Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? New Living Translation But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? English Standard Version If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? Berean Standard Bible If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? Berean Literal Bible If I spoke to you⁺ earthly things and you⁺ do not believe, how will you⁺ believe if I should speak to you⁺ heavenly things? King James Bible If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? New King James Version If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? New American Standard Bible If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? NASB 1995 “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? NASB 1977 “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how shall you believe if I tell you heavenly things? Legacy Standard Bible If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? Amplified Bible If I told you earthly things [that is, things that happen right here on earth] and you do not believe, how will you believe and trust Me if I tell you heavenly things? Berean Annotated Bible If I have told you⁺ about earthly things and you⁺ do not believe, how will you⁺ believe if I tell you⁺ about heavenly things? Christian Standard Bible If I have told you about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? Holman Christian Standard Bible 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? American Standard Version If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things? Contemporary English Version If you don't believe when I talk to you about things on earth, how can you possibly believe if I talk to you about things in heaven? English Revised Version If I told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you heavenly things? GOD'S WORD® Translation 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? Good News Translation You do not believe me when I tell you about the things of this world; how will you ever believe me, then, when I tell you about the things of heaven? International Standard Version If I have told you people about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? NET Bible If I have told you people about earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? New Heart English Bible If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? Webster's Bible Translation If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how will ye believe if I tell you heavenly things? Weymouth New Testament If I have told you earthly things and none of you believe me, how will you believe me if I tell you of things in Heaven? Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleIf I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? World English Bible If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? Literal Translations Literal Standard Versionif I spoke to you of the earthly things, and you do not believe, how, if I will speak to you of the heavenly things, will you believe? Berean Literal Bible If I spoke to you⁺ earthly things and you⁺ do not believe, how will you⁺ believe if I should speak to you⁺ heavenly things? Young's Literal Translation if the earthly things I said to you, and ye do not believe, how, if I shall say to you the heavenly things, will ye believe? Smith's Literal Translation If I spake to you earthly things, and ye believe not, how, if I speak to you heavenly things, will ye believe. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIf I have spoken to you earthly things, and you believe not; how will you believe, if I shall speak to you heavenly things? Catholic Public Domain Version If I have spoken to you about earthly things, and you have not believed, then how will you believe, if I will speak to you about heavenly things? New American Bible If I tell you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? New Revised Standard Version If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleIf I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how then will you believe me, if I tell you about heavenly things? Aramaic Bible in Plain English If I have told all of you that which is in the earth and you are not believing, how shall you believe me if I tell you that which is in Heaven? NT Translations Anderson New TestamentIf I have told you of earthly things, and you believe not, how will you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? Godbey New Testament Haweis New Testament If I have told you of earthly things, and ye believe not, how will you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? Mace New Testament if you don't believe when I tell you what is plain, how should you believe, if I tell you of things more sublime? Weymouth New Testament If I have told you earthly things and none of you believe me, how will you believe me if I tell you of things in Heaven? Worrell New Testament Worsley New Testament Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Jesus and Nicodemus…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.… Cross References If I have told you about earthly things 1 Corinthians 15:40-49 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies. But the splendor of the heavenly bodies is of one degree, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is of another. / The sun has one degree of splendor, the moon another, and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor. / So will it be with the resurrection of the dead: What is sown is perishable; it is raised imperishable. … James 3:15-17 Such wisdom does not come from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. / For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every evil practice. / But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere. Philippians 3:19-20 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and their glory is in their shame. Their minds are set on earthly things. / But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, and you do not believe Numbers 14:11 And the LORD said to Moses, “How long will this people treat Me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in Me, despite all the signs I have performed among them? Psalm 78:22 because they did not believe God or rely on His salvation. Hebrews 3:19 So we see that it was because of their unbelief that they were unable to enter. how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 1 Corinthians 2:10-14 But God has revealed it to us by the Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. / For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. / We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. … Hebrews 8:5 The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” Hebrews 9:23-24 So it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. / For Christ did not enter a man-made copy of the true sanctuary, but He entered heaven itself, now to appear on our behalf in the presence of God. John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. / He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. John 8:23 Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. 