1 Now|strong="G1161" there|strong="G1161" was|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" Pharisee|strong="G5330" named|strong="G3686" Nicodemus|strong="G3530", who|strong="G3588" was|strong="G1510" a|strong="G1510" leading man among|strong="G1537" his|strong="G3588" people|strong="G1510".
2 This|strong="G3778" man|strong="G3778" came|strong="G2064" to|strong="G4314" Jesus|strong="G3004" by|strong="G4314" night|strong="G3571", and|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004" to|strong="G4314" him|strong="G3588", ‘Rabbi|strong="G4461", we|strong="G3739" know|strong="G1492" that|strong="G3754" you|strong="G4771" are|strong="G1510" a|strong="G2532" teacher|strong="G1320" come|strong="G2064" from|strong="G2064" God|strong="G2316"; for|strong="G1063" no|strong="G3762" one|strong="G3762" could|strong="G1410" give|strong="G4160" such|strong="G3778" signs|strong="G4592" as|strong="G2532" you|strong="G4771" are|strong="G1510" giving|strong="G4160", unless|strong="G1437" God|strong="G2316" were|strong="G1510" with|strong="G3326" him|strong="G3588".’
3 ‘\+w In|strong="G2532"\+w* truth \+w I|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w tell|strong="G3004"\+w* \+w you|strong="G4771"\+w*,’ exclaimed|strong="G3004" Jesus|strong="G2424", ‘\+w unless|strong="G1437"\+w* \+w a|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w person|strong="G5100"\+w* \+w is|strong="G3588"\+w* reborn, \+w they|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w cannot|strong="G1410"\+w* \+w see|strong="G3708"\+w* \+w the|strong="G2532"\+w* kingdom \+w of|strong="G2316"\+w* \+w God|strong="G2316"\+w*.’
4 ‘How|strong="G4459" can|strong="G1410" a|strong="G2532" person,’ asked|strong="G3004" Nicodemus|strong="G3530", ‘be|strong="G1510" born|strong="G1080" when|strong="G2532" they|strong="G2532" are|strong="G1510" old|strong="G1088"? Can|strong="G1410" they|strong="G2532" be|strong="G1510" born|strong="G1080" a|strong="G2532" second|strong="G1208" time|strong="G1208"?’
5 ‘\+w In|strong="G1519"\+w* truth \+w I|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w tell|strong="G3004"\+w* \+w you|strong="G4771"\+w*,’ answered|strong="G3004" Jesus|strong="G2424", ‘\+w unless|strong="G1437"\+w* \+w a|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w person|strong="G5100"\+w* owes \+w their|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w birth|strong="G1080"\+w* \+w to|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w water|strong="G5204"\+w* \+w and|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w Spirit|strong="G4151"\+w*, \+w they|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w cannot|strong="G1410"\+w* \+w enter|strong="G1525"\+w* \+w the|strong="G2532"\+w* kingdom \+w of|strong="G1537"\+w* \+w God|strong="G2316"\+w*.
6 \+w All|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w that|strong="G3588"\+w* owes \+w its|strong="G1537"\+w* \+w birth|strong="G1080"\+w* \+w to|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w human|strong="G4561"\+w* nature \+w is|strong="G1510"\+w* \+w human|strong="G4561"\+w*, \+w and|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w all|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w that|strong="G3588"\+w* owes \+w its|strong="G1537"\+w* \+w birth|strong="G1080"\+w* \+w to|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w the|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w Spirit|strong="G4151"\+w* \+w is|strong="G1510"\+w* \+w spiritual|strong="G4151"\+w*.
7 \+w Do|strong="G3004"\+w* \+w not|strong="G3361"\+w* \+w wonder|strong="G2296"\+w* \+w at|strong="G2296"\+w* \+w my|strong="G3754"\+w* \+w telling|strong="G3004"\+w* \+w you|strong="G5210"\+w* \+w that|strong="G3754"\+w* \+w you|strong="G5210"\+w* \+w all|strong="G3361"\+w* need \+w to|strong="G3004"\+w* \+w be|strong="G1163"\+w* reborn.
