John 3:1-15

Holman Christian Standard Bible

Jesus and Nicodemus

3 There was a man from the Pharisees^(A) named Nicodemus,^(B) a ruler^(C) of the Jews. ² This man came to Him at night and said, “Rabbi,^(D) we know that You have come from God^(E) as a teacher,^(F) for no one could perform these signs You do unless God were with him.”^(G)

³ Jesus replied, “I assure you: Unless someone is born again,^[a](H) he cannot see the kingdom of God.”^(I)

⁴ “But 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?”

⁵ Jesus answered, “I assure you: Unless someone is born^(J) of water and the Spirit,^[b](K) he cannot enter the kingdom of God. ⁶ Whatever is born of the flesh^(L) is flesh, and whatever is born of the Spirit^(M) is spirit. ⁷ Do not be amazed that I told you that you^[c] must be born^(N) again. ⁸ The wind^[d] blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going.^(O) So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”^(P)

⁹ “How can these things be?” asked Nicodemus.

¹⁰ “Are you a teacher^[e] of Israel and don’t know these things?” Jesus replied. ¹¹ “I assure you:^(Q) We speak what We know and We testify to what We have seen, but you^[f] do not accept Our testimony.^{[g] 12} If I have told you about things that happen on earth and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about things of heaven? ¹³ No one has ascended^(R) into heaven^(S) except the One who descended from heaven^(T)—the Son of Man.^{[h](U) 14} Just as Moses^(V) lifted up the snake in the wilderness,^(W) so the Son of Man must be lifted up, ¹⁵ so that everyone who believes in Him will^[i] have eternal life.^(X)