Zo lief had God de wereld: een nachtelijk gesprekUma conversa à noite

⁶O que é nascido de carne, carne é; e o que é nascido do Espírito, espírito é. ⁷Não te maravilhes de que te disse: necessário vos é voltar a nascer. ⁸O vento sopra onde quer, e ouves o seu som; porém não sabes de onde vem, nem para onde vai; assim é todo aquele que é nascido do Espírito. ⁹Nicodemos respondeu, e disse-lhe: Como pode isto acontecer? ¹⁰Jesus respondeu, e disse-lhe: Tu és mestre de Israel, e isto não sabes? ¹¹Em verdade, em verdade te digo, que o que sabemos, falamos; e o que temos visto, testemunhamos; e não aceitais nosso testemunho. ¹²Se eu vos disse coisas terrenas, e não credes, como crereis, se vos disser as celestiais? ¹³E ninguém subiu ao céu, a não ser o que desceu do céu: o Filho do homem. ¹⁴E como Moisés levantou a serpente no deserto, assim deve o Filho do homem ser levantado, ¹⁵Para que todo aquele que nele crer tenha a vida eterna. ¹⁶Porque Deus amou ao mundo de tal maneira, que deu o seu Filho unigênito; para que todo aquele que nele crê não pereça, mas tenha a vida eterna. ¹⁷Porque Deus não mandou seu Filho ao mundo para que condenasse ao mundo; mas sim para que o mundo por ele fosse salvo; ¹⁸Quem nele crer não é condenado; mas quem não crê já está condenado; pois não tem crido no nome do unigênito Filho de Deus. ¹⁹E esta é a condenação: que a luz veio ao mundo, e as pessoas amaram mais as trevas que a luz, porque suas obras eram más. ²⁰Porque todo aquele que faz o mal odeia a luz e não vem à luz, para que suas obras não sejam reprovadas. ²¹Mas quem pratica a verdade vem à luz, para que suas obras sejam manifestas, que são feitas em Deus.

Johannes de Doper: 'Hij moet groter worden'

²²Depois disto Jesus veio com seus discípulos à terra da Judeia; e estava ali com eles, e batizava. ²³E João também batizava em Enom, junto a Salim, porque havia ali muitas águas; e vinham ali , e eram batizados, ²⁴Porque João ainda não tinha sido lançado na prisão. ²⁵Houve pois uma discussão dos Discípulos de João com os judeus sobre a purificação. ²⁶E vieram a João, e disseram-lhe: Rabi, aquele que estava contigo dalém do Jordão, ao qual tu deste testemunho, eis que batiza, e todos vem a ele.

⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ ⁸The windblows 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.” ⁹Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?” ¹⁰Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things? ¹¹Most 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. ¹²If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. ¹⁴As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. ¹⁸He 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 one and only Son of God. ¹⁹This 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. ²⁰For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. ²¹But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”

Johannes de Doper: 'Hij moet groter worden'

²²After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized. ²³John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized. ²⁴For John was not yet thrown into prison. ²⁵There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification. ²⁶They came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.”