8 \+w The|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w wind|strong="G4154"\+w* \+w blows|strong="G4154"\+w* \+w wherever|strong="G3699"\+w* \+w it|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w wants|strong="G2309"\+w*, \+w and|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w you|strong="G1510"\+w* \+w can|strong="G1492"\+w* \+w hear|strong="G5456"\+w* \+w the|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w sound|strong="G5456"\+w* \+w it|strong="G2532"\+w* makes, \+w but|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w you|strong="G1510"\+w* \+w do|strong="G1492"\+w* \+w not|strong="G3756"\+w* \+w know|strong="G1492"\+w* \+w where|strong="G3699"\+w* \+w it|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w comes|strong="G2064"\+w* \+w from|strong="G1537"\+w*, \+w or|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w where|strong="G3699"\+w* \+w it|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w goes|strong="G5217"\+w*; \+w it|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w is|strong="G1510"\+w* \+w the|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w same|strong="G3779"\+w* \+w with|strong="G1537"\+w* \+w everyone|strong="G3956"\+w* \+w who|strong="G3588"\+w* owes \+w his|strong="G3956"\+w* \+w birth|strong="G1080"\+w* \+w to|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w the|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w Spirit|strong="G4151"\+w*.’
9 ‘How|strong="G4459" can|strong="G1410" that|strong="G2532" be|strong="G1096"?’ asked|strong="G3004" Nicodemus|strong="G3530".
10 ‘\+w What|strong="G3588"\+w*! \+w You|strong="G4771"\+w* \+w a|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w teacher|strong="G1320"\+w* \+w of|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w Israel|strong="G2474"\+w*,’ exclaimed|strong="G3004" Jesus|strong="G2424", ‘\+w and|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w yet|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w do|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w not|strong="G3756"\+w* \+w understand|strong="G1097"\+w* \+w this|strong="G3778"\+w*!
11 \+w In|strong="G2532"\+w* truth \+w I|strong="G1473"\+w* \+w tell|strong="G3004"\+w* \+w you|strong="G4771"\+w* \+w that|strong="G3754"\+w* \+w we|strong="G2249"\+w* \+w speak|strong="G2980"\+w* \+w of|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w what|strong="G3739"\+w* \+w we|strong="G2249"\+w* \+w know|strong="G1492"\+w*, \+w and|strong="G2532"\+w* state \+w what|strong="G3739"\+w* \+w we|strong="G2249"\+w* \+w have|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w seen|strong="G3708"\+w*; \+w and|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w yet|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w you|strong="G4771"\+w* \+w do|strong="G1492"\+w* \+w not|strong="G3756"\+w* \+w accept|strong="G2983"\+w* \+w our|strong="G2532"\+w* statements.
12 \+w If|strong="G1487"\+w*, \+w when|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w I|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w tell|strong="G3004"\+w* \+w you|strong="G5210"\+w* \+w earthly|strong="G1919"\+w* \+w things|strong="G3588"\+w*, \+w you|strong="G5210"\+w* \+w do|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w not|strong="G3756"\+w* \+w believe|strong="G4100"\+w* \+w me|strong="G3004"\+w*, \+w how|strong="G4459"\+w* \+w will|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w you|strong="G5210"\+w* \+w believe|strong="G4100"\+w* \+w me|strong="G3004"\+w* \+w when|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w I|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w tell|strong="G3004"\+w* \+w you|strong="G5210"\+w* \+w of|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w heavenly|strong="G2032"\+w* \+w things|strong="G3588"\+w*?
13 \+w No|strong="G3762"\+w* \+w one|strong="G3762"\+w* \+w has|strong="G3762"\+w* \+w ascended|strong="G3588"\+w* \+w to|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w heaven|strong="G3772"\+w*, \+w except|strong="G1487"\+w* \+w him|strong="G3588"\+w* \+w who|strong="G3588"\+w* \+w descended|strong="G2597"\+w* \+w from|strong="G1537"\+w* \+w heaven|strong="G3772"\+w* – \+w the|strong="G1722"\+w* \+w Son|strong="G5207"\+w* \+w of|strong="G1537"\+w* \+w Man|strong="G3762"\+w* \+w himself|strong="G1519"\+w*.
