1There was a man of the Pharisees , named Nicodemus , a ruler of the Jews : 2The same came to Jesus by night , and said unto him , Rabbi , we know that thou art a teacher come from God : for no man can do these miracles that thou doest , except God be with him . 3Jesus answered and said unto him , Verily , verily , I say unto thee , Except a man be born again , he can not see the kingdom of God . 4Nicodemus saith unto 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 ? 5Jesus answered , Verily , verily , I say unto thee , Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit , he can not enter into the kingdom of God . 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh ; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit . 7Marvel not that I said unto thee , Ye must be born again . 8The wind bloweth where it listeth , and thou hearest the sound thereof , but canst not tell whence it cometh , and whither it goeth : so is every one that is born of the Spirit .
The Necessity of Faith in Christ
9Nicodemus answered and said unto him , How can these things be ? 10Jesus answered and said unto him , Art thou a master of Israel , and knowest not these things ? 11Verily , verily , I say unto thee , We speak that we do know , and testify that we have seen ; and ye receive not our witness . 12If I have told you earthly things , and ye believe not , how shall ye believe , if I tell you of heavenly things ? 13And no man hath ascended up to heaven , but he that came down from heaven , even the Son of man which is in heaven . 14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness , even so must the Son of man be lifted up : 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish , but have eternal life .
God's Love and the Gift of Salvation
16For God so loved the world , that he gave his only begotten Son , that whosoever believeth in him should not perish , but have everlasting life . 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world ; but that the world through him might be saved . 18He that believeth on him is not condemned : but he that believeth not is condemned already , because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God . 19And this is the condemnation , that light is come into the world , and men loved darkness rather than light , because their deeds were evil . 20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light , neither cometh to the light , lest his deeds should be reproved . 21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light , that his deeds may be made manifest , that they are wrought in God .
The Response to the Light
22After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judæa ; and there he tarried with them , and baptized . 23And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim , because there was much water there : and they came , and were baptized . 24For John was not yet cast into prison . 25Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying . 26And they came unto John , and said unto him , Rabbi , he that was with thee beyond Jordan , to whom thou barest witness , behold , the same baptizeth , and all men come to him . 27John answered and said , A man can receive nothing , except it be given him from heaven . 28Ye yourselves bear me witness , that I said , I am not the Christ , but that I am sent before him . 29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom : but the friend of the bridegroom , which standeth and heareth him , rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice : this my joy therefore is fulfilled . 30He must increase , but I must decrease .
The Testimony of John the Baptist
31He that cometh from above is above all : he that is of the earth is earthly , and speaketh of the earth : he that cometh from heaven is above all . 32And what he hath seen and heard , that he testifieth ; and no man receiveth his testimony . 33He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true . 34For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God : for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him . 35The Father loveth the Son , and hath given all things into his hand . 36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life : and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life ; but the wrath of God abideth on him .