⁶Hetgeen uit het vlees geboren is, dat is vlees; en hetgeen uit den Geest geboren is, dat is geest. ⁷Verwonder u niet, dat Ik u gezegd heb: Gijlieden moet wederom geboren worden. ⁸De wind blaast, waarheen hij wil, en gij hoort zijn geluid; maar gij weet niet, van waar hij komt, en waar hij heen gaat; alzo is een iegelijk, die uit den Geest geboren is. ⁹Nicodemus antwoordde en zeide tot Hem: Hoe kunnen deze dingen geschieden? ¹⁰Jezus antwoordde en zeide tot hem: Zijt gij een leraar van Israel, en weet gij deze dingen niet? ¹¹Voorwaar, voorwaar zeg Ik u: Wij spreken, wat Wij weten, en getuigen, wat Wij gezien hebben; en gijlieden neemt Onze getuigenis niet aan. ¹²Indien Ik ulieden de aardse dingen gezegd heb, en gij niet gelooft, hoe zult gij geloven, indien Ik ulieden de hemelse zou zeggen? ¹³En niemand is opgevaren in den hemel, dan Die uit den hemel nedergekomen is, namelijk de Zoon des mensen, Die in de hemel is. ¹⁴En gelijk Mozes de slang in de woestijn verhoogd heeft, alzo moet de Zoon des mensen verhoogd worden; ¹⁵Opdat een iegelijk, die in Hem gelooft, niet verderve, maar het eeuwige leven hebbe. ¹⁶Want alzo lief heeft God de wereld gehad, dat Hij Zijn eniggeboren Zoon gegeven heeft, opdat een iegelijk die in Hem gelooft, niet verderve, maar het eeuwige leven hebbe. ¹⁷Want God heeft Zijn Zoon niet gezonden in de wereld, opdat Hij de wereld veroordelen zou, maar opdat de wereld door Hem zou behouden worden. ¹⁸Die in Hem gelooft, wordt niet veroordeeld, maar die niet gelooft, is alrede veroordeeld, dewijl hij niet heeft geloofd in den Naam des eniggeboren Zoons van God. ¹⁹En dit is het oordeel, dat het licht in de wereld gekomen is, en de mensen hebben de duisternis liever gehad dan het licht; want hun werken waren boos. ²⁰Want een iegelijk, die kwaad doet, haat het licht, en komt tot het licht niet, opdat zijn werken niet bestraft worden. ²¹Maar die de waarheid doet, komt tot het licht, opdat zijn werken openbaar worden, dat zij in God gedaan zijn.

Johannes de Doper: 'Hij moet groter worden'

²²Na dezen kwam Jezus en Zijn discipelen in het land van Judea, en onthield Zich aldaar met hen, en doopte. ²³En Johannes doopte ook in Enon bij Salim, dewijl aldaar vele wateren waren; en zij kwamen daar, en werden gedoopt. ²⁴Want Johannes was nog niet in de gevangenis geworpen. ²⁵Er rees dan een vraag van enigen uit de discipelen van Johannes met de Joden over de reiniging. ²⁶En zij kwamen tot Johannes, en zeiden tot hem: Rabbi, Die met u was over de Jordaan, Welken gij getuigenis gaaft, zie, Die doopt, en zij komen allen tot Hem.

¹E havia um homem dos fariseus, cujo nome era Nicodemos, chefe dos judeus. ²Este veio a Jesus de noite, e disse-lhe: Rabi, bem sabemos que és Mestre vindo de Deus; porque ninguém pode fazer estes sinais que tu fazes, se Deus não for com ele. ³Respondeu Jesus e disse-lhe: Em verdade, em verdade te digo, que aquele que não voltar a nascer, não pode ver o Reino de Deus. ⁴Nicodemos lhe disse: Como pode o homem nascer, sendo já velho? Pode ele voltar a entrar no ventre de sua mãe, e nascer? ⁵Respondeu Jesus: Em verdade, em verdade te digo, que aquele que não nascer de água e do Espírito, não pode entrar no Reino de Deus. ⁶O que é nascido de carne, carne é; e o que é nascido do Espírito, espírito é. ⁷Não te maravilhes de que te disse: necessário vos é voltar a nascer. ⁸O vento sopra onde quer, e ouves o seu som; porém não sabes de onde vem, nem para onde vai; assim é todo aquele que é nascido do Espírito. ⁹Nicodemos respondeu, e disse-lhe: Como pode isto acontecer? ¹⁰Jesus respondeu, e disse-lhe: Tu és mestre de Israel, e isto não sabes? ¹¹Em verdade, em verdade te digo, que o que sabemos, falamos; e o que temos visto, testemunhamos; e não aceitais nosso testemunho. ¹²Se eu vos disse coisas terrenas, e não credes, como crereis, se vos disser as celestiais? ¹³E ninguém subiu ao céu, a não ser o que desceu do céu: o Filho do homem. ¹⁴E como Moisés levantou a serpente no deserto, assim deve o Filho do homem ser levantado, ¹⁵Para que todo aquele que nele crer tenha a vida eterna. ¹⁶Porque Deus amou ao mundo de tal maneira, que deu o seu Filho unigênito; para que todo aquele que nele crê não pereça, mas tenha a vida eterna. ¹⁷Porque Deus não mandou seu Filho ao mundo para que condenasse ao mundo; mas sim para que o mundo por ele fosse salvo; ¹⁸Quem nele crer não é condenado; mas quem não crê já está condenado; pois não tem crido no nome do unigênito Filho de Deus. ¹⁹E esta é a condenação: que a luz veio ao mundo, e as pessoas amaram mais as trevas que a luz, porque suas obras eram más. ²⁰Porque todo aquele que faz o mal odeia a luz e não vem à luz, para que suas obras não sejam reprovadas. ²¹Mas quem pratica a verdade vem à luz, para que suas obras sejam manifestas, que são feitas em Deus.

