John 3

King James Version

Full text for John Chapter 3

1¶ There 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 cannot 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 cannot enter into the kingdom of God.›

6‹That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.›

7‹Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.›

8‹The 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.›

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?›

11‹Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.›

12‹If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you [of] heavenly things?›

13‹And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.›

14‹And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:›

15‹That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.›

16‹For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.›

17‹For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.›

18‹He 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.›

19‹And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.›

20‹For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.›

21‹But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.›

22¶ After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

23And John also was baptizing in Aenon 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.

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.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

John chapter three opens with Nicodemus, a Pharisee, visiting Jesus by night. Jesus declares that one must be "born again" of water and the Spirit to see and enter the kingdom of God, explaining this as a spiritual rebirth. He then proclaims God's profound love for the world, manifested in giving His only begotten Son so that believers might have everlasting life. The chapter concludes with John the Baptist humbly testifying to Jesus' supremacy, stating that Jesus "must increase, but I must decrease," and affirming that belief in the Son leads to everlasting life, while unbelief incurs the wrath of God.

Medium Summary

The third chapter of John begins with Nicodemus, a prominent Pharisee and ruler, seeking out Jesus under the cover of night. Jesus immediately introduces the profound concept of spiritual rebirth, stating that unless a man is "born again," he cannot perceive or enter the kingdom of God. Nicodemus, perplexed by a literal interpretation, is further instructed by Jesus that this rebirth is of "water and the Spirit," distinguishing between fleshly and spiritual birth. Jesus, the Son of Man, emphasizes his heavenly origin and purpose, likening his future lifting up to Moses' serpent in the wilderness, so that all who believe might have eternal life. This teaching culminates in the declaration of God's immense love for humanity, giving His only begotten Son for salvation, not condemnation. Later, as Jesus and his disciples baptize in Judaea, John the Baptist's disciples express concern about Jesus' growing following. John humbly clarifies his role, asserting he is not the Christ but merely a forerunner, likening himself to the friend of the bridegroom. He proclaims Jesus' heavenly origin and supreme authority, concluding that belief in the Son grants everlasting life, while rejection brings the wrath of God.

Long Summary

John chapter three commences with a significant encounter between Jesus and Nicodemus, a respected Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, who approaches Jesus by night, acknowledging His divine authority through His miracles. Jesus immediately introduces a foundational spiritual truth: "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus's literal interpretation prompts Jesus to clarify that this birth is not physical but spiritual, a necessity of being "born of water and of the Spirit." He explains the mysterious nature of this spiritual transformation, comparing it to the unseen movement of the wind, and gently rebukes Nicodemus, a master of Israel, for his lack of understanding. Jesus then shifts to speak of heavenly things, asserting His unique divine origin as the Son of Man who came down from heaven and is in heaven. He draws a parallel between Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness and the Son of Man being lifted up, so that all who believe in Him might not perish but have eternal life. This discourse culminates in the profound declaration of God's boundless love for the world, giving His only begotten Son to save humanity, not to condemn it. Condemnation, Jesus explains, arises from men loving darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. The chapter then transitions to Jesus and His disciples baptizing in Judaea, alongside John the Baptist, who is also baptizing. A dispute arises among John's disciples and the Jews concerning purification, leading John's followers to report Jesus' growing influence. John the Baptist, with profound humility, clarifies his subordinate role, stating, "A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven." He reminds them he is not the Christ but was sent before Him, likening himself to the friend of the bridegroom whose joy is fulfilled by the bridegroom's presence. John famously declares, "He must increase, but I must decrease." He further testifies to Jesus' heavenly origin and supreme authority, affirming that Jesus speaks the words of God, for God gives Him the Spirit without measure. The chapter concludes with the powerful theological statement that the Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand, and that "He 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."

Core Concepts

  • Born AgainJesus teaches Nicodemus that spiritual rebirth, being "born of water and of the Spirit," is essential to see and enter the kingdom of God, distinguishing it from physical birth.
  • Kingdom of GodThis refers to the spiritual realm or reign of God, which Jesus states can only be accessed through a spiritual transformation or being "born again."
  • God's Love and SalvationThe chapter contains the pivotal declaration that "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life," emphasizing God's redemptive purpose.
  • Light and CondemnationJesus identifies Himself as the light come into the world, and condemnation is attributed to those who prefer darkness over light because their deeds are evil, thus rejecting the truth.
  • Son of Man's Lifting UpJesus prophesies his own crucifixion and exaltation, comparing it to Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness, signifying that through his sacrifice, believers will receive eternal life.
  • John the Baptist's HumilityJohn the Baptist humbly clarifies his role as a forerunner, not the Christ, stating, "He must increase, but I must decrease," and rejoicing in Jesus' growing ministry as the true Bridegroom.
  • Belief and Everlasting LifeA central theme is that belief in the Son of God is the condition for receiving everlasting life, while unbelief results in condemnation and the abiding wrath of God.