14 \+w And|strong="G2532"\+w*, \+w as|strong="G2531"\+w* \+w Moses|strong="G3475"\+w* \+w lifted|strong="G5312"\+w* \+w up|strong="G1210"\+w* \+w the|strong="G1722"\+w* \+w snake|strong="G3789"\+w* \+w in|strong="G1722"\+w* \+w the|strong="G1722"\+w* \+w desert|strong="G2048"\+w*, \+w so|strong="G3779"\+w* \+w must|strong="G1163"\+w* \+w the|strong="G1722"\+w* \+w Son|strong="G5207"\+w* \+w of|strong="G5207"\+w* \+w Man|strong="G5207"\+w* \+w be|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w lifted|strong="G5312"\+w* \+w up|strong="G1210"\+w*;
15 \+w so|strong="G2443"\+w* \+w that|strong="G2443"\+w* \+w everyone|strong="G3956"\+w* \+w who|strong="G3588"\+w* \+w believes|strong="G4100"\+w* \+w in|strong="G1722"\+w* \+w him|strong="G3588"\+w* \+w may|strong="G2443"\+w* \+w have|strong="G2192"\+w* eternal \+w life|strong="G2222"\+w*.’
16 \+w For|strong="G1063"\+w* \+w God|strong="G2316"\+w* \+w so|strong="G3779"\+w* loved \+w the|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w world|strong="G2889"\+w*, \+w that|strong="G2443"\+w* \+w he|strong="G3588"\+w* \+w gave|strong="G1325"\+w* \+w his|strong="G3956"\+w* \+w only|strong="G3439"\+w* \+w Son|strong="G5207"\+w*, \+w so|strong="G3779"\+w* \+w that|strong="G2443"\+w* \+w everyone|strong="G3956"\+w* \+w who|strong="G3588"\+w* \+w believes|strong="G4100"\+w* \+w in|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w him|strong="G3588"\+w* \+w may|strong="G2443"\+w* \+w not|strong="G3361"\+w* \+w be|strong="G3361"\+w* lost, \+w but|strong="G3361"\+w* \+w have|strong="G2192"\+w* eternal \+w life|strong="G2222"\+w*.
17 \+w For|strong="G1063"\+w* \+w God|strong="G2316"\+w* \+w did|strong="G2316"\+w* \+w not|strong="G3756"\+w* send \+w his|strong="G1223"\+w* \+w Son|strong="G5207"\+w* \+w into|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w the|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w world|strong="G2889"\+w* \+w to|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w condemn|strong="G2919"\+w* \+w the|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w world|strong="G2889"\+w*, \+w but|strong="G1063"\+w* \+w so|strong="G2443"\+w* \+w that|strong="G2443"\+w* \+w the|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w world|strong="G2889"\+w* \+w might|strong="G2316"\+w* \+w be|strong="G3756"\+w* \+w saved|strong="G4982"\+w* \+w through|strong="G1223"\+w* \+w him|strong="G3588"\+w*.
18 \+w The|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w person|strong="G5207"\+w* \+w who|strong="G3588"\+w* \+w believes|strong="G4100"\+w* \+w in|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w him|strong="G3588"\+w* escapes condemnation, \+w while|strong="G1161"\+w* \+w the|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w person|strong="G5207"\+w* \+w who|strong="G3588"\+w* \+w does|strong="G2316"\+w* \+w not|strong="G3756"\+w* \+w believe|strong="G4100"\+w* \+w in|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w him|strong="G3588"\+w* \+w is|strong="G3588"\+w* \+w already|strong="G2235"\+w* \+w condemned|strong="G2919"\+w*, \+w because|strong="G3754"\+w* \+w they|strong="G1161"\+w* \+w have|strong="G3748"\+w* \+w not|strong="G3756"\+w* \+w believed|strong="G4100"\+w* \+w in|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w the|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w only|strong="G3439"\+w* \+w Son|strong="G5207"\+w* \+w of|strong="G5207"\+w* \+w God|strong="G2316"\+w*.
19 \+w The|strong="G2532"\+w* ground \+w of|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w their|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w condemnation|strong="G2920"\+w* \+w is|strong="G1510"\+w* \+w this|strong="G3778"\+w*, \+w that|strong="G3754"\+w* \+w though|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w the|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w light|strong="G5457"\+w* \+w has|strong="G3778"\+w* \+w come|strong="G2064"\+w* \+w into|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w the|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w world|strong="G2889"\+w*, \+w people|strong="G1510"\+w* preferred \+w the|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w darkness|strong="G4655"\+w* \+w to|strong="G1519"\+w* \+w the|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w light|strong="G5457"\+w*, \+w because|strong="G3754"\+w* \+w their|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w actions|strong="G2041"\+w* \+w were|strong="G1510"\+w* \+w wicked|strong="G4190"\+w*.
