[1] Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicode'mus, a ruler of the
Jews. [2] This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know
that you are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that
you do, unless God is with him." [3] Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I
say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." [4]
Nicode'mus 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 of water and the Spirit, he
cannot enter the kingdom of God. [6] That which is born of the flesh is
flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. [7] Do not marvel
that I said to you, `You must be born anew.' [8] The wind blows where it
wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or
whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit." [9]
Nicode'mus said to him, "How can this be?" [10] Jesus answered him, "Are
you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand this? [11] Truly,
truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we
have seen; but you 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] No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended
from heaven, the Son of man. [14] And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the
wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up, [15] that whoever believes
in him may have eternal life." [16] For God so loved the world that he gave
his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have
eternal life. [17] For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the
world, but that the world might be saved through him. [18] He who believes
in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already,
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. [19] And
this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved
darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. [20] For every
one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his
deeds should be exposed. [21] But he who does what is true comes to the
light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.
[22] After this Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea; there
he remained with them and baptized. [23] John also was baptizing at Ae'non
near Salim, because there was much water there; and people came and were
baptized. [24] For John had not yet been put in prison. [25] Now a
discussion arose between John's disciples and a Jew over purifying. [26]
And they came to John, and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you beyond
the Jordan, to whom you bore witness, here he is, baptizing, and all are
going to him." [27] John answered, "No one can receive anything except what
is given him from heaven. [28] You yourselves bear me witness, that I said,
I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. [29] He who has the
bride is the bridegroom; the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears
him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice; therefore this joy of mine
is now full. [30] He must increase, but I must decrease." [31] He who comes
from above is above all; he who is of the earth belongs to the earth, and
of the earth he speaks; he who comes from heaven is above all. [32] He
bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his
testimony; [33] he who receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that
God is true. [34] For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for it
is not by measure that he gives the Spirit; [35] the Father loves the Son,
and has given all things into his hand. [36] He who believes in the Son has
eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the
wrath of God rests upon him.
