Johnchapter 3

A.Nicodemus by Night: Ye Must Be Born Anewvv. 1-13

1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 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 Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” 4 “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 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 Flesh is born of flesh, but spirit is born of the Spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 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 “How can this be?” Nicodemus asked. 10 “You are Israel’s teacher,” said Jesus, “and you do not understand these things? 11 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 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 No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.

B.The Son Lifted Up: God So Loved the Worldvv. 14-21

14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. 18 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 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 Everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come into the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 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.”

C.He Must Increase, but I Must Decreasevv. 22-30

22 After this, Jesus and His disciples went into the Judean countryside, where He spent some time with them and baptized. 23 Now John was also baptizing at Aenon near Salim, because the water was plentiful there, and people kept coming to be baptized. 24 (For John had not yet been thrown into prison.) 25 Then a dispute arose between John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the issue of ceremonial washing. 26 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 John replied, “A man can receive only what is given him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ, but am sent ahead of Him.’ 29 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 He must increase; I must decrease.

D.He That Cometh From Above Is Above Allvv. 31-36

31 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 He testifies to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. 33 Whoever accepts His testimony has certified that God is truthful. 34 For the One whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. 35 The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands. 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”

Commentary on this chapter: read the Exposition

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Chapter summary

Nicodemus by night: 'except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' The bronze-serpent typology; 'God so loved the world' (3:16).

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Nicodemus by night: 'except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' The bronze-serpent typology; 'God so loved the world' (3:16). John the Baptist's final testimony: 'he must increase, but I must decrease.' 'He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.'

Drawn from Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory, Matthew Henry, Complete Commentary, John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament and John Calvin, Commentaries.

Context

Gospel · John — John overview

A. 1–13 Nicodemus by Night: Ye Must Be Born Anew
B. 14–21 The Son Lifted Up: God So Loved the World
C. 22–30 He Must Increase, but I Must Decrease
D. 31–36 He That Cometh From Above Is Above All

Top cross-references8 chapters ▾

John 35 verses
- John 3:3Jesus replied, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
- John 3:5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.
- John 3:11Truly, 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.
- John 3:16For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
- John 3:36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
- Read John 3 →
Acts 24 verses
- Acts 2:2Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
- Acts 2:22Men of Israel, listen to this message: Jesus of Nazareth was a man certified by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know.
- Acts 2:34For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand
- Acts 2:38Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Read Acts 2 →
John 84 verses
- John 8:12Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”
- John 8:23Then He told them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
- John 8:28So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on My own, but speak exactly what the Father has taught Me.
- John 8:38I speak of what I have seen in the presence of the Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
- Read John 8 →
John 53 verses
- John 5:20The Father loves the Son and shows Him all He does. And to your amazement, He will show Him even greater works than these.
- John 5:24Truly, truly, I tell you, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not come under judgment. Indeed, he has crossed over from death to life.
- John 5:36But I have testimony more substantial than that of John. For the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works I am doing—testify about Me that the Father has sent Me.
- Read John 5 →

4 more chapters this one speaks with

1 Corinthians 23 verses
- 1 Corinthians 2:7No, we speak of the mysterious and hidden wisdom of God, which He destined for our glory before time began.
- 1 Corinthians 2:11For who among men knows the thoughts of man except his own spirit within him? So too, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
- 1 Corinthians 2:14The natural man does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God. For they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.
- Read 1 Corinthians 2 →
Ephesians 53 verses
- Ephesians 5:11Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
- Ephesians 5:25Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her
- Ephesians 5:26to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
- Read Ephesians 5 →
Romans 83 verses
- Romans 8:1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 8:4so that the righteous standard of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
- Romans 8:32He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
- Read Romans 8 →
John 13 verses
- John 1:7He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe.
- John 1:12But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—
- John 1:20He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.”
- Read John 1 →

Cross-references from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge and OpenBible.info.