20 \+w For|strong="G1063"\+w* \+w the|strong="G2532"\+w* person \+w who|strong="G3588"\+w* lives \+w an|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w evil|strong="G5337"\+w* life \+w hates|strong="G3404"\+w* \+w the|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w light|strong="G5457"\+w*, \+w and|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w will|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w not|strong="G3756"\+w* \+w come|strong="G2064"\+w* \+w to|strong="G4314"\+w* \+w it|strong="G2532"\+w*, fearing \+w that|strong="G2443"\+w* \+w their|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w actions|strong="G2041"\+w* \+w will|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w be|strong="G2532"\+w* \+w exposed|strong="G1651"\+w*;
21 \+w but|strong="G1161"\+w* \+w the|strong="G1722"\+w* person \+w who|strong="G3588"\+w* lives \+w by|strong="G1722"\+w* \+w the|strong="G1722"\+w* truth \+w comes|strong="G2064"\+w* \+w into|strong="G1722"\+w* \+w the|strong="G1722"\+w* \+w light|strong="G5457"\+w*, \+w so|strong="G2443"\+w* \+w it|strong="G3754"\+w* \+w can|strong="G4160"\+w* \+w be|strong="G1510"\+w* clearly seen \+w that|strong="G3754"\+w* \+w God|strong="G2316"\+w* \+w is|strong="G1510"\+w* \+w in|strong="G1722"\+w* \+w all|strong="G1722"\+w* \+w they|strong="G1161"\+w* \+w do|strong="G4160"\+w*.
22 After|strong="G3326" this|strong="G3778", Jesus|strong="G2424" went|strong="G2064" with|strong="G3326" his|strong="G1519" disciples|strong="G3101" into|strong="G1519" the|strong="G2532" country|strong="G1093" parts of|strong="G2532" Judea|strong="G2453"; and|strong="G2532" there|strong="G1563" he|strong="G2532" stayed|strong="G1304" with|strong="G3326" them|strong="G3588", and|strong="G2532" baptised.
23 John|strong="G2491", also|strong="G2532", was|strong="G1510" baptising at|strong="G1722" Aenon near|strong="G1451" Salim|strong="G4530", because|strong="G3754" there|strong="G1563" were|strong="G1510" many|strong="G4183" streams there|strong="G1563"; and|strong="G2532" people|strong="G1510" were|strong="G1510" constantly coming|strong="G3854" and|strong="G2532" being|strong="G1510" baptised.
24 (For|strong="G1063" John|strong="G2491" had|strong="G1510" not|strong="G1510" yet|strong="G3768" been|strong="G1510" imprisoned).
25 Now|strong="G3767" a|strong="G1096" discussion|strong="G2214" arose|strong="G1096" between|strong="G3326" some|strong="G3588" of|strong="G1537" John|strong="G2491"’s disciples|strong="G3101" and|strong="G2453" a|strong="G1096" fellow Jew|strong="G2453" on|strong="G1537" the|strong="G1537" subject of|strong="G1537" purification|strong="G2512";
26 and|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" disciples|strong="G1510" came|strong="G2064" to|strong="G4314" John|strong="G2491" and|strong="G2532" said|strong="G3004", ‘Rabbi|strong="G4461", the|strong="G2532" man|strong="G3778" who|strong="G3739" was|strong="G1510" with|strong="G3326" you|strong="G4771" on|strong="G3326" the|strong="G2532" other|strong="G4008" side|strong="G4008" of|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" Jordan|strong="G2446", and|strong="G2532" to|strong="G4314" whom|strong="G3739" you|strong="G4771" have|strong="G2532" yourself|strong="G4771" borne testimony|strong="G3140" – he|strong="G2532", also|strong="G2532", is|strong="G1510" baptising, and|strong="G2532" everybody is|strong="G1510" going|strong="G2532" to|strong="G4314" him|strong="G3588".’
27 John|strong="G2491"’s answer was|strong="G1510" – ‘A|strong="G2532" person|strong="G1520" can|strong="G1410" gain nothing|strong="G3762" but|strong="G2532" what|strong="G3588" is|strong="G1510" given|strong="G1325" them|strong="G3588" from|strong="G1537" heaven|strong="G3772".
