John 3:1–18

Jesus and Nicodemus

3 There was a man from the * Pharisees x named Nicodemus, y a ruler z of the * Jews. 2 This man came to Him at night and said, “* Rabbi, a we know that You have come from God b as a teacher, c for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him.” d

3 Jesus replied, “* I assure you: Unless someone is born again, e f he cannot see the kingdom of God.” g

4 “But how can anyone be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked Him. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born?”

5 Jesus answered, “I assure you: Unless someone is born h of water and the Spirit, i j he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 Whatever is born of the flesh k is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit l is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I told you that you m must be born n again. 8 The wind o blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. p So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” q

9 “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus.

10 “Are you a teacher r of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. 11 “I assure you: s We speak what We know and We testify to what We have seen, but you t do not accept Our testimony. u 12 If I have told you about things that happen on earth and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about things of heaven? 13 No one has ascended v into heaven w except the One who descended from heaven x—the * Son of Man. y z 14 Just as Moses a lifted up the snake in the wilderness, b so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in Him will c have eternal life. d

16 “For God loved e the world * in this way: f He gave His * One and Only g Son, h so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. i 17 For God did not send His Son into the world that He might condemn j the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, k because he has not believed in the name l of the One and Only Son m of God.

*
x	Mk 7:3
y	Jn 3:4 Jn 3:9 Jn 7:50 Jn 19:39
z	Lk 8:41 Lk 12:58
*
*
a	Jn 11:8
b	Mk 1:45
c	Mk 4:38 Eph 4:11
d	Ex 3:12 Jn 15:24 Ac 10:38 Re 21:3
*
e	3:3 The same Gk word can mean again or from above (also in v. 7).
f	1 Pe 1:3 1 Jn 2:29
g	Mk 1:15 Mk 9:1
h	Mk 9:43
i	3:5 Or spirit, or wind; the Gk word pneuma can mean wind, spirit, or Spirit, each of which occurs in this context.
j	Eze 36:25–27 Ac 22:16 Tt 3:5
k	Php 3:3
l	Jn 1:33
m	3:7 The pronoun is * in Gk.
n	1 Pe 1:3
o	3:8 The Gk word pneuma can mean wind, spirit, or Spirit, each of which occurs in this context.
p	Jn 8:14
q	1 Co 2:13–16
r	3:10 Or the teacher
s	Jn 1:51 Re 22:21
t	3:11 In Gk, the word you is * here and throughout v. 12.
u	3:11 The pronouns we and our refer to Jesus and His authority to speak for the Father.
v	Jn 20:17
w	Dt 30:12 Jn 6:62 Ac 2:34 Ro 10:6 1 Co 15:47 Eph 4:8–10 Re 11:12
x	Jn 6:38 Jn 8:23
*	Da 7:13 Mt 8:20
y	3:13 Other * add who is in heaven
z	Mk 2:10
a	Ps 77:20 Mt 8:4 Heb 3:2
b	Nu 21:4–9
c	3:15 Other * add not perish, but
d	Mk 10:17 Jn 12:25 Ac 13:48
e	Jn 12:43 1 Co 13:1 Ga 2:20 Col 1:13 Col 3:12 1 Th 1:4 2 Th 2:13 2 Th 2:16 1 Jn 4:7–12 Jud 1
*	Jn 3:16 Mt 1:18 Ga 3:3 Re 16:18 Jn 3:16
f	3:16 The Gk word houtos, commonly translated in Jn 3:16 as “so” or “so much” occurs over 200 times in the NT. Almost without exception it is an adverb of manner, not degree (for example, see Mt 1:18). It only means “so much” when modifying an adjective (see Gl 3:3; Rv 16:18). Manner seems primarily in view in Jn 3:16, which explains the HCSB‘s rendering.
*	Lk 7:12 Lk 8:42 Lk 9:38 Heb 11:17
g	1 Jn 4:9
h	Jn 5:19 Heb 1:2
i	Jn 12:25 Ro 5:8 1 Jn 3:16 1 Jn 4:9–10
j	Jn 8:11
k	Mt 12:41 Mk 16:16
l	Jn 10:25 1 Jn 3:23
m	Jn 5:19