Paragraph 3:3–8
Jesus told Nicodemus that he needed to be born again; that is, he needed God to give him new life. Nicodemus did not understand what he meant.
3:3a
Jesus replied: This is the start of a new paragraph. So in some languages it may be helpful to make it explicit that Jesus is speaking to Nicodemus. For example:
Jesus answered Nicodemus
The Greek uses two verbs here, which can be translated as “answered” and “said.” Most English translations, as the Berean Standard Bible, just use one verb, because that is more natural in English. However, it may be more natural in some languages to use two verbs. For example:
Jesus answered and said to him (New American Bible, Revised Edition)
Truly, truly, I tell you: Jesus often used the Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as Truly, truly, I tell you. He used the phrase to introduce a statement that he wanted to emphasize. It indicates that the statement was important and totally reliable, and that people should listen carefully to it.
Sometimes it introduces a serious warning or something that he predicted. Here it warns that a person must become new before they can enter God’s kingdom. In some languages you may need to translate the phrase in different ways in different contexts. Here you should indicate that this is an introduction to a warning.
The same phrase appears in 1:51. See the note there. Do not translate this phrase in a way that implies that Jesus did not tell the truth at other times. Here are some possible translation models:
I am telling you the truth (Good News Translation)
-or-
I tell you the truth
-or-
I tell you for certain (New Century Version)
-or-
I assure you
you: The pronoun you is singular and refers to Nicodemus.
3:3b
no one can see the kingdom of God: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as see the kingdom of God means “enter the kingdom of God.” It refers to becoming one of God’s people and living in his kingdom, under his rule.
Here are other ways to translate this phrase:
become one of God’s people whom he rules
-or-
live in God’s kingdom
-or-
join God’s kingdom
the kingdom of God: This phrase refers to God’s activity of ruling and caring for his people as their king. It does not refer to a land or country that God rules. Rather, it refers to the relationship that God has with his people. He leads, protects, and cares for them. They obey, trust, and submit to him as their king. See Key Biblical Terms Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven.
See how you translated this phrase in, for example, Luke 6:20. There are at least two ways to translate this phrase:
• Use a noun. For example:
God’s rule
-or-
God’s rule as king
-or-
God’s government
• Use a verb. For example:
God ruling his people
unless he is born again: The Greek phrase that the Berean Standard Bible translates as born again is ambiguous. There are two ways to understand it:
(1) It means to be born again, that is, born a second time. For example:
born again (Good News Translation)
(Berean Standard Bible, New International Version, King James Version, Good News Translation, Revised Standard Version, New American Standard Bible, English Standard Version, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version)
(2) It means to be born from above, that is, born from God, or with a spiritual birth. For example:
born from above (New Jerusalem Bible)
(New Revised Standard Version, New Jerusalem Bible, NET Bible, God’s Word, Contemporary English Version)
Either meaning is acceptable. Both have strong support, and the author was probably deliberately ambiguous. It may be possible to say “born in a new way” (see Contemporary English Version footnote) in order to retain both ideas. If you must choose between the interpretations, it is recommended that you follow interpretation (1). That interpretation makes a better connection with Nicodemus’ next question in 3:4. The New American Standard Bible is therefore used here in the Notes and in the Display.
General Comment on 3:3b
This verse part means “You must be born again to become a member/part of God’s kingdom.” Refer to the notes on the double negative in 3:2c. As there, so here it may be more natural to use a positive statement. For example:
You must be born again before you can see God’s kingdom!
-or-
Only if a person is born again can he see the kingdom of God.
In some languages it may be more natural to reorder the clauses in 3:3b. For example:
people cannot belong to God’s kingdom unless they are born again.
-or-
A person can become a member of the kingdom of God only when he is born again.
Translate these clauses in a way that is most natural in your language.
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