John 3
GOD’S WORD Translation
A Conversation with Nicodemus
3 Nicodemus was a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish council. 2 He came to Jesus one night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that God has sent you as a teacher. No one can perform the miracles you perform unless God is with him.”
3 Jesus replied to Nicodemus, “I can guarantee this truth: No one can see God’s kingdom without being born from above.” [a]
4 Nicodemus asked him, “How can anyone be born when he’s an old man? He can’t go back inside his mother a second time to be born, can he?”
5 Jesus answered Nicodemus, “I can guarantee this truth: No one can enter God’s kingdom without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh and blood give birth to flesh and blood, but the Spirit gives birth to things that are spiritual. 7 Don’t be surprised when I tell you that all of you must be born from above. 8 The wind [b] blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where the wind comes from or where it’s going. That’s the way it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus replied, “How can that be?”
10 Jesus told Nicodemus, “You’re a well-known teacher of Israel. Can’t you understand this? 11 I can guarantee this truth: We know what we’re talking about, and we confirm what we’ve seen. Yet, you don’t accept our message. 12 If you don’t believe me when I tell you about things on earth, how will you believe me when I tell you about things in heaven? 13 No one has gone to heaven except the Son of Man, who came from heaven.
14 “As Moses lifted up the snake ⌞on a pole⌟ in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up. 15 Then everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.”
16 God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but to save the world. 18 Those who believe in him won’t be condemned. But those who don’t believe are already condemned because they don’t believe in God’s only Son.
19 This is why people are condemned: The light came into the world. Yet, people loved the dark rather than the light because their actions were evil. 20 People who do what is wrong hate the light and don’t come to the light. They don’t want their actions to be exposed. 21 But people who do what is true come to the light so that the things they do for God may be clearly seen.
John the Baptizer Talks about Christ
22 Later, Jesus and his disciples went to the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them and baptized people. 23 John was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim. Water was plentiful there. (People came to John to be baptized, 24 since John had not yet been put in prison.)
25 Some of John’s disciples had an argument with a Jew about purification ceremonies. 26 So they went to John and asked him, “Rabbi, do you remember the man you spoke so favorably about when he was with you on the other side of the Jordan River? Well, he’s baptizing, and everyone is going to him!”
27 John answered, “People can’t receive anything unless it has been given to them from heaven. 28 You are witnesses that I said, ‘I’m not the Messiah, but I’ve been sent ahead of him.’
29 “The groom is the person to whom the bride belongs. The best man, who stands and listens to him, is overjoyed when the groom speaks. This is the joy that I feel. 30 He must increase in importance, while I must decrease in importance.
31 “The person who comes from above is superior to everyone. I, a person from the earth, know nothing but what is on earth, and that’s all I can talk about. The person who comes from heaven is superior to everyone 32 and tells what he has seen and heard. Yet, no one accepts what he says. 33 I have accepted what that person said, and I have affirmed that God is truthful. 34 The man whom God has sent speaks God’s message. After all, God gives him the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves his Son and has put everything in his power. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, he will see God’s constant anger.”
John 3
New American Standard Bible
The New Birth
3 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named (A)Nicodemus, a (B)ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to [a]Jesus at night and said to Him, “(C)Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these [b](D)signs that You do unless (E)God is with him.” 3 Jesus responded and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone (F)is born [c]again he cannot see (G)the kingdom of God.”
4 Nicodemus *said to Him, “How can a person be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born of (H)water and the Spirit, he cannot enter (I)the kingdom of God. 6 (J)That which has been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which has been born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born [d]again.’ 8 (K)The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it is coming from and where it is going; so is everyone who has been born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus responded and said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “You are (L)the teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 Truly, truly, I say to you, (M)we speak of what we know and (N)testify of what we have seen, and (O)you people do not accept our testimony. 12 If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 (P)No one has ascended into heaven, except (Q)He who descended from heaven: (R)the Son of Man. 14 And just as (S)Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must (T)the Son of Man (U)be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who [e]believes will (V)have eternal life in Him.
16 “For God so (W)loved the world, that He (X)gave His (Y)only Son, so that everyone who (Z)believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God (AA)did not send the Son into the world (AB)to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him. 18 (AC)The one who believes in Him is not judged; the one who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of (AD)the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that (AE)the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for (AF)their deeds were evil. 20 (AG)For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. 21 But the one who (AH)practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds will be revealed [f]as having been performed in God.”
John the Baptist’s Last Testimony
22 After these things Jesus and His (AI)disciples came into the land of Judea; and there He was spending time with them and (AJ)baptizing. 23 Now John also was baptizing in Aenon, near Salim, because there was an abundance of water there; and people were coming and being baptized— 24 for (AK)John had not yet been thrown into prison.
25 Then a matter of dispute developed on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about [g](AL)purification. 26 And they came to John and said to him, “(AM)Rabbi, He who was with you (AN)beyond the Jordan, to whom you (AO)have testified—behold, He is baptizing and all the people are coming to Him.” 27 John replied, “(AP)A person can receive not even one thing unless it (AQ)has been given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves [h]are my witnesses that I said, ‘(AR)I am not the [i]Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.’ 29 He who has the bride is (AS)the groom; but the friend of the groom, who stands and listens to him, rejoices greatly because of the groom’s voice. So this (AT)joy of mine has been made full. 30 He must [j]increase, but I must [k]decrease.
