Jesus and Nicodemus
(Genesis 22:1–10; Romans 5:6–11)

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus (victory of the people), a leader of the Jews (people of praise). 2He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher {didaskalos} who has come from God {Theou}. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God {Theos} were not with him.”

3Jesus (YHWH saves) replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God {Theou} unless he is born again (born from above).a”

4“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus (victory of the people) asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?”

5Jesus (YHWH saves) answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God {Theou} unless he is born of water and the Spirit {Pneumatos}. 6Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit {pneuma} is born of the Spirit {Pneumatos}. 7Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You⁺b must be born again.’ 8The wind {pneuma} blows where it wishes. You hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit {Pneumatos}.”

9“How can this be?” Nicodemus (victory of the people) asked.

10“You are Israel’s teacher {didaskalos},” said Jesus (YHWH saves), “and you do not understand these things? 11Truly, truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, and yet you⁺ people do not accept our testimony.

12If I have told you⁺ about earthly things and you⁺ do not believe, how will you⁺ believe if I tell you⁺ about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man [who is in heaven.].c 14Just as Moses (drawn out) lifted up the snake in the wilderness (solitary place), so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.d

16For God {Theos} so loved {ēgapēsen} the world that He gave His one and only (only begotten)e Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God {Theos} did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 18Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s {Theou} one and only Son.

19And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved {ēgapēsan} the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds (acts) were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds (acts) will be exposed. 21But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God {Theō}.”f

John’s Testimony about Jesus

22After this, Jesus (YHWH saves) and His disciples (pupils) went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized (submerged).

23Now John (YHWH is gracious) was also baptizing (submerging) at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized (submerged). 24(For John (YHWH is gracious) had not yet been thrown into prison.)

25Then a dispute arose between John’s (YHWH is gracious) disciples (pupils) and a certain Jew [and the Jews]g over the issue of ceremonial washing. 26So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look (behold), Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan (flowing down), the One you testified about—He is baptizing (submerging), and everyone is going to Him.”

27John (YHWH is gracious) replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28You⁺ yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ (the Anointed One), but am sent ahead of Him.’ 29The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. 30He must increase; I must decrease.

31The One who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks as one from the earth. The One who comes from heaven is above all [The One comes from heaven.].h 32He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. 33Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God {Theos} is truthful. 34For the One whom God {Theos} has sent speaks the words {rhēmata} of God {Theou}, for God gives the Spirit {Pneuma} without limit.

35The Father {Patēr} loves {agapa} the Son and has placed all things in His hands. 36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God {Theou} remains on him.”i