John 3

Nicodemus Visits Jesus

1Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2#Jn 9.16, 33; Acts 2.22; 10.38He came to Jesus#3.2 Gk him by 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 do unless God is with that person.” 3#Titus 3.5; Jas 1.18; 1 Pet 1.23; 1 Jn 3.9Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.”#3.3 Or born anew 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5#Eph 5.26; Titus 3.5Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You#3.7 The Greek word for you here is plural must be born from above.’#3.7 Or born anew 8#1 Cor 2.11The wind#3.8 The same Greek word means both wind and spirit blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9#Jn 6.52, 60Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

11 # Jn 7.16, 17 “Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen, yet you#3.11 The Greek word for you here and in 3.12 is plural do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13#Prov 30.4; Acts 2.34; Rom 10.6; Eph 4.9No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.#3.13 Other ancient authorities add who is in heaven 14#Num 21.9; Jn 8.28; 12.34And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15#v 36; Jn 20.31; 1 Jn 5.11–13that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.#3.15 Some interpreters hold that the quotation concludes with 3.15

16 # Rom 5.8; 1 Jn 4.9 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

17 # Jn 5.36, 38; 8.15; 12.47; 1 Jn 4.14 “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18#Jn 5.24; 1 Jn 4.9Those who believe in him are not condemned, but those who do not believe are condemned already because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19#Jn 1.4; 8.12And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20#Eph 5.11, 13For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21#1 Jn 1.6But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”#3.21 Some interpreters hold that the quotation concludes with 3.15

Jesus and John the Baptist

22After this Jesus and his disciples went into the region of Judea, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. 23John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there, and people kept coming and were being baptized. 24#Mt 4.12; 14.3(John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison.)

25Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew.#3.25 Other ancient authorities read the Jews 26#Jn 1.7, 28They 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 all are going to him.” 27#1 Cor 4.7; Heb 5.4John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. 28#Jn 1.20, 23You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,#3.28 Or the Christ but I have been sent ahead of him.’ 29#Mt 25.1; Mk 2.19, 20; Jn 15.11; 16.24He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom who stands and hears him rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease.”#3.30 Some interpreters hold that the quotation continues through 3.36

The One Who Comes from Heaven

31 # Jn 8.23; 1 Jn 4.5 The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all. 32#v 11; Jn 8.26; 15.15He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony. 33#Rom 4.11; 15.28; Eph 1.13; 4.30Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified#3.33 Gk set a seal to this, that God is true. 34#Mt 12.18; Lk 4.18He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35#Mt 28.18; Jn 5.20, 22; 17.2The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands. 36#Jn 5.24; 6.47Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life but must endure God’s wrath.

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John 3: NRSVUE

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