1 John 4:5-6 They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them. / We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception. John 5:46-47 If you had believed Moses, you would believe Me, because he wrote about Me. / But since you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?” John 6:63 The Spirit gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life. 1 Corinthians 15:47 The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. Treasury of Scripture If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? earthly. John 3:3,5,8 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God… 1 Corinthians 3:1,2 And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ… Hebrews 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. heavenly. John 3:13-17,31-36 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven… John 1:1-14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… 1 Corinthians 2:7-9 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: … Jump to Previous Belief Believe Earth Earthly Heaven Heavenly Speak WordsJump to Next Belief Believe Earth Earthly Heaven Heavenly Speak WordsJohn 3 1. Jesus teaches Nicodemus the necessity of being born again,14. of faith in his death, 16. the great love of God toward the world, 18. and the condemnation for unbelief. 22. Jesus baptizes in Judea. 23. The baptism, witness, and doctrine of John concerning Jesus. If I have told you about earthly things This phrase refers to Jesus' previous teachings and miracles that were observable and understandable within the natural world. Earthly things could include the concepts of being born again (John 3:3-8) and the physical signs Jesus performed, which were meant to reveal His divine authority. The use of "earthly things" highlights the tangible aspects of Jesus' ministry that should have been accessible to human understanding. In the context of Jewish culture, earthly things often related to the Law and the prophets, which were foundational to their faith and daily life. and you do not believe how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? Persons / Places / Events 1. Jesus ChristThe central figure in this passage, Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus, explaining spiritual truths using earthly analogies. 2. Nicodemus A Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council who comes to Jesus at night seeking understanding of His teachings. 3. Jerusalem The city where this conversation takes place, a significant location for Jewish religious life and Jesus' ministry. Teaching Points Understanding Spiritual TruthsJesus uses earthly analogies to explain spiritual realities, emphasizing the need for spiritual discernment. The Challenge of Unbelief Even religious leaders like Nicodemus can struggle with belief, highlighting the importance of faith over mere knowledge. The Importance of Faith Faith is essential to understanding deeper spiritual truths. Without belief in the basics, the more profound truths remain inaccessible. The Role of the Holy Spirit Spiritual understanding requires the illumination of the Holy Spirit, who helps believers grasp heavenly realities. Growth in Spiritual Maturity Believers are encouraged to move beyond elementary teachings to mature in their understanding of God's kingdom. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of John 3:12?2. How does John 3:12 challenge our understanding of earthly versus heavenly truths? 3. What earthly things might hinder belief in the heavenly truths of John 3:12? 4. How can John 3:12 deepen our faith in Jesus' teachings? 5. How does John 3:12 connect with other teachings about faith in the Gospels? 6. How can we apply the lesson of John 3:12 in daily evangelism? 7. How does John 3:12 challenge our understanding of earthly versus heavenly knowledge? 8. Why does Jesus emphasize belief in earthly things before heavenly things in John 3:12? 9. What historical context is essential to understanding John 3:12? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from John 3? 11. What defines the City of God? 12. When will Satan's defeat occur? 13. Does Heaven exist? 14. What is the Church of the Firstborn? What Does John 3:12 Mean If I have told you about earthly thingsJesus had just used simple, down-to-earth illustrations—birth, water, wind—to explain the new birth to Nicodemus (John 3:3-8). These are “earthly things” because they happen here and are within human experience. By grounding truth in everyday realities, the Lord follows the same pattern He used in His parables (Matthew 13:31-32). Scripture often uses what we can see to point to what we cannot (Romans 1:20). The literal point: if Nicodemus cannot grasp a clear, familiar picture, he will struggle even more with purely spiritual concepts. and you do not believe Unbelief, not lack of intelligence, is the obstacle. Nicodemus was “Israel’s teacher” (John 3:10), yet he hesitated to accept what Jesus plainly stated. Unbelief froze many in Jesus’ hometown (Mark 6:6) and later in Jerusalem (John 5:44-47). Hebrews 3:12 warns that an “evil heart of unbelief” keeps people from God’s rest. The text underscores that revelation demands a response of faith; without it, more information will not help. how will you believe Faith builds step by step. Rejecting foundational truths leaves nothing to stand on when higher truths arrive (Luke 16:31). Jesus’ question is lovingly diagnostic: if Nicodemus will not trust the witness in front of him (John 1:12), how can he embrace realities that lie beyond sight? Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” if I tell you about heavenly things? “Heavenly things” are the unseen, eternal realities Jesus alone fully knows (John 1:18; 6:46). They include the Son’s pre-existence (John 17:5), the Father’s eternal plan (Ephesians 1:3-4), and the glory awaiting believers (2 Corinthians 12:2-4; Revelation 4:1). Because Jesus “came down from heaven” (John 3:13), He speaks with firsthand authority. Yet He withholds deeper disclosure until hearts are ready, mirroring His later promise: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now” (John 16:12). summary John 3:12 teaches that faith in Christ’s clear, earthly illustrations is the gateway to grasping His richer, heavenly revelations. Rejecting the basics shuts the door to deeper understanding, while believing the simple truth He presents opens the way for greater insight into the eternal realities only He can reveal. (12) Earthly things--i.e., things upon earth, having the sphere of their action upon earth. These are not necessarily restricted to the subjects of this interview. The context includes previous witness borne by Him, and there must have been much which is unrecorded. (Comp. John 2:23.) But the new birth is not excluded from "earthly things," because it is the entrance to a life which, while it is spiritual, is still a life upon earth.Heavenly things, in the same way, are things which have the sphere of their action in heaven, the full development of the spiritual life, of which the birth only is on earth; the divine counsels of redemption; the Messianic mysteries, of which this ruler of Israel does not understand even the initiation. Comp. the question in the Wisdom of Solomon, "What man is he that can know the counsel of God? or who can think what the will of the Lord is? . . . And hardly do we guess aright at things that are upon earth, and with labour do we find the things that are before us: but the things that are in heaven who hath searched out?" (John 9:13; John 9:16). The earthly things are the elements of spiritual knowledge, having their test in the moral sense and in their fitness to supply the spiritual wants of man. When these elements are learnt, the mind is then, and then only, fitted to receive heavenly things. The teaching can only proceed step by step from the known to the unknown; but if the will refuses or the intellect neglects to know the knowable, the man cuts himself off from the power to receive truth. The message from the spirit-world has come, and others read it; but he has not learnt the alphabet. (Comp. Note on John 16:12.) Verse 12. - If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how will ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things? Our Lord here drops the plural form of address, and returns to the singular. He is about to refer to matters in which the testimony of disciples was not available. It has sometimes been said that the "earthly" and "heavenly" things refer to the wind parable and its interpretation. But, on the supposition that there is a parable or metaphor in ver. 8, which we have seen reason to doubt, there would be no perplexity about the reception of the earthly illustration; none could in that day have made a moment's question touching the invisibility and incomprehensibility of the motion of the wind. The birth from water has been supposed by others to be the (ἐπίγειον) "earthly" thing of which he had spoken, as contrasted with the heavenly thing, the birth anew from the Spirit. But this also is improbable, for of all the things of which Jesus spoke, that was the least likely to have been rejected by the Pharisaic party. The "earthly things" are the subject matter of the discourse as a whole, in apprehending which Nicodemus manifested such obtuseness. The change, renovation of human nature, the new beginning "from the Spirit" of each human life, was indeed operated on the ground of an earthly experience, and came fairly within the compass of common appreciation. Though produced by the Spirit, these things were enacted on earth. When Nicodemus asks the question "how?" he launches the inquiry into another region. There is wide difference between the question "what?" and the question "how?" The one in physical science refers to the whole range of phenomena, and the answer states the facts as they present themselves to the senses; the other question inquires into what Bacon called the latens processus - into verae causae, into the movements and method of the creative hand. So the answer to the question "what?" may be an "earthly thing," the answer to the question "how?" a "heavenly thing." If Christ answer the "how" of his listener, he raises his mind to the "heavenly" and transcendental realities which Nicodemus and we too will have to receive on an authority which entirely outsoars that of daily experience or temporal phenomena. Truly he does proceed to do so, but the difficulty of acceptance is indefinitely augmented. The answer of Christ to the matters of personal experience, verifiable by conscience and affirmed by Scripture, was difficult to the master of Israel. The answer of Jesus to the question "how?" may prove far more formidable. It involves the revelation of "the Son of man," and the redemption by the cross, and the ascension of the Son of man into heaven, and the love of God to the world, and the gift of eternal life to faith.Parallel Commentaries ... Greek IfΕἰ (Ei) Conjunction Strong's 1487: If. A primary particle of conditionality; if, whether, that, etc. I have told εἶπον (eipon) Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. you {about} ὑμῖν (hymin) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. earthly ἐπίγεια (epigeia) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural Strong's 1919: From epi and ge; worldly. things τὰ (ta) Article - Accusative Neuter Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. and καὶ (kai) Conjunction Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely. you do not believe, πιστεύετε (pisteuete) Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Strong's 4100: From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust. how πῶς (pōs) Adverb Strong's 4459: Adverb from the base of pou; an interrogative particle of manner; in what way?; also as exclamation, how much! will you believe πιστεύσετε (pisteusete) Verb - Future Indicative Active - 2nd Person Plural Strong's 4100: From pistis; to have faith, i.e. Credit; by implication, to entrust. if ἐὰν (ean) Conjunction Strong's 1437: If. From ei and an; a conditional particle; in case that, provided, etc. I tell εἴπω (eipō) Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Singular Strong's 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say. you {about} ὑμῖν (hymin) Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 2nd Person Plural Strong's 4771: You. The person pronoun of the second person singular; thou. heavenly ἐπουράνια (epourania) Adjective - Accusative Neuter Plural Strong's 2032: From epi and ouranos; above the sky. things? τὰ (ta) Article - Accusative Neuter Plural Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the. Links John 3:12 NIVJohn 3:12 NLT John 3:12 ESV John 3:12 NASB John 3:12 KJV John 3:12 BibleApps.com John 3:12 Biblia Paralela John 3:12 Chinese Bible John 3:12 French Bible John 3:12 Catholic Bible NT Gospels: John 3:12 If I told you earthly things (Jhn Jo Jn) |
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