28 You|strong="G5210" are|strong="G1510" yourselves|strong="G4771" witnesses|strong="G3140" that|strong="G3754" I|strong="G1473" said|strong="G3004" “I|strong="G1473" am|strong="G1510" not|strong="G3756" the|strong="G3588" Christ|strong="G5547",” but|strong="G3588" “I|strong="G1473" have|strong="G1473" been|strong="G1510" sent before|strong="G1715" him|strong="G3588" as|strong="G3004" a|strong="G1510" messenger.”
29 It|strong="G2532" is|strong="G1510" the|strong="G2532" groom who|strong="G3588" has|strong="G2192" the|strong="G2532" bride|strong="G3565"; but|strong="G1161" the|strong="G2532" groom’s|strong="G2192" friend|strong="G5384", who|strong="G3588" stands|strong="G2476" by|strong="G1223" and|strong="G2532" listens to|strong="G2532" him|strong="G3588", is|strong="G1510" filled|strong="G4137" with|strong="G1223" joy|strong="G5479" when|strong="G1161" he|strong="G2532" hears the|strong="G2532" groom’s|strong="G2192" voice|strong="G5456". This|strong="G3778" joy|strong="G5479" I|strong="G2532" have|strong="G2192" felt|strong="G1510" to|strong="G2532" the|strong="G2532" full|strong="G4137".
30 He|strong="G1161" must|strong="G1163" become|strong="G1161" greater, and|strong="G1161" I|strong="G1473" less.’
31 He|strong="G2532" who|strong="G3588" comes|strong="G2064" from|strong="G1537" above|strong="G1883" is|strong="G1510" above|strong="G1883" all|strong="G3956" others|strong="G3588"; but|strong="G2532" a|strong="G2532" child of|strong="G1537" earth|strong="G1093" is|strong="G1510" earthly|strong="G1093", and|strong="G2532" his|strong="G3956" teaching|strong="G2980" is|strong="G1510" earthly|strong="G1093", too|strong="G2532". He|strong="G2532" who|strong="G3588" comes|strong="G2064" from|strong="G1537" heaven|strong="G3772" is|strong="G1510" above|strong="G1883" all|strong="G3956" others|strong="G3588".
32 He|strong="G2532" states what|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" has|strong="G3739" seen|strong="G3708" and|strong="G2532" what|strong="G3739" he|strong="G2532" heard, and|strong="G2532" yet|strong="G2532" no|strong="G3762" one|strong="G3762" accepts|strong="G2983" his|strong="G2983" statement.
33 They|strong="G3588" who|strong="G3588" did|strong="G1510" accept|strong="G2983" his|strong="G2983" statement confirm the|strong="G3588" fact|strong="G3754" that|strong="G3754" God|strong="G2316" is|strong="G1510" true|strong="G3588".
34 For|strong="G1063" he|strong="G3739" whom|strong="G3739" God|strong="G2316" sent|strong="G2316" as|strong="G3739" his|strong="G1325" messenger gives|strong="G1325" us|strong="G1325" God|strong="G2316"’s own teaching|strong="G4487", for|strong="G1063" God|strong="G2316" does|strong="G2316" not|strong="G3756" limit the|strong="G1537" gift of|strong="G1537" the|strong="G1537" Spirit|strong="G4151".
35 The|strong="G1722" Father|strong="G3962" loves his|strong="G3956" Son|strong="G5207", and|strong="G2532" has|strong="G3962" put|strong="G1325" everything|strong="G3956" in|strong="G1722" his|strong="G3956" hands|strong="G5495".
36 The|strong="G1519" person|strong="G5207" who|strong="G3588" believes|strong="G4100" in|strong="G1519" the|strong="G1519" Son|strong="G5207" has|strong="G2192" eternal life|strong="G2222", while|strong="G1161" a|strong="G2192" person|strong="G5207" who|strong="G3588" rejects the|strong="G1519" Son|strong="G5207" will|strong="G2316" not|strong="G3756" even|strong="G1161" see|strong="G3708" that|strong="G3588" life|strong="G2222", but|strong="G1161" remains|strong="G3306" under|strong="G1909" God|strong="G2316"’s|strong="G2192" displeasure.