¹Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ²The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” ³Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see the Kingdom of God.” ⁴Nicodemus 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?” ⁵Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into the Kingdom of God! ⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ ⁸The windblows 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.” ⁹Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?” ¹⁰Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things? ¹¹Most 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. ¹²If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. ¹⁴As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. ¹⁸He 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 one and only Son of God. ¹⁹This 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. ²⁰For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. ²¹But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”

¹En er was een mens uit de Farizeen, wiens naam was Nicodemus, een overste der Joden; ²Deze kwam des nachts tot Jezus, en zeide tot Hem: Rabbi, wij weten, dat Gij zijt een Leraar van God gekomen; want niemand kan deze tekenen doen, die Gij doet, zo God met hem niet is. ³Jezus antwoordde en zeide tot hem: Voorwaar, voorwaar zeg Ik u: Tenzij dat iemand wederom geboren worde, hij kan het Koninkrijk Gods niet zien. ⁴Nicodemus zeide tot Hem: Hoe kan een mens geboren worden, nu oud zijnde? Kan hij ook andermaal in zijner moeders buik ingaan, en geboren worden? ⁵Jezus antwoordde: Voorwaar, voorwaar zeg Ik u: Zo iemand niet geboren wordt uit water en Geest, hij kan in het Koninkrijk Gods niet ingaan. ⁶Hetgeen uit het vlees geboren is, dat is vlees; en hetgeen uit den Geest geboren is, dat is geest. ⁷Verwonder u niet, dat Ik u gezegd heb: Gijlieden moet wederom geboren worden. ⁸De wind blaast, waarheen hij wil, en gij hoort zijn geluid; maar gij weet niet, van waar hij komt, en waar hij heen gaat; alzo is een iegelijk, die uit den Geest geboren is. ⁹Nicodemus antwoordde en zeide tot Hem: Hoe kunnen deze dingen geschieden? ¹⁰Jezus antwoordde en zeide tot hem: Zijt gij een leraar van Israel, en weet gij deze dingen niet? ¹¹Voorwaar, voorwaar zeg Ik u: Wij spreken, wat Wij weten, en getuigen, wat Wij gezien hebben; en gijlieden neemt Onze getuigenis niet aan. ¹²Indien Ik ulieden de aardse dingen gezegd heb, en gij niet gelooft, hoe zult gij geloven, indien Ik ulieden de hemelse zou zeggen? ¹³En niemand is opgevaren in den hemel, dan Die uit den hemel nedergekomen is, namelijk de Zoon des mensen, Die in de hemel is. ¹⁴En gelijk Mozes de slang in de woestijn verhoogd heeft, alzo moet de Zoon des mensen verhoogd worden; ¹⁵Opdat een iegelijk, die in Hem gelooft, niet verderve, maar het eeuwige leven hebbe. ¹⁶Want alzo lief heeft God de wereld gehad, dat Hij Zijn eniggeboren Zoon gegeven heeft, opdat een iegelijk die in Hem gelooft, niet verderve, maar het eeuwige leven hebbe. ¹⁷Want God heeft Zijn Zoon niet gezonden in de wereld, opdat Hij de wereld veroordelen zou, maar opdat de wereld door Hem zou behouden worden. ¹⁸Die in Hem gelooft, wordt niet veroordeeld, maar die niet gelooft, is alrede veroordeeld, dewijl hij niet heeft geloofd in den Naam des eniggeboren Zoons van God. ¹⁹En dit is het oordeel, dat het licht in de wereld gekomen is, en de mensen hebben de duisternis liever gehad dan het licht; want hun werken waren boos. ²⁰Want een iegelijk, die kwaad doet, haat het licht, en komt tot het licht niet, opdat zijn werken niet bestraft worden. ²¹Maar die de waarheid doet, komt tot het licht, opdat zijn werken openbaar worden, dat zij in God gedaan zijn.

