Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2Nicodemus came to ‘Isa by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from Allah, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless Allah is with him.“
3‘Isa answered him, “Most assuredly, I tell you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of Allah.“
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?“
5‘Isa answered, “Most assuredly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of Allah! 6That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8The wind[1] blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but do not 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?“
10‘Isa answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and do not understand these things? 11Most assuredly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you do not receive our witness. 12If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven, except he who descended out of heaven: Ibn Adam . 14As Musa lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must Ibn Adam be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For Allah 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 Allah did not 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 does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Ibn Allah . 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 does not 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 Allah.“
22After these things, ‘Isa came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized. 23Yahya also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized. 24For Yahya was not yet thrown into prison. 25There arose therefore a questioning on the part of Yahya’s disciples with some Jews about purification. 26They came to Yahya, 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.“
27Yahya answered, “A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven. 28You yourselves testify that I said, ‘I am not al-Masih,’ 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. 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 Allah is true. 34For he whom Allah has sent speaks the words of Allah; for Allah 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[2] the Son will not see life, but the wrath of Allah remains on him.“
[1] 3:8 The same Greek word (pneuma) means wind, breath, and spirit.
[2] 3:36 The same word can be translated “disobeys“ or “disbelieves“ in this context.