Section 3:1–21

A Pharisee named Nicodemus questioned Jesus

This section tells about how a Pharisee called Nicodemus went to visit Jesus. Jesus told Nicodemus that all people need God to change them. Nicodemus could be sure that Jesus was speaking the truth because Jesus came from God.

Here are some other possible section headings:

Jesus told a Pharisee that he needed to change
-or-
Everyone must be born again
-or-
All people need God to give them a new birth/life

Paragraph 3:1–2

Jesus’ miracles impressed one of the Pharisees very much. His name was Nicodemus. He went to see Jesus at night, possibly so that other Jewish leaders would not know that he saw Jesus. He might have feared what they would think about him if they knew.

3:1a

Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus: This is the beginning of the story. It tells who Nicodemus was. Introduce him in a way that is natural in your language.

Now: The common Greek conjunction de that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Now here introduces a new person in the story. It is not a time word. Introduce this new person in a way that is natural in your language. For example:

There was a man named Nicodemus who was one of the Pharisees (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
One of the Pharisees, called Nicodemus (Revised English Bible)

a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus: This phrase means that Nicodemus belonged to the Pharisee group or party. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

a man named Nicodemus who was a Pharisee (Contemporary English Version)
-or-
who belonged to the party of the Pharisees (Good News Translation)

Pharisees: The Pharisees were a Jewish religious group or party. It was very important to them to obey all of the Jewish religious laws carefully and exactly. See the note at 1:24 for examples of how to translate the word. Also see how you translated the word there.

See Pharisee in Key Biblical Terms.

3:1b

a leader of the Jews: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates literally as a leader of the Jews probably indicates that Nicodemus was a member of the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was the highest governing body among the Jewish people. Here are other ways to translate this phrase:

an important Jewish leader (New Century Version)
-or-
a member of the Jewish council (God’s Word)
-or-
a Jewish religious leader (New Living Translation (2004))

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