Joh 3 | BSB | STEP | Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.

John 3

Jesus and Nicodemus

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to [Jesus] at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that [You are] a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform [the] signs You are doing if God were not with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” ^{▼▼Or born from above; also in verse 7.} 4 “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and [the] Spirit. 6 Flesh is born of flesh, [but] spirit is born of the Spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes {from} [or] where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you people do not accept our testimony. 12 If I have told you {about} earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you {about} heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the [One who] descended from heaven— the Son of Man. ^{▼▼BYZ and TR include who is in heaven} 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.

For God So Loved

16 For God so loved the world that He gave [His] one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God {did} not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 18 Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light, because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and {does} not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that [what] he has done has been accomplished in God.” ^{▼▼Some interpreters close the quotation after verse 15.}

John's Testimony about Jesus

22 After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, [where] He spent some time with them and baptized. 23 Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because [the] water was plentiful there, and [people] kept coming to be baptized. 24 (For John {had} not yet been thrown into prison.) 25 A dispute arose between John’s disciples [and] [a certain] Jew over [the issue of] ceremonial washing. 26 So [John’s disciples] came to [him] and said, “Look, Rabbi, the [One who] was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about— He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.” 27 John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’ 29 The bride belongs to [the] bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, [and] is overjoyed [to hear] the bridegroom’s voice. That joy [is] mine, [and] it is now complete. 30 He must increase; I [must] decrease. 31 The [One who] comes from above is above all. The [one who] is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks [as one] from the earth. The [One who] comes from heaven is above all. 32 He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. 33 Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the [One] whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for [God] gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.” ^{▼▼Some interpreters close the quotation after verse 30.}