World English Bible · Under Rome
John 3
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Now there was a man of the named , a ruler of the . He came to by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from , for no one can do these signs that you do, unless is with him." answered him, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is , he can't see Kingdom." said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's and be born?" answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is and , he can't enter into Kingdom. That which is born of is . That which is is . Don't marvel that I said to you, 'You must be .' The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don't know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is ." answered him, "How can these things be?" answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and don't understand these things? Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know and testify of that which we have seen, and you don't receive our . If I told you earthly things and you don't , how will you if I tell you things? No one has ascended into but he who descended out of , , who is in . As lifted up in , even so must be lifted up, that whoever believes in him should not , but have . For so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not , but have . For didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be through him. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't has been judged already, because he has not in the name of the only born Son of . This is the , that has come into the world, and men loved rather than , for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates and doesn't come to , lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to , that his works may be , that they have been done in ." After these things, came with his into the land of . He stayed there with them and . also was in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came and were ; for was not yet thrown into prison. Therefore a dispute arose on the part of with some about purification. They came to and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you beyond , to whom you have testified, behold, he , and everyone is coming to him." answered, "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from . You yourselves testify that I said, 'I am not ,' but, 'I have been sent before him.' He who has the is the ; but the friend of the , who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the voice. Therefore my joy is made full. He must increase, but I must decrease. "He 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 is above all. What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his . He who has received his has set his seal to this, that is true. For he whom has sent speaks the words of ; for gives without measure. loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand. One who believes in the Son has , but one who disobeys the Son won't see life, but on him."
A public domain modern English translation, free to read and share. Notes and cards are EKLI’s own.
The world at this moment · Under Rome, 63 BC to AD 100 ›
Judea as a client kingdom and then a province. Roads, garrisons, taxes, crucifixion, and a common Greek language that let a message travel the empire faster than any before it.
- Rome
- The republic tears itself apart in civil war and comes out as an empire under Augustus. What follows is two centuries of relative peace across the whole Mediterranean, enforced by legions and paid for by taxes, with safe roads and safe sea lanes. Every one of Paul's journeys depends on that.
- Judea
- Governed first through Herod the Great, a client king of enormous ability and enormous brutality who rebuilds the temple into one of the wonders of the ancient world, then directly by Roman prefects. Crucifixion is the standard penalty for sedition and is used often and publicly.
- The wider world
- Greek is spoken from Spain to Syria, which means a letter written in Corinth can be read in Rome without translation. Jewish communities already exist in most major cities, which is where the first Christian preaching lands. Mystery religions, imperial cult, and philosophy all compete in the same marketplace.
- Further afield
- The Han dynasty rules China and trades silk westward along routes that touch the Roman world at second hand. In Britain the Roman conquest begins within a decade of the crucifixion.