Bible / John
John 3
World English Bible, Catholic edition, in plain modern English. About the translations
Douay-Rheims Bible, Challoner revision, the traditional Catholic English Bible. About the translations
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 1
2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” CCC
3 Jesus answered him, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.” CCC
4 Nicodemus 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?” CCC
5 Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. 2 CCC
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. CCC
7 Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must all be born anew.’ CCC
8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” CCC
9 Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?” CCC
10 Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things?
11 Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness.
12 If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?
13 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. CCC
14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, CCC
15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. CCC
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 3 CCC
17 For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. CCC
18 He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God. CCC · Fathers
19 This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil. CCC · Fathers
20 For everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. CCC · Fathers
21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.” CCC · Fathers
22 After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them and baptized.
23 John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came and were baptized;
24 for John was not yet thrown into prison.
25 Therefore a dispute arose on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification.
26 They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, he baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”
27 John answered, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.
28 You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’
29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore my joy is made full. CCC
30 He must increase, but I must decrease. CCC
31 “He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
32 What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness.
33 He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.
34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. CCC
35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.
36 One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” CCC · Fathers
1 And there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 1
2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to him: Rabbi, we know that thou art come a teacher from God; for no man can do these signs which thou dost, unless God be with him. CCC
3 Jesus answered and said to him: Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. CCC
4 Nicodemus saith 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 again? CCC
5 Jesus answered: Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 2 CCC
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. CCC
7 Wonder not that I said to thee: You must be born again. CCC
8 The Spirit breatheth where he will and thou hearest his voice: but thou knowest not whence he cometh and whither he goeth. So is every one that is born of the Spirit. CCC
9 Nicodemus answered and said to him: How can these things be done? CCC
10 Jesus answered and said to him: Art thou a master in Israel, and knowest not these things?
11 Amen, amen, I say to thee that we speak what we know and we testify what we have seen: and you receive not our testimony.
12 If I have spoken to you earthly things, and you believe not: how will you believe, if I shall speak to you heavenly things?
13 And no man hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven. CCC
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be lifted up: CCC
15 That whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting. CCC
16 For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son: that whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting. 3 CCC
17 For God sent not his Son into the world, to judge the world: but that the world may be saved by him. CCC
18 He that believeth in him is not judged. But he that doth not believe is already judged: because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God. CCC · Fathers
19 And this is the judgment: Because the light is come into the world and men loved darkness rather than the light: for their works were evil. CCC · Fathers
20 For every one that doth evil hateth the light and cometh not to the light, that his works may not be reproved. CCC · Fathers
21 But he that doth truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest: because they are done in God. CCC · Fathers
22 After these things, Jesus and his disciples came into the land of Judea: and there he abode with them and baptized.
23 And John also was baptizing in Ennon near Salim: because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized.
24 For John was not yet cast into prison.
25 And there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews, concerning purification.
26 And they came to John and said to him: Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou gavest testimony: behold, he baptizeth and all men come to him.
27 John answered and said: A man cannot receive any thing, unless it be given him from heaven.
28 You yourselves do bear me witness that I said, I am not Christ, but that I am sent before him.
29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth Him, rejoiceth with joy because of the bridegroom’s voice. This my joy therefore is fulfilled. CCC
30 He must increase: but I must decrease. CCC
31 He that cometh from above is above all. He that is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the earth he speaketh. He that cometh from heaven is above all.
32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth: and no man receiveth his testimony.
33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God doth not give the Spirit by measure. CCC
35 The Father loveth the Son: and he hath given all things into his hand.
36 He that believeth in the Son hath life everlasting: but he that believeth not the Son shall not see life: but the wrath of God abideth on him. CCC · Fathers
Where our lessons quote this chapter
This chapter in the Catechism and the early Church
Where the Catechism of the Catholic Church cites these verses (from its footnotes on vatican.va), and where the earliest Church Fathers quote them (Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1, public domain). Short quotes only; follow the links for the full text.
