John 3:7 - Printer Friendly

ESV: Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

NIV: You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'

NASB: Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

CSB: Do not be amazed that I told you that you must be born again.

NLT: So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’

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

NKJV: Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

In verse 3, Jesus stated that a person had to be "born again" in order to see the kingdom of God. In verse 6, He clarifies that this is because of the difference between "the flesh" and "the Spirit." The term "flesh" is often used in the Bible as a reference to our human nature. All people are, by default, opposed to God and disobedient to Him. It is impossible for those who have a nature of "the flesh" to relate to God. It is also impossible for the flesh to change its own nature. The only way for a person to change his nature is through a rebirth—this means being reborn through the Spirit of God. This is why Jesus says Nicodemus should not be surprised. Flesh cannot change itself, it is the same since birth; but flesh cannot be part of the kingdom of God. So, logically, a person has to be "born again"—given a new nature—to make this change.

John 2:24–3:15 describes a meeting between Jesus and a Pharisee. The last two verses of chapter two highlight the fact that Jesus knew men better than they knew themselves. Nicodemus was the ancient equivalent of a politician, priest, and professor all rolled into one. Jesus proves that this man doesn’t understand religion as well as he’d like to think. In contrast to the loud, public spectacle of clearing the temple, this encounter is a private, night-time meeting. Their actual conversation was probably longer than the brief summary recorded here.

John chapter 3 is one of the most important in the entire gospel. Many crucial ideas are explained in this passage, including the role of Jesus as Savior. After the loud, public commotion at the temple, John transitions to a quiet, nighttime discussion. These verses make it clear that Christ—and Christ alone—is the means of salvation for the entire world. This text also states that those who reject Jesus are rejecting God.

The gospel of John is meant to prove that Jesus is God. Chapter 3 contains some of the most direct, most important concepts in Christianity. The ideas of spiritual rebirth, and the need to believe in Christ, are reinforced by the rest of the information in this gospel. John continues to use contrast, moving from the loud and public temple cleansing to the quiet of this conversation. After Jesus injects humility into a powerful leader, chapter 4 will transition again, as Jesus gives dignity to an outcast stranger.

The gospel of John was written by the disciple John, decades later than the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls “signs”—in order to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in all of the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 4/29/2024 10:42:43 AM