He teacheth Nicodemus, that to come to the kingdom of God, Baptism is necessary, as being our Regeneration. 10 Which point Nicodemus as then not understanding, 11 he sheweth that they must believe him, and what good cause there is for them so to do. 3. After this he also baptizeth, and John likewise at the same time. 25 Whereupon a question being moved. Whether Baptism is better, 25 John answereth it by saying, that he is so far inferior to Christ, as a mere man to God most high.He teacheth Nicodemus, that to come to the kingdom of God, Baptisme is necessarie, as being our Regeneration. 10 Which point Nicodemus as then not vnderstading, 11 he sheweth that they must beleeue him, and what good cause there is for them so to doe. ⟨…⟩3. After this he also baptizeth, and Iohn likewise at the same time. 25 Wherevpon a question being moued. Whether Baptisme is better, 25 Iohn answereth it by saying, that he is so far inferiour to Christ, as a mere man to God most high.
And there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a princeps: a ruler, a leading man of the council of the Jews.AND there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a prince of the Iewes.Erat autem homo ex pharisæis, Nicodemus nomine, princeps Judæorum.
2This man came to JESUS by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art come from God a magister: a teacher, one come to teach, for no man can do these signs which thou dost, unless God be with him.This man came to IESVS by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art come from God a maister, for no man can doe these signes which thou doest, vnles God be with him.Hic venit ad Jesum nocte, et dixit ei : Rabbi, scimus quia a Deo venisti magister, nemo enim potest hæc signa facere, quæ tu facis, nisi fuerit Deus cum eo.
3Jesus answered, and said to him, Amen, Amen I say to thee, Unless a man be borne denuo: anew, from above (a new birth, our regeneration), he can not see the kingdom of God.IESVS answered, and said to him, Amen, Amen I say to thee, Vnles a man be borne againe, he can not see the kingdom of God.Respondit Jesus, et dixit ei : Amen, amen dico tibi, nisi quis renatus fuerit denuo, non potest videre regnum Dei.
4Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be borne, when he is old? can he enter into his mothers womb again and be borne?Nicodemus said to him, How can a man be borne, when he is old? can he enter into his mothers wombe againe and be borne?Dicit ad eum Nicodemus : Quomodo potest homo nasci, cum sit senex ? numquid potest in ventrem matris suæ iterato introire et renasci ?
5Jesus answered, Amen, Amen I say to thee, Unless a man be borne again of water and the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God.IESVS answered, Amen, Amen I say to thee, Vnles a man be borne againe of water and the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God.Respondit Jesus : Amen, amen dico tibi, nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua, et Spiritu Sancto, non potest introire in regnum Dei.
6That which is borne of the flesh, is flesh: & that which is borne of the spirit, is spirit.That which is borne of the flesh, is flesh: & that which is borne of the spirit, is spirit.Quod natum est ex carne, caro est : et quod natum est ex spiritu, spiritus est.
7Marvel not, that I said to thee, You must be borne again.Marueil not, that I said to thee, You must be borne againe.Non mireris quia dixi tibi : oportet vos nasci denuo.
8The spirit breatheth where he will: and thou hearest his voice, but thou knowest not whence he cometh and whither he goeth: so is every one that is borne of the Spirit.The spirit breatheth where he wil: and thou hearest his voice, but thou knowest not whence he commeth and whither he goeth: so is euery one that is borne of the Spirit.Spiritus ubi vult spirat, et vocem ejus audis, sed nescis unde veniat, aut quo vadat : sic est omnis qui natus est ex spiritu.
9Nicodemus answered, & said to him, How can these things be done?Nicodemus answered, & said to him, How can these things be done?Respondit Nicodemus, et dixit ei : Quomodo possunt hæc fieri ?
10Jesus answered, and said to him, Thou art a master in Israel, and art thou ignorant of these things?IESVS answered, and said to him, Thou art a maister in Israel, and art thou ignorant of these things?Respondit Jesus, et dixit ei : Tu es magister in Israël, et hæc ignoras ?
11Amen, Amen I say to thee, that we speak that which we know, and that which we have seen we testify, and our testimony you receive not.Amen, Amen I say to thee, that we speake that which we know, and that which we haue seen we testifie, and our testimonie you receiue not.Amen, amen dico tibi, quia quod scimus loquimur, et quod vidimus testamur, et testimonium nostrum non accipitis.
12If I have spoken to you earthly things, and you believe not: how if I shall speak to you heavenly things, will you believe?If I haue spoken to you earthly things, and you beleeue not: how if I shal speake to you heauenly things, wil you beleeue?Si terrena dixi vobis, et non creditis : quomodo, si dixero vobis cælestia, credetis ?
