John 3

There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

The 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.

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus 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?

Jesus 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.

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

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

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.

Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?

Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

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

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

For John was not yet cast into prison.

Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

And 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.

John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

He 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.

He must increase, but I must decrease.

He 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.

And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.

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.

What does John 3:15 mean?

Explanation

The verse John 3:15 expresses a foundational Christian belief concerning salvation and eternal life.

It stresses the importance of faith in Jesus Christ as the pathway to avoiding spiritual death, which is often understood as eternal separation from God, and instead receiving eternal life.

The phrase "whosoever believeth in him" signifies that the offer of salvation is universally available to all who have faith in Jesus.

Implicit within this is the understanding that belief is more than intellectual agreement but involves trust and reliance on Jesus for salvation.

The key terms "perish" and "eternal life" typically refer to the ultimate destinies awaiting humanity: destruction or life everlasting with God.

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

This verse is part of Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and a member of the Jewish ruling council, recorded in the Gospel of John.

Taking place in first-century Judea under Roman rule, this dialogue addresses the Jewish expectations of the Messiah and the kingdom of God.

Many Jews of the time anticipated a political Messiah who would liberate Israel from Roman oppression.

However, Jesus redefines Messianic expectations by introducing the concept of being "born again" and emphasizing faith as the criterion for entering the kingdom of God.

Theological Insights

Different theological perspectives interpret John 3:15 in various ways:

Evangelical View: Emphasizes the necessity of personal faith in Jesus for salvation and the assurance of eternal life.
Calvinist View: Sees "whosoever" as implying the universal offer of the gospel, yet teaches that only the elect will come to true faith.
Arminian View: Interprets "whosoever" as an indication that salvation is available to all humans, but it requires an exercise of free will to believe.
Catholic View: While recognizing the need for faith, also emphasizes the role of the church, sacraments, and works in the process of salvation.

Practical Applications

In daily life, this verse can inspire individuals to:

Share their faith with others, emphasizing the open invitation to eternal life.
Live with the assurance and hope of eternal life, impacting moral and ethical decisions.
Engage in self-reflection about the depth and authenticity of their faith.

Cross-References

John 3:16: "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."
Acts 16:31: "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
Romans 10:9: "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."

Language Study

"Believeth": The Greek word used is "πιστεύων" (pisteuon), present active participle, denoting ongoing faith or trust.
"Perish": The Greek "ἀπόληται" (apolētai) is an aorist subjunctive, suggesting potential destruction.
"Eternal life": The term "ζωὴν αἰώνιον" (zōēn aiōnion) combines life (zōē) with eternity (aiōnios), indicating not only endless life but also a certain quality of life with God.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

This verse can be contrastingly compared to ancient religious beliefs:

Ancient Egyptian beliefs in the afterlife emphasized the moral life of the individual and the judgment of Osiris.
In contrast to the Greco-Roman mythologies where immortality was reserved for the gods or heroized mortals, Christian salvation is universally accessible through belief.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, the concepts of "eternal life" and "perishing" are metaphysical and are not subject to empirical verification.

However, the study of near-death experiences and the psychological effects of faith on people's well-being can intersect with discussions around this verse.

commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians offer insights into John 3:15:

Matthew Henry's Commentary notes the universal offer of salvation and the simplicity of faith required to obtain eternal life.
The Expositor's Bible Commentary emphasizes Jesus' role as the unique means by which salvation is attained.
The MacArthur Bible Commentary underscores the juxtaposition of belief resulting in eternal life against the backdrop of perishing without faith.

John 3

John 3

What does John 3:15 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?

What does John 3:15 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated John Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

commentaries

Want more context?