Jezus en Nikodemus

¹E havia um homem dos fariseus, cujo nome era Nicodemos, chefe dos judeus. ²Este veio a Jesus de noite, e disse-lhe: Rabi, bem sabemos que és Mestre vindo de Deus; porque ninguém pode fazer estes sinais que tu fazes, se Deus não for com ele. ³Respondeu Jesus e disse-lhe: Em verdade, em verdade te digo, que aquele que não voltar a nascer, não pode ver o Reino de Deus. ⁴Nicodemos lhe disse: Como pode o homem nascer, sendo já velho? Pode ele voltar a entrar no ventre de sua mãe, e nascer? ⁵Respondeu Jesus: Em verdade, em verdade te digo, que aquele que não nascer de água e do Espírito, não pode entrar no Reino de Deus. ⁶O que é nascido de carne, carne é; e o que é nascido do Espírito, espírito é. ⁷Não te maravilhes de que te disse: necessário vos é voltar a nascer. ⁸O vento sopra onde quer, e ouves o seu som; porém não sabes de onde vem, nem para onde vai; assim é todo aquele que é nascido do Espírito. ⁹Nicodemos respondeu, e disse-lhe: Como pode isto acontecer? ¹⁰Jesus respondeu, e disse-lhe: Tu és mestre de Israel, e isto não sabes? ¹¹Em verdade, em verdade te digo, que o que sabemos, falamos; e o que temos visto, testemunhamos; e não aceitais nosso testemunho. ¹²Se eu vos disse coisas terrenas, e não credes, como crereis, se vos disser as celestiais? ¹³E ninguém subiu ao céu, a não ser o que desceu do céu: o Filho do homem. ¹⁴E como Moisés levantou a serpente no deserto, assim deve o Filho do homem ser levantado, ¹⁵Para que todo aquele que nele crer tenha a vida eterna. ¹⁶Porque Deus amou ao mundo de tal maneira, que deu o seu Filho unigênito; para que todo aquele que nele crê não pereça, mas tenha a vida eterna. ¹⁷Porque Deus não mandou seu Filho ao mundo para que condenasse ao mundo; mas sim para que o mundo por ele fosse salvo; ¹⁸Quem nele crer não é condenado; mas quem não crê já está condenado; pois não tem crido no nome do unigênito Filho de Deus. ¹⁹E esta é a condenação: que a luz veio ao mundo, e as pessoas amaram mais as trevas que a luz, porque suas obras eram más. ²⁰Porque todo aquele que faz o mal odeia a luz e não vem à luz, para que suas obras não sejam reprovadas. ²¹Mas quem pratica a verdade vem à luz, para que suas obras sejam manifestas, que são feitas em Deus.