13And no man hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man which is in heaven.And no man hath ascended into heauen, but he that descended from heauen, the Sonne of man which is in heauen.Et nemo ascendit in cælum, nisi qui descendit de cælo, Filius hominis, qui est in cælo.
14And as Moyses exalted the serpent in the deserto: a wild uninhabited region, not specifically an arid sandy one, so must the Son of man be exalted:And as * Moyses exalted the serpent in the desert, so must the Sonne of man be exalted:Et sicut Moyses exaltavit serpentem in deserto, ita exaltari oportet Filium hominis :
15that every one which believeth in him, perish not, but may have life everlasting.that euery one which beleeueth in him, perish not, but may haue life euerlasting.ut omnis qui credit in ipsum, non pereat, sed habeat vitam æternam.
16For so God loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten son: that every one that believeth in him, perish not, but may have life everlasting.For so God loued the world, that he gaue his only-begotten sonne: that euery one that beleeueth in him, perish not, but may haue life euerlasting.Sic enim Deus dilexit mundum, ut Filium suum unigenitum daret : ut omnis qui credit in eum, non pereat, sed habeat vitam æternam.
17For God sent not his son into the world, to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by him.For God sent not his sonne into the world, to iudge the world, but that the world may be saued by him.Non enim misit Deus Filium suum in mundum, ut judicet mundum, sed ut salvetur mundus per ipsum.
18He that believeth in him, is not judged. but he that doeth not believe, is already judged: because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten son of God.He that beleeueth in him, is not iudged. but he that doeth not beleeue, is already iudged: because he hath not beleeued in the name of the only-begotten sonne of God.Qui credit in eum, non judicatur ; qui autem non credit, jam judicatus est : quia non credit in nomine unigeniti Filii Dei.
19And this is the judgment: because the light is come into the world, and men have loved the darkness rather then the light: for their works were evil.And this is the iudgment: because the light is come into the world, and men haue loued the darkenesse rather then the light: for their workes were euil.Hoc est autem judicium : quia lux venit in mundum, et dilexerunt homines magis tenebras quam lucem : erant enim eorum mala opera.
20For every one that doeth ill, hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, that his works may not be arguantur: reproved, convicted, shown to be evil.For euery one that doeth il, hateth the light, and commeth not to the light, that his workes may not be controuled.Omnis enim qui male agit, odit lucem, et non venit ad lucem, ut non arguantur opera ejus :
21But he that doeth veritatem: the truth, cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, because they were done in God.But he that doeth veritie, commeth to the light, that his workes may be made manifest, because they were done in God.qui autem facit veritatem, venit ad lucem, ut manifestentur opera ejus, quia in Deo sunt facta.
22After these things JESUS came and his Disciples into the country of Judæam: Judea, the land of the Jews: and there he abode with them, and baptized.After these things IESVS came and his Disciples into the countrie of Iewrie: and there he abode with them, and baptized.Post hæc venit Jesus et discipuli ejus in terram Judæam : et illic demorabatur cum eis, et baptizabat.
23And John also was baptizing in Aenon beside Salim: because there was much water there, and they came, and were baptized.And Iohn also was baptizing in Aenon beside Salim: because there was much water there, and they came, and were baptized.Erat autem et Joannes baptizans, in Ænnon, juxta Salim : quia aquæ multæ erant illic, et veniebant et baptizabantur.
24For John was not yet cast into prison.For Iohn was not yet cast into prison.Nondum enim missus fuerat Joannes in carcerem.
25And there rose a question of John's disciples with the Jews concerning purification.And there rose a question of Iohns disciples with the Iewes concerning purification.Facta est autem quæstio ex discipulis Joannis cum Judæis de purificatione.
26And they came to John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou didst give testimony, behold he baptizeth, and all come to him.And they came to Iohn, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Iordan, to whom * thou didst giue testimonie, behold he baptizeth, and al come to him.Et venerunt ad Joannem, et dixerunt ei : Rabbi, qui erat tecum trans Jordanem, cui tu testimonium perhibuisti, ecce hic baptizat, et omnes veniunt ad eum.
27John answered and said, A man can not receive any thing, unless it be given him from heaven.Iohn answered and said, A man can not receiue any thing, vnlesse it be giuen him from heauen.Respondit Joannes, et dixit : Non potest homo accipere quidquam, nisi fuerit ei datum de cælo.
