What is John 3 about?
John 3 records Jesus' night-time conversation with Nicodemus, a respected Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council. Jesus tells him, "Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God" (verse 3), explaining that new life comes from the Spirit, not from human effort. He points to the bronze serpent Moses lifted up in the wilderness as a picture of his own coming death on the cross. Then comes the most famous verse in the Bible, John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son." The chapter ends with John the Baptist saying of Jesus, "He must increase, but I must decrease."
What does John 3 mean?
John 3:16
Jesus said this during a night conversation with Nicodemus, a respected Jewish teacher who came with questions about being born again. Often called the gospel in a single sentence, the verse moves from God's love, to his gift, to our response. "The world" means all people, not one nation or group. "Gave" points to Jesus coming and dying on the cross. "Believeth" means more than agreeing with facts; it is trusting Jesus personally. The promise is that anyone who trusts him will not perish but will receive everlasting life, a life with God that begins now and never ends.
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Tap Listen on the first screen to hear John 3 read aloud, then keep listening into the next chapter. About the audio Bible