Jesus and Nicodemus (Genesis 22:1–10; Romans 5:6–11)
1 AKJV There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: BSB BSB: Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.
2 AKJV The same came to Jesus by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that you do, except God be with him. BSB BSB: He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs You are doing if God were not with him.”
3 AKJV Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. BSB BSB: Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
4 AKJV Nicodemus says to him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born? BSB BSB: “How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Can he enter his mother’s womb a second time to be born?”
5 AKJV Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. BSB BSB: Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
6 AKJV That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. BSB BSB: Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit.
7 AKJV Marvel not that I said to you, You must be born again. BSB BSB: Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’
8 AKJV The wind blows where it wants, and you hear the sound thereof, but can not tell from where it comes, and where it goes: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. BSB BSB: The wind 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.”
9 AKJV Nicodemus answered and said to him, How can these things be? BSB BSB: “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 AKJV Jesus answered and said to him, Are you a master of Israel, and know not these things? BSB BSB: “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and you do not understand these things?
11 AKJV Truly, truly, I say to you, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and you receive not our witness. BSB BSB: Truly, 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.
12 AKJV If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things? BSB BSB: If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?
13 AKJV And no man has ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. BSB BSB: No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
14 AKJV And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: BSB BSB: Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
15 AKJV That whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. BSB BSB: that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
17 AKJV For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. BSB BSB: For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
18 AKJV He that believes on him is not condemned: but he that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. BSB BSB: Whoever 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 one and only Son.
19 AKJV And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. BSB BSB: And this is the verdict: The Light has come into the world, but men loved the darkness rather than the Light because their deeds were evil.
20 AKJV For every one that does evil hates the light, neither comes to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. BSB BSB: Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.
21 AKJV But he that does truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are worked in God. BSB BSB: But 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.”
John’s Testimony about Jesus 22 AKJV After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized. BSB BSB: After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized.
23 AKJV And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized. BSB BSB: Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized.
24 AKJV For John was not yet cast into prison. BSB BSB: (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)
25 AKJV Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying. BSB BSB: Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.
26 AKJV And they came to John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with you beyond Jordan, to whom you bore witness, behold, the same baptizes, and all men come to him. BSB BSB: So John’s disciples came to him and said, “Look, Rabbi, the One who was with you beyond the Jordan, the One you testified about—He is baptizing, and everyone is going to Him.”
27 AKJV John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. BSB BSB: John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
28 AKJV You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. BSB BSB: You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’
29 AKJV He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled. BSB BSB: The 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.
30 AKJV He must increase, but I must decrease. BSB BSB: He must increase; I must decrease.
31 AKJV He that comes from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaks of the earth: he that comes from heaven is above all. BSB BSB: The 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.
32 AKJV And what he has seen and heard, that he testifies; and no man receives his testimony. BSB BSB: He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.
33 AKJV He that has received his testimony has set to his seal that God is true. BSB BSB: Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful.
34 AKJV For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God: for God gives not the Spirit by measure to him. BSB BSB: For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
35 AKJV The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. BSB BSB: The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
36 AKJV He that believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he that believes not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God stays on him. BSB BSB: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”