John 3
You Must Be Born Again
Now there was a man of the Pharisees named aNicodemus, ba ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus aby night and said to him, b“Rabbi, cwe know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do dunless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is aborn bagain he cannot csee 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, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born aof water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 aThat which is born of the flesh is bflesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 aDo not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born bagain.’ 8 aThe wind blows bwhere it wishes, and you hear its sound, 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 Nicodemus said to him, a“How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel aand yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, awe speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but ayou do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 aNo one has bascended into heaven except che who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And aas Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man bbe lifted up, 15 that whoever believes ain him bmay have eternal life.
For God So Loved the World
16 “For aGod so loved bthe world, cthat he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not dperish but have eternal life. 17 For aGod did not send his Son into the world bto condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 aWhoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not bbelieved in the name of the only Son of God. 19 aAnd this is the judgment: bthe light has come into the world, and cpeople loved the darkness rather than the light because dtheir works were evil. 20 aFor everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, blest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever adoes what is true bcomes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
John the Baptist Exalts Christ
22 After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and awas baptizing. 23 John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized 24 (for aJohn had not yet been put in prison).
25 Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over apurification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, a“Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, bto whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and call are going to him.” 27 John answered, a“A person cannot receive even one thing bunless it is given him cfrom heaven. 28 You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, a‘I am not the Christ, but bI have been sent before him.’ 29 aThe one who has the bride is the bridegroom. bThe friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, crejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. 30 aHe must increase, but I must decrease.”
31 aHe who comes from above bis above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and cspeaks in an earthly way. dHe who comes from heaven bis above all. 32 aHe bears witness to what he has seen and heard, byet no one receives his testimony. 33 Whoever receives his testimony asets his seal to this, bthat God is true. 34 For he whom aGod has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit bwithout measure. 35 aThe Father loves the Son and bhas given all things into his hand. 36 aWhoever believes in the Son has eternal life; bwhoever does not obey the Son shall not csee life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway,
a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.