Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version

1There was a man from the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

2This man came to him at night and said, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one could perform these signs you do unless God were with him."

2This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

3Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

3Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

4"How can anyone be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked him. "Can he enter his mother's womb a second time and be born?"

4Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

5Jesus answered, "Truly I tell you, unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

6Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.

6That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

7Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again.

7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

8The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don't know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

8The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

9"How can these things be?" asked Nicodemus.

9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?”

10"Are you a teacher of Israel and don't know these things?" Jesus replied.

10Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

11"Truly I tell you, we speak what we know and we testify to what we have seen, but you do not accept our testimony.

11Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.

12If I have told you about earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?

12If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven--the Son of Man.

13No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

14"Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,

14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

15so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

16For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

16“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

18Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

19This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.

19And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

20For everyone who does evil hates the light and avoids it, so that his deeds may not be exposed.

20For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

21But anyone who lives by the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be shown to be accomplished by God."

21But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”

22After this, Jesus and his disciples went to the Judean countryside, where he spent time with them and baptized.

22After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he remained there with them and was baptizing.

23John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was plenty of water there. People were coming and being baptized,

23John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because water was plentiful there, and people were coming and being baptized

24since John had not yet been thrown into prison.

24(for John had not yet been put in prison).

25Then a dispute arose between John's disciples and a Jew about purification.

25Now a discussion arose between some of John’s disciples and a Jew over purification.

26So they came to John and told him, "Rabbi, the one you testified about, and who was with you across the Jordan, is baptizing--and everyone is going to him."

26And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness—look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him.”

27John responded, "No one can receive anything unless it has been given to him from heaven.

27John answered, “A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.

28You yourselves can testify that I said, 'I am not the Messiah, but I've been sent ahead of him.'

28You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.’

29He who has the bride is the groom. But the groom's friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly at the groom's voice. So this joy of mine is complete.

29The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.

30He must increase, but I must decrease."

30He must increase, but I must decrease.”

31The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms. The one who comes from heaven is above all.

31He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.

32He testifies to what he has seen and heard, and yet no one accepts his testimony.

32He bears witness to what he has seen and heard, yet no one receives his testimony.

33The one who has accepted his testimony has affirmed that God is true.

33Whoever receives his testimony sets his seal to this, that God is true.

34For the one whom God sent speaks God's words, since he gives the Spirit without measure.

34For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.

35The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hands.

35The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.

36The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.

The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

ESV Text Edition: 2016. The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®) copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. The ESV® text has been reproduced in cooperation with and by permission of Good News Publishers. Unauthorized reproduction of this publication is prohibited. All rights reserved.