Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
3 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 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, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[The Greek for again also means from above; also in verse 7.]”
4 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit [Or but spirit] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You [The Greek is plural.] must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”[The Greek for Spirit is the same as that for wind.]
9 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and do you not understand these things? 11 Very truly I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man.[Some manuscripts Man, who is in heaven] 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, [The Greek for lifted up also means exalted.] 15 that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him.”[Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 21.]
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever 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 stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
John Testifies Again About Jesus
22 After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized. 23 Now John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water, and people were coming and being baptized. 24 (This was before John was put in prison.) 25 An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing. 26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, that man who was with you on the other side of the Jordan—the one you testified about—look, he is baptizing, and everyone is going to him.”
27 To this John replied, “A person can receive only what is given them from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah but am sent ahead of him.’ 29 The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30 He must become greater; I must become less.”[Some interpreters end the quotation with verse 36.]
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, but no one accepts his testimony. 33 Whoever has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God [Greek he] gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
NOTES:
BACK TO:
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
3:15 Eternal life: used here for the first time in John,
this term stresses quality of life rather than duration.
3:16 Gave: as a gift in the incarnation, and also “over to
death” in the crucifixion; cf. Rom 8:32.
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.
3:19 Judgment is not only future but is partially realized
here and now.
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.
3:23 Aenon near Salim: site uncertain, either in the upper
Jordan valley or in Samaria.
3:24 A remark probably intended to avoid objections based on
a chronology like that of the synoptics (Mt 4:12; Mk 1:14).
3:25 A Jew: some think Jesus is meant. Many manuscripts read
“Jews.”
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.
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.
3:34 His gift: of God or to Jesus, perhaps both. This verse
echoes Jn 3:5, 8.
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