. 约翰福音 3:3 重生——或译作“由上天而生”。
  2. 约翰福音 3:7 重生——或译作“由上天而生”。
  3. 约翰福音 3:8 风——或译作“灵”或“圣灵”。
  4. 约翰福音 3:13 有古抄本附“就是在天上的那一位,”。
  5. 约翰福音 3:15 有古抄本附“不至于灭亡,反而”。
  6. 约翰福音 3:17 有古抄本没有“他的”。
  7. 约翰福音 3:25 一个——有古抄本作“一些”。

Nicodemus Comes to Jesus

There was a man named Nicodemus who was one of the Pharisees [C a religious party which strictly observed OT laws and later customs] and ·an important Jewish leader [L a ruler of the Jews; C probably a member of the Sanhedrin, the highest Jewish court of the time]. ·One night [or By night; C perhaps with connotations that he could not “see” spiritually] Nicodemus came to Jesus and said, “·Teacher [L Rabbi], we know you are a teacher sent from God, because no one can do the ·miracles [L signs; 2:11] you do unless God is with him.”

Jesus answered, “·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], unless you are born ·again [or from above; C this may be a play on words, meaning both “again” and “from above”], you cannot ·be in [experience; L see] God’s kingdom.”

Nicodemus said to him, “But if a person is already old, how can he be born ·again [or from above; 3:3]? ·He cannot enter his mother’s womb again. So how can a person be born a second time [L Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born]?”

But Jesus answered, “·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], unless you are born from water and the Spirit [C equivalent to being born again (3:3); water could symbolize physical birth, but more likely symbolizes spiritual cleansing which brings renewal; Ezek. 36:25–27], you cannot enter God’s kingdom. ·Human life comes from human parents [L That which is born of the flesh is flesh; C flesh here means human nature], but ·spiritual life comes from the Spirit [L that which is born of the Spirit is spirit]. Don’t be ·surprised [amazed; astonished] when I tell you, ‘You [C plural, referring to the Jews or the Jewish leaders] must be born ·again [or from above; 3:3].’ The wind [C one word means both “wind” and “spirit” in Greek] blows where it wants to and you hear the sound of it, but you don’t know where the wind comes from or where it is going. It is the same with every person who is born from the Spirit.” [C We cannot comprehend or control the Spirit, but we experience his effect.]

Nicodemus ·asked [replied], “How can this ·happen [be]?”

10 Jesus ·said [replied; answered], “You are ·an important teacher in Israel [L the teacher of Israel], and you don’t ·understand [know] these things? 11 ·I tell you the truth [L Truly, truly I say to you], we talk about what we know, and we ·tell [testify; bear witness] about what we have seen, but you don’t ·accept what we tell you [L receive our testimony/witness]. 12 I have told you about things here on earth [C the teaching about being born again], and you do not believe me. ·So you will not [L So how will you…?] believe me if I tell you about things of heaven. 13 ·The only one who has ever gone up to heaven is [L No one has gone up into heaven except] the One who came down from heaven—the Son of Man[a] [C a title for the Messiah; Dan. 7:13–14].

14 “Just as Moses lifted up the ·snake [T serpent] in the ·desert [wilderness; C Moses put a bronze snake statue on a pole, and those who looked at it were healed of snake bites; Num. 21:4–9], the Son of Man must also be lifted up [C an allusion to the cross and resurrection]. 15 So that everyone who ·believes can have eternal life in him [or believes in him can have eternal life].

16 [L For] God loved the world so much that he gave his ·one and only [only; unique; T only begotten; 1:14, 18] Son so that whoever believes in him may not ·be lost [T perish], but have eternal life. 17 [L For; Indeed] God did not send his Son into the world to ·judge the world guilty [condemn the world], but to save the world through him. 18 People who believe in God’s Son are not ·judged guilty [condemned]. Those who do not believe have already been ·judged guilty [condemned], because they have not believed in [L the name of] God’s ·one and only [only; unique; T only begotten; 3:16] Son. 19 ·They are judged by this fact [L And this is the judgment/condemnation/verdict]: The Light [C Jesus, God’s Son] has come into the world, ·but they did not want light. They wanted darkness [L but people loved the darkness more than the light], because they were doing evil things. 20 All who do evil hate the light and will not come to the light, because it will show ·all the evil things they do [L their deeds/actions]. 21 But those who ·follow the true way [do what is true; live by the truth] come to the light, and it ·shows [may be seen] that the things they do were done ·through [or in the sight of; or in obedience to; L in] God.”

Jesus and John the Baptist

22 After this, Jesus and his ·followers [disciples] went into the ·area [countryside] of Judea, where he ·stayed [spent time] with his ·followers [disciples] and baptized people. 23 John was also baptizing in Aenon [C a town (meaning “springs”) of uncertain location on the Jordan River (but see note on Salim)], near Salim [C a town (meaning “peace”) probably located either near Shechem or just south of Bethshan, both of which are in a Samaritan area], because there was plenty of water there. People were going there to be baptized. 24 (This was before John was put into prison [Matt. 4:12].)

25 Some of John’s ·followers [disciples] had an ·argument [discussion; debate] with a Jew about ·religious washing [ceremonial cleansing; L purification; C the Jewish people washed themselves for ritual purposes before eating, before worshiping in the Temple, and at other special times]. 26 So they came to John and said, “Teacher [L Rabbi], remember the man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River, the one ·you spoke about so much [L about whom you have testified/witnessed]? He is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”

27 John answered, “A ·man [person] can get only what ·God gives him [L is given to him from heaven]. 28 You yourselves heard me ·say [testify], ‘I am not the ·Christ [Messiah], but I am the one sent ·to prepare the way for him [L before him; 1:20–28; compare Is. 40:3].’ 29 The bride belongs only to the bridegroom. But the ·friend who helps the bridegroom [or the best man] stands by and listens to him. He ·is thrilled [rejoices greatly] that he gets to hear the bridegroom’s voice. In the same way, ·I am really happy [L my joy is fulfilled; C in this analogy, John is the best man and Jesus is the bridegroom]. 30 He must ·become greater [increase], and I must ·become less important [decrease].

The One Who Comes from Heaven

31 “The One [C Jesus] who comes from above is ·greater than [L above] all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and talks about ·things on the earth [earthly matters]. But the One who comes from heaven is ·greater than [L above] all. 32 He ·tells [testifies to; bears witness to] what he has seen and heard, but no one ·accepts [receives] ·what he says [his testimony; 3:11]. 33 Whoever ·accepts what he says [receives his testimony] has ·proven [certified; affirmed; L set his seal] that God is true. 34 [L For] The One whom God sent speaks the words of God, because God gives him the Spirit ·fully [L without measure/limit]. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given ·him power over everything [him authority over all; L all things into his hand]. 36 Those who believe in the Son have eternal life, but those who ·do not obey [reject] the Son will ·never have [L not see] life. God’s ·anger [wrath] ·stays [remains] on them.”

Footnotes

  1. John 3:13 the Son of Man Some Greek copies continue, “who is in heaven.”