Johannes de Doper: 'Hij moet groter worden'

²²Depois disto Jesus veio com seus discípulos à terra da Judeia; e estava ali com eles, e batizava. ²³E João também batizava em Enom, junto a Salim, porque havia ali muitas águas; e vinham ali , e eram batizados, ²⁴Porque João ainda não tinha sido lançado na prisão. ²⁵Houve pois uma discussão dos Discípulos de João com os judeus sobre a purificação. ²⁶E vieram a João, e disseram-lhe: Rabi, aquele que estava contigo dalém do Jordão, ao qual tu deste testemunho, eis que batiza, e todos vem a ele. ²⁷João respondeu, e disse: O ser humano não pode receber coisa alguma, se não lhe for dada do céu. ²⁸Vós mesmos me sois testemunhas, que disse: Eu não sou o Cristo; mas que sou enviado diante dele. ²⁹Aquele que tem a esposa, é o esposo; mas o amigo do esposo, que o apoia, e lhe ouve, alegra-se muito pela voz do esposo. Assim pois já este meu gozo é cumprido. ³⁰A ele convém crescer, porém a mim diminuir.

Die van boven komt

³¹Aquele que vem de cima, é sobre todos; aquele que vem da terra, da terra é, e da terra fala. Aquele que vem do céu é sobre todos. ³²E daquilo que viu e ouviu, isto testemunha; e ninguém aceita seu testemunho. ³³Aquele que aceitou seu testemunho, esse selou que Deus é verdadeiro. ³⁴Porque aquele que Deus enviou, as palavras de Deus fala; porque não lhe dá Deus o Espírito por medida. ³⁵O Pai ama ao Filho, e todas as coisas lhe deu em sua mão. ³⁶Aquele que crê no Filho tem vida eterna; porém aquele que é desobediente ao Filho não verá a vida eterna , mas a ira de Deus continua sobre ele.

Jezus en Nikodemus

¹Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. ²The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” ³Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see the Kingdom of God.” ⁴Nicodemus 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?” ⁵Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into the Kingdom of God! ⁶That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. ⁷Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’ ⁸The windblows 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.” ⁹Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?” ¹⁰Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things? ¹¹Most 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. ¹²If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? ¹³No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. ¹⁴As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. ¹⁸He 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 one and only Son of God. ¹⁹This 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. ²⁰For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. ²¹But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”

Johannes de Doper: 'Hij moet groter worden'

²²After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized. ²³John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized. ²⁴For John was not yet thrown into prison. ²⁵There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with some Jews about purification. ²⁶They came to John, and said to him, “Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him.” ²⁷John answered, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. ²⁸You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,’ but, ‘I have been sent before him.’ ²⁹He 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. This, my joy, therefore is made full. ³⁰He must increase, but I must decrease.

Die van boven komt

³¹He 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. ³²What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness. ³³He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true. ³⁴For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure. ³⁵The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. ³⁶One 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.”

