Jesus and Nicodemus (Genesis 22:1–10; Romans 5:6–11)
1 UEB Now there was a Pharisee whose name was Nicodemus, a Jewish leader. BSB BSB: Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews.
2 UEB This man came to Jesus at night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher that came from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is 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 UEB Jesus replied to him, "Truly, truly, unless someone is 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 UEB Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?" 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 UEB Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, unless someone is born of water and 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 UEB 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 UEB Do not be amazed 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 UEB The wind blows wherever it wishes; you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it is going. So is everyone who 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 UEB Nicodemus replied and said to him, "How can these things be?" BSB BSB: “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.
10 UEB Jesus answered and said to him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? BSB BSB: “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and you do not understand these things?
11 UEB Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak what we know, and we testify about what we have seen. Yet you do not accept our testimony. 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 UEB If I told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about 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 UEB No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven—the Son of Man. BSB BSB: No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
14 UEB Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, 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 UEB so that all who believe in him may have eternal life. BSB BSB: that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
17 UEB For God did not send the Son into the world in order to condemn the world, but in order to save the world through him. BSB BSB: For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.
18 UEB He who believes in him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is already condemned because he has not believed in the name of the one and only 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 UEB This is the reason for the judgment: The light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the 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 UEB For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. 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 UEB However, he who practices the truth comes to the light so that it may be plainly seen that his deeds have been done 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 UEB After this, Jesus and his disciples went into the land of Judea. There he spent some time 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 UEB Now John was also baptizing in Aenon near to Salim because there was much water there. People were coming to him and were being 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 UEB for John had not yet been thrown in prison. BSB BSB: (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.)
25 UEB Then there arose a dispute between some of John's disciples and a Jew about ceremonial washing. BSB BSB: Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing.
26 UEB They went to John and said to him, "Rabbi, the one who was with you on the other side of the Jordan River, about whom you have testified, look, he is baptizing, and they are all going 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 UEB John replied, "A man cannot receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven. BSB BSB: John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven.
28 UEB You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but instead, 'I have been sent before him.' BSB BSB: You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’
29 UEB The bride belongs to the bridegroom. Now the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the voice of the bridegroom. This, then, is my joy made complete. 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 UEB He must increase, but I must decrease. BSB BSB: He must increase; I must decrease.
31 UEB He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth is from the earth and speaks about the earth. He who 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 UEB He testifies about what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. BSB BSB: He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony.
33 UEB He who has received his testimony has confirmed that God is true. BSB BSB: Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful.
34 UEB For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God. For he does not give the Spirit by measure. BSB BSB: For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.
35 UEB 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 UEB He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who disobeys the Son will 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.”