Paragraph 3:9–15
In this paragraph, in verse 10, Jesus began to talk about his authority. He claimed that he had the right to teach about God because he had come from God. In ancient Greek, quotation marks were not used, so it is not always easy to tell where a quotation ends. Different translations end Jesus’ speech at different points. Here are the possibilities:
(1) Jesus’ own words end at the end of 3:21.
(New American Standard Bible, New Revised Standard Version, English Standard Version, New International Version (1984), Revised English Bible, New Jerusalem Bible, New Living Translation (2004), New Century Version)
(2) Jesus’ own words end at the end of 3:15.
(Revised Standard Version, NET Bible, God’s Word, New International Version (2011))
(3) Jesus’ own words end at the end of 3:13.
(Good News Translation)
It is not clear where the King James Version and Contemporary English Version end the quotation. It is recommended that you follow most English translations and end Jesus’ speech at the end of verse 21.
3:9
How can this be?: Nicodemus was confused. He did not understand Jesus’ statement about being born of the Spirit. He used his question as a request. Nicodemus wanted Jesus to explain what he had said: How can someone be born again, born of the Spirit? Here are other ways to translate this question:
How can this happen? (New Century Version)
-or-
How are these things possible? (New Living Translation (2004))
Nicodemus asked: Because this verse begins a new paragraph, it may be helpful to say explicitly that it was Jesus that Nicodemus was talking to. For example:
Nicodemus said to Jesus
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