Jezus en Nikodemus

¹En er was een mens uit de Farizeen, wiens naam was Nicodemus, een overste der Joden; ²Deze kwam des nachts tot Jezus, en zeide tot Hem: Rabbi, wij weten, dat Gij zijt een Leraar van God gekomen; want niemand kan deze tekenen doen, die Gij doet, zo God met hem niet is. ³Jezus antwoordde en zeide tot hem: Voorwaar, voorwaar zeg Ik u: Tenzij dat iemand wederom geboren worde, hij kan het Koninkrijk Gods niet zien. ⁴Nicodemus zeide tot Hem: Hoe kan een mens geboren worden, nu oud zijnde? Kan hij ook andermaal in zijner moeders buik ingaan, en geboren worden? ⁵Jezus antwoordde: Voorwaar, voorwaar zeg Ik u: Zo iemand niet geboren wordt uit water en Geest, hij kan in het Koninkrijk Gods niet ingaan. ⁶Hetgeen uit het vlees geboren is, dat is vlees; en hetgeen uit den Geest geboren is, dat is geest. ⁷Verwonder u niet, dat Ik u gezegd heb: Gijlieden moet wederom geboren worden. ⁸De wind blaast, waarheen hij wil, en gij hoort zijn geluid; maar gij weet niet, van waar hij komt, en waar hij heen gaat; alzo is een iegelijk, die uit den Geest geboren is. ⁹Nicodemus antwoordde en zeide tot Hem: Hoe kunnen deze dingen geschieden? ¹⁰Jezus antwoordde en zeide tot hem: Zijt gij een leraar van Israel, en weet gij deze dingen niet? ¹¹Voorwaar, voorwaar zeg Ik u: Wij spreken, wat Wij weten, en getuigen, wat Wij gezien hebben; en gijlieden neemt Onze getuigenis niet aan. ¹²Indien Ik ulieden de aardse dingen gezegd heb, en gij niet gelooft, hoe zult gij geloven, indien Ik ulieden de hemelse zou zeggen? ¹³En niemand is opgevaren in den hemel, dan Die uit den hemel nedergekomen is, namelijk de Zoon des mensen, Die in de hemel is. ¹⁴En gelijk Mozes de slang in de woestijn verhoogd heeft, alzo moet de Zoon des mensen verhoogd worden; ¹⁵Opdat een iegelijk, die in Hem gelooft, niet verderve, maar het eeuwige leven hebbe. ¹⁶Want alzo lief heeft God de wereld gehad, dat Hij Zijn eniggeboren Zoon gegeven heeft, opdat een iegelijk die in Hem gelooft, niet verderve, maar het eeuwige leven hebbe. ¹⁷Want God heeft Zijn Zoon niet gezonden in de wereld, opdat Hij de wereld veroordelen zou, maar opdat de wereld door Hem zou behouden worden. ¹⁸Die in Hem gelooft, wordt niet veroordeeld, maar die niet gelooft, is alrede veroordeeld, dewijl hij niet heeft geloofd in den Naam des eniggeboren Zoons van God. ¹⁹En dit is het oordeel, dat het licht in de wereld gekomen is, en de mensen hebben de duisternis liever gehad dan het licht; want hun werken waren boos. ²⁰Want een iegelijk, die kwaad doet, haat het licht, en komt tot het licht niet, opdat zijn werken niet bestraft worden. ²¹Maar die de waarheid doet, komt tot het licht, opdat zijn werken openbaar worden, dat zij in God gedaan zijn.

Johannes de Doper: 'Hij moet groter worden'

²²Na dezen kwam Jezus en Zijn discipelen in het land van Judea, en onthield Zich aldaar met hen, en doopte. ²³En Johannes doopte ook in Enon bij Salim, dewijl aldaar vele wateren waren; en zij kwamen daar, en werden gedoopt. ²⁴Want Johannes was nog niet in de gevangenis geworpen. ²⁵Er rees dan een vraag van enigen uit de discipelen van Johannes met de Joden over de reiniging. ²⁶En zij kwamen tot Johannes, en zeiden tot hem: Rabbi, Die met u was over de Jordaan, Welken gij getuigenis gaaft, zie, Die doopt, en zij komen allen tot Hem. ²⁷Johannes antwoordde en zeide: Een mens kan geen ding aannemen, zo het hem uit de hemel niet gegeven zij. ²⁸Gijzelven zijt mijn getuigen, dat ik gezegd heb: Ik ben de Christus niet; maar dat ik voor Hem heen uitgezonden ben. ²⁹Die de bruid heeft, is de bruidegom, maar de vriend des bruidegoms, die staat en hem hoort, verblijdt zich met blijdschap om de stem des bruidegoms. Zo is dan deze mijn blijdschap vervuld geworden. ³⁰Hij moet wassen, maar ik minder worden.

Die van boven komt

³¹Die van boven komt, is boven allen; die uit de aarde is voortgekomen die is uit de aarde, en spreekt uit de aarde. Die uit den hemel komt, is boven allen. ³²En hetgeen Hij gezien en gehoord heeft, dat getuigt Hij; en Zijn getuigenis neemt niemand aan. ³³Die Zijn getuigenis aangenomen heeft, die heeft verzegeld, dat God waarachtig is. ³⁴Want Dien God gezonden heeft, Die spreekt de woorden Gods; want God geeft Hem de Geest niet met mate. ³⁵De Vader heeft den Zoon lief, en heeft alle dingen in Zijn hand gegeven. ³⁶Die in den Zoon gelooft, die heeft het eeuwige leven; maar die den Zoon ongehoorzaam is, die zal het leven niet zien, maar de toorn Gods blijft op hem.