31 “(AU)He who comes from above is above all; (AV)the one who is only from the earth is of the earth and speaks of the earth. (AW)He who comes from heaven is above all. 32 What He has seen and heard, of this He (AX)testifies; and (AY)no one accepts His testimony. 33 The one who has accepted His testimony (AZ)has certified that God is true. 34 For He whom God (BA)sent speaks the words of God; (BB)for He does not give the Spirit [l]sparingly. 35 (BC)The Father loves the Son and (BD)has entrusted all things to His hand. 36 The one who (BE)believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who (BF)does not [m]obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
Footnotes
- John 3:2 Lit Him
- John 3:2 I.e., confirming miracles
- John 3:3 Or from above
- John 3:7 Or from above
- John 3:15 Or believes in Him will have eternal life
- John 3:21 Lit that they have been
- John 3:25 I.e., ceremonial washing
- John 3:28 Lit testify for me
- John 3:28 I.e., Messiah
- John 3:30 Or become greater
- John 3:30 Or become less important
- John 3:34 Lit from measure
- John 3:36 I.e., in belief
Juan 3
Nueva Biblia de las Américas
El nuevo nacimiento
3 Había un hombre de los fariseos, llamado Nicodemo(A), prominente(B) entre los judíos. 2 Este vino a Jesús de noche y le dijo: «Rabí(C), sabemos que has venido de Dios como maestro, porque nadie puede hacer las señales[a](D) que Tú haces si Dios no está con él(E)».
3 Jesús le contestó: «En verdad te digo que el que no nace de nuevo[b](F) no puede ver el reino de Dios(G)».
4 Nicodemo le dijo*: «¿Cómo puede un hombre nacer siendo ya viejo? ¿Acaso puede entrar por segunda vez en el vientre de su madre y nacer?».
5 Jesús respondió: «En verdad te digo que el que no nace de agua y del Espíritu(H) no puede entrar en el reino de Dios(I). 6 Lo que es nacido de la carne, carne es(J), y lo que es nacido del Espíritu, espíritu es. 7 No te asombres de que te haya dicho: “Tienen que nacer de nuevo[c]”. 8 El viento sopla por donde quiere, y oyes su sonido, pero no sabes de dónde viene ni adónde va(K); así es todo aquel que es nacido del Espíritu».
9 Nicodemo le preguntó: «¿Cómo puede ser esto?». 10 Jesús le respondió: «Tú eres maestro(L) de Israel, ¿y no entiendes estas cosas? 11 En verdad te digo que hablamos lo que sabemos(M) y damos testimonio de lo que hemos visto, pero ustedes no reciben nuestro testimonio(N). 12 Si les he hablado de las cosas terrenales, y no creen, ¿cómo creerán si les hablo de las celestiales? 13 Nadie ha subido al cielo(O), sino Aquel que bajó del cielo(P), es decir, el Hijo del Hombre(Q) que está en el cielo[d].
14 »Y como Moisés levantó la serpiente en el desierto(R), así es necesario que sea levantado el Hijo del Hombre(S), 15 para que todo aquel que cree, tenga en Él vida eterna(T).
El amor de Dios
16 »Porque de tal manera amó Dios al mundo(U), que dio a Su Hijo unigénito(V), para que todo aquel que cree en Él, no se pierda, sino que tenga vida eterna(W). 17 Porque Dios no envió(X) a Su Hijo al mundo para juzgar al mundo, sino para que el mundo sea salvo por Él(Y). 18 El que cree en Él no es condenado(Z); pero el que no cree, ya ha sido condenado, porque no ha creído en el nombre del unigénito Hijo de Dios(AA).
19 »Y este es el juicio: que la Luz vino al mundo(AB), y los hombres amaron más las tinieblas que la Luz, pues sus acciones eran malas(AC). 20 Porque todo el que hace lo malo odia la Luz(AD), y no viene a la Luz para que sus acciones no sean expuestas. 21 Pero el que practica la verdad(AE) viene a la Luz, para que sus acciones sean manifestadas que han sido hechas en Dios».
Testimonio final de Juan el Bautista
22 Después de esto Jesús vino con Sus discípulos(AF) a la tierra de Judea, y estaba allí con ellos, y bautizaba(AG). 23 Juan también bautizaba en Enón, cerca de Salim, porque allí había mucha agua[e]; y muchos venían y eran bautizados. 24 Porque Juan todavía no había sido puesto en la cárcel(AH).
25 Surgió entonces una discusión entre los discípulos de Juan y un judío acerca de la purificación(AI). 26 Vinieron a Juan y le dijeron: «Rabí(AJ), mira, Aquel que estaba contigo al otro lado del Jordán(AK), de quien diste testimonio(AL), está bautizando y todos van a Él».
27 Juan les respondió: «Ningún hombre puede recibir nada si no le es dado del cielo(AM). 28 Ustedes mismos me son testigos de que dije: “Yo no soy el Cristo[f](AN), sino que he sido enviado delante de Él”. 29 El que tiene la novia es el novio(AO), pero el amigo del novio, que está allí y le oye, se alegra en gran manera con la voz del novio. Y por eso, este gozo mío se ha completado(AP). 30 Es necesario que Él crezca, y que yo disminuya.
31 »El que procede de arriba está por encima de todos; el que es de la tierra, procede[g] de la tierra y de la tierra habla(AQ). El que procede del cielo está sobre todos(AR). 32 Lo que Él ha visto y oído, de eso da testimonio; y nadie recibe Su testimonio(AS). 33 El que ha recibido Su testimonio ha certificado(AT) esto: que Dios es veraz. 34 Porque Aquel a quien Dios ha enviado(AU) habla las palabras de Dios, pues Él da el Espíritu(AV) sin medida[h].
35 »El Padre ama al Hijo y ha entregado todas las cosas en Su mano(AW). 36 El que cree en el Hijo tiene vida eterna(AX); pero el que no obedece[i](AY) al Hijo no verá la vida, sino que la ira de Dios permanece sobre él».
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