Read the Catechism
- CCC 782 “The People of God is marked by characteristics that clearly distinguish it from all other religious, ethnic, political, or cultural groups found…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 782 “The People of God is marked by characteristics that clearly distinguish it from all other religious, ethnic, political, or cultural groups found…”
- Verse 5CCC 457 CCC 691 CCC 720 CCC 728 CCC 782 CCC 846 CCC 1215 CCC 1225 CCC 1238 CCC 1257 CCC 1262 CCC 1287
Read the Catechism
- CCC 457 “The Word became flesh for us in order to save us by reconciling us with God, who "loved us and sent his…”
- CCC 691 “Holy Spirit" is the proper name of the one whom we adore and glorify with the Father and the Son. the Church…”
- CCC 720 “Finally, with John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit begins the restoration to man of "the divine likeness," prefiguring what he would achieve…”
- CCC 728 “Jesus does not reveal the Holy Spirit fully, until he himself has been glorified through his Death and Resurrection. Nevertheless, little by…”
- CCC 782 “The People of God is marked by characteristics that clearly distinguish it from all other religious, ethnic, political, or cultural groups found…”
- CCC 846 “How are we to understand this affirmation, often repeated by the Church Fathers? Re-formulated positively, it means that all salvation comes from…”
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- CCC 691 “Holy Spirit" is the proper name of the one whom we adore and glorify with the Father and the Son. the Church…”
- CCC 728 “Jesus does not reveal the Holy Spirit fully, until he himself has been glorified through his Death and Resurrection. Nevertheless, little by…”
- CCC 1287 “This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah's, but was to be communicated to the whole messianic people.…”
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- CCC 591 “Jesus asked the religious authorities of Jerusalem to believe in him because of the Father's works which he accomplished. But such an…”
- CCC 691 “Holy Spirit" is the proper name of the one whom we adore and glorify with the Father and the Son. the Church…”
- CCC 728 “Jesus does not reveal the Holy Spirit fully, until he himself has been glorified through his Death and Resurrection. Nevertheless, little by…”
- CCC 1287 “This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah's, but was to be communicated to the whole messianic people.…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 385 “God is infinitely good and all his works are good. Yet no one can escape the experience of suffering or the evils…”
- CCC 392 “Scripture speaks of a sin of these angels. This "fall" consists in the free choice of these created spirits, who radically and…”
- CCC 394 “Scripture witnesses to the disastrous influence of the one Jesus calls "a murderer from the beginning", who would even try to divert…”
- CCC 691 “Holy Spirit" is the proper name of the one whom we adore and glorify with the Father and the Son. the Church…”
- CCC 728 “Jesus does not reveal the Holy Spirit fully, until he himself has been glorified through his Death and Resurrection. Nevertheless, little by…”
- CCC 1287 “This fullness of the Spirit was not to remain uniquely the Messiah's, but was to be communicated to the whole messianic people.…”
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- CCC 505 “By his virginal conception, Jesus, the New Adam, ushers in the new birth of children adopted in the Holy Spirit through faith.…”
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- CCC 423 “We believe and confess that Jesus of Nazareth, born a Jew of a daughter of Israel at Bethlehem at the time of…”
- CCC 440 “Jesus accepted Peter's profession of faith, which acknowledged him to be the Messiah, by announcing the imminent Passion of the Son of…”
- CCC 661 “This final stage stays closely linked to the first, that is, to his descent from heaven in the Incarnation. Only the one…”
- CCC 2795 “The symbol of the heavens refers us back to the mystery of the covenant we are living when we pray to our…”
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- CCC 2130 “Nevertheless, already in the Old Testament, God ordained or permitted the making of images that pointed symbolically toward salvation by the incarnate…”
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- CCC 2130 “Nevertheless, already in the Old Testament, God ordained or permitted the making of images that pointed symbolically toward salvation by the incarnate…”
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- CCC 219 “God's love for Israel is compared to a father's love for his son. His love for his people is stronger than a…”
- CCC 444 “The Gospels report that at two solemn moments, the Baptism and the Transfiguration of Christ, the voice of the Father designates Jesus…”
- CCC 458 “The Word became flesh so that thus we might know God's love: "In this the love of God was made manifest among…”
- CCC 706 “Against all human hope, God promises descendants to Abraham, as the fruit of faith and of the power of the Holy Spirit.…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 679 “Christ is Lord of eternal life. Full right to pass definitive judgement on the works and hearts of men belongs to him…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 432 “The name "Jesus" signifies that the very name of God is present in the person of his Son, made man for the…”
- CCC 444 “The Gospels report that at two solemn moments, the Baptism and the Transfiguration of Christ, the voice of the Father designates Jesus…”
- CCC 679 “Christ is Lord of eternal life. Full right to pass definitive judgement on the works and hearts of men belongs to him…”
“It is not, [however], that the light has inflicted upon them the penalty of blindness, but it is that the blindness itself has brought calamity upon them: and therefore the Lord declared, "He that believeth in Me is not condemned,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 208 “Faced with God's fascinating and mysterious presence, man discovers his own insignificance. Before the burning bush, Moses takes off his sandals and…”
“It is not, [however], that the light has inflicted upon them the penalty of blindness, but it is that the blindness itself has brought calamity upon them: and therefore the Lord declared, "He that believeth in Me is not condemned,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 208 “Faced with God's fascinating and mysterious presence, man discovers his own insignificance. Before the burning bush, Moses takes off his sandals and…”
- CCC 678 “Following in the steps of the prophets and John the Baptist, Jesus announced the judgement of the Last Day in his preaching.…”
“It is not, [however], that the light has inflicted upon them the penalty of blindness, but it is that the blindness itself has brought calamity upon them: and therefore the Lord declared, "He that believeth in Me is not condemned,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 678 “Following in the steps of the prophets and John the Baptist, Jesus announced the judgement of the Last Day in his preaching.…”
“It is not, [however], that the light has inflicted upon them the penalty of blindness, but it is that the blindness itself has brought calamity upon them: and therefore the Lord declared, "He that believeth in Me is not condemned,”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book V, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1
Read the Catechism
- CCC 524 “When the Church celebrates the liturgy of Advent each year, she makes present this ancient expectancy of the Messiah, for by sharing…”
Read the Catechism
- CCC 504 “Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary's womb because he is the New Adam, who inaugurates the new…”
- CCC 690 “Jesus is Christ, "anointed," because the Spirit is his anointing, and everything that occurs from the Incarnation on derives from this fullness.…”
- CCC 1286 “In the Old Testament the prophets announced that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on the hoped-for Messiah for his saving…”
Read the Catechism and Fathers
- CCC 161 “Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who sent him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining that salvation. "Since "without…”
“And for this reason, "he that believeth in Him has eternal life while he who believeth not the Son hath not eternal life, but the wrath of God shall remain upon him.”
Quoted in Against Heresies, Book IV, St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. AD 180), Chapter XXXVII. Ante-Nicene Fathers, vol. 1