1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of
the Jews. 2 The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we
know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that
you do, unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus answered him, “Most assuredly, I tell you, unless one is born
anew,*1 he can’t 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 tell you, unless one is born of
water and spirit, he can’t enter into the Kingdom of God! 6 That which is
born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ 8 The
wind*2
blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it
comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the
Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?”
10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t
understand these things? 11 Most assuredly I tell you, we speak that which
we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive
our witness. 12 If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe,
how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 No one has
ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who
is in heaven. 14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so
must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him should
not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he
gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish,
but have eternal life. 17 For God didn’t send his Son into the world to
judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18 He who
believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged
already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God.
19 This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men
loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.
20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the
light, lest his works would be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes
to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in
God.”
22 After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of
Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized. 23 John also was baptizing
in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were
baptized. 24 For John was not yet thrown into prison. 25 There arose
therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about
purification. 26 They came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was
with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same
baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”
27 John answered, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him
from heaven. 28 You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the
Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’ 29 He who has the bride is
the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him,
rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. This, my joy, therefore
is made full. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease. 31 He who comes
from above is above all. He who is from the Earth belongs to the Earth, and
speaks of the Earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 What he has
seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness.
33 He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is
true. 34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives
the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all
things into his hand. 36 One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but
one who disobeys*3 the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of
God remains on him.”
1 The word translated “anew” here and in John 3:7 (anothen) also
means “again” and “from above”. 2 The same Greek word (pneuma) means wind, breath, and spirit. 3 The same word can be translated “disobeys” or
“disbelieves” in this context.
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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