28Yourselves do bear me witness, that I said, I am not CHRIST: but that I am sent before him.Your selues doe beare me witnesse, * that I said, I am not CHRIST: but that I am sent before him.Ipsi vos mihi testimonium perhibetis, quod dixerim : Non sum ego Christus : sed quia missus sum ante illum.
29He that hath the bride, is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom that standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth with joy for the voice of the bridegroom. This my joy therefore is filled.He that hath the bride, is the bridegrome: but the frende of the bridegrome that standeth and heareth him, reioyceth with ioy for the voice of the bridegrome. This my ioy therfore is filled.Qui habet sponsam, sponsus est : amicus autem sponsi, qui stat, et audit eum, gaudio gaudet propter vocem sponsi. Hoc ergo gaudium meum impletum est.
30He must increase, and I diminish.He must increase, and I diminishe.Illum oportet crescere, me autem minui.
31He that cometh from above, is above all. He that is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the earth he speaketh. He that cometh from heaven, is above all.He that cometh from aboue, is aboue al. He that is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the earth he speaketh. He that commeth from heauen, is aboue al.Qui desursum venit, super omnes est. Qui est de terra, de terra est, et de terra loquitur. Qui de cælo venit, super omnes est.
32And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth: and his testimony no man receiveth.And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth: and his testimonie no man receiueth.Et quod vidit, et audivit, hoc testatur : et testimonium ejus nemo accipit.
33He that hath received his testimony, hath signavit: set his seal, attested it for certain that God is true.He that hath receiued his testimonie, hath signed that God is true.Qui accepit ejus testimonium signavit, quia Deus verax est.
34For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God. for God doth not give the spirit by measure.For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the wordes of God. for God doth not giue the spirit by measure.Quem enim misit Deus, verba Dei loquitur : non enim ad mensuram dat Deus spiritum.
35The Father loveth the Son: & he hath given all things in his hand.The Father loueth the Sonne: & he hath giuen al things in his hand.Pater diligit Filium et omnia dedit in manu ejus.
36He that believeth in the Son, hath life everlasting: but he that is incredulus: unbelieving, refusing faith to the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God remaineth upon him.He that beleeueth in the Sonne, hath life euerlasting: but he that is incredulous to the Sonne, shal not see life, but the wrath of God remaineth vpon him.Qui credit in Filium, habet vitam æternam ; qui autem incredulus est Filio, non videbit vitam, sed ira Dei manet super eum.
Annotations
5Born again of water. As no man can enter into this world not have his life an I being in the same, except he be borne of his carnal parents: no more can a ma enter into the life & state of grace which is in Christ, or attain to life everlasting, unless he be borne and baptized of water and the Holy Ghost, whereby we see first, this Sacrament to be called our regeneration or second birth, in respect of our natural and carnal which was before. Secondly, that this Sacrament consisteth of an external element of water, and internal virtue of the Holy Spirit: wherein it excelleth John's Baptism, which had the external element, but nor the spiritual grace, thirdly, that no man can enter into the kingdom of God, not into the fellowship of Holy Church, without it. Whereby the Pelagians, and Calvinists be condemned, that promise life everlasting to young children that die without Baptism, and all other that think only faith to serve, or the external element of water superfluous or not necessary: our Saviours words being plain and general. Though in this case, God which hath not bound his grace, in respect of his own freedom, to any Sacrament, may and doth accept them as baptized, which either are martyred before they could be baptized, or else depart this life with vow and desire to have that Sacrament, but by some remediless necessary could not obtain it. Lastly, it is proved that this Sacrament giveth grace ex opere operato, that is, of the work itself (which all Protestants deny) because it so breedeth our spiritual life in God, as our carnal birth giveth the life of the world.
18It judged already. He that believeth in Christ with faith which worketh by charity (as the Apostle speaketh) shall not be condemned at the later day nor at the hour of his death: but the infidel, be he Jew, Pagan, or Heretic, is already (if he die in his incredulity) by his own profession and sentence condemned, and shall not come to judgement either particular or general, to be discussed according to his works of mercy done or omitted. In which sense S. Paul faith that the obstinate Heretic is condemned by his own judgement, preventing in himself, of his own free will, the sentence both of Christ and of the Church.
31He that cometh from above. As though he should say, No marvel that men resort to Christ so fast and make less account of me, for, his baptism and his preaching and his person are all from heaven immediately. He bringeth all from the very bosom, mouth, and substance of God his Father. Whatsoever is in me, is but a little drop of his grace. His spirit and graces are above all measures or mens gifts, even according to his Manhood: and all power temporal and spiritual, the kingdom and the Priesthood, and all sovereignty in heaven and earth are bestowed upon him as he is man also.