< John 3 >
1 Now there was a Pharisee called Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews,
2 who came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God; for no man can do these miracles which you do, unless God be with him.
3 Jesus answering, said to him, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a man be born again, he can not discern the Reign of God.
4 Nicodemus replied, How can a grown man be born? Can he enter his mother's womb anew, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a man be born of water and Spirit, he can not enter the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.
7 Wonder not, then, that I have said to you, You must be born again.
8 The Spirit breathes where he pleases, and you hear the report of him, but know not whence he comes, or whither he goes; so is every one who is born of the spirit.
9 Nicodemus answered, How can these things be?
10 Jesus replied, Are you the teacher of Israel, and know not these things?
11 Most assuredly, I say to you, we speak what we know, and testify what we have seen; yet you receive not our testimony.
12 If you understood not, when I told you earthly things, how will you understand when I tell you heavenly things?
13 For none has ascended into heaven, but he who descended from heaven; the Son of Man, whose abode is heaven.
14 As Moses placed on high the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be placed on high;
15 that whosoever believes on him may not perish, but obtain eternal life: (aiōnios )
16 for God has so loved the world, as to give his own begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him, may not perish, but obtain eternal life. (aiōnios )
17 For God has sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world may be saved by him.
18 He who believes on him shall not be condemned; he who believes not, is already condemned, because he has not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.
19 Now this is the ground of condemnation; that light has come into the world, and men have preferred the darkness to the light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For whosoever does evil, hates the light, and shuns it, lest his deeds should be detected.
21 But he who obeys the truth, comes to the light, that it may be manifest that his actions are agreeable to God.
22 After this, Jesus went, with his disciples, into the territory of Judea, where he remained with them, and immersed.
23 John also was immersing in Enon, near Salim, because there was much water there; and people came thither, and were immersed.
24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
25 Now John's disciples had a dispute with a Jew, about purification.
26 Then they went to John, and said to him, Rabbi, he who was with you near the Jordan, of whom you gave so great a character; he, too, immerses, and the people flock to him.
27 John answered, A man can have no power but what he derives from heaven.
28 You yourselves are witness for me, that I said, I am not the Messiah; but am sent before him.
29 The bridegroom is he who has the bride; but the friend of the bridegroom, who assists him, rejoices to hear the bridegroom's voice: this, my joy, therefore, is complete.
30 He must increase, while I decrease.
31 He who comes from above, is above all. He who is from the earth is earthly, and speaks as being from the earth. He who comes from heaven, is above all.
32 What he testifies, is what he has seen and heard; yet his testimony is not received.
33 He who receives his testimony, vouches the veracity of God.
34 for he whom God has commissioned, relates God's own words; for to him God gives not the Spirit by measure.
35 The Father loves the Son, and has subjected all things to him.
36 He who believes on the Son, has life eternal; he who rejects the Son, shall not see life: but the vengeance of God awaits him. (aiōnios )
