Summary: I don't know if one truly can summarize John 3. One could describe it as THE chapter of Scripture. The Greek shows a number of interesting wrinkles in the text, each of which can help get at the core message about the work of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in saving the world. Perhaps one little tidbit: eternal life doesn't begin after death in the Gospel of John.
Νικόδημος ("Nicodemus" vs 1): It is worth noting that Nicodemus gets a name; the woman at the well in chapter 4 will not. Nicodemus, like the woman at the well, misunderstands Jesus. His story should end in chapter 3, but it does not. It keeps going. Because God is author of our story, our own failures do not end the narrative. In chapter 7 Nicodemus will defend Jesus; at the end of the Gospel he will help bury Jesus (19). Jesus invites people to come and see. For Nicodemus, this invitation changed his life, as he came and saw, and was drawn in.
Little side note: Nicodemus' general confusion is emphasized in the Greek that he repeatedly says "How can it be that..." (The tense of λεγω in 3:4 is present tense).
νυκτος (νυξ, "night", vs 2) The fact that he visits at night might have many meanings. It might mean that he is worried about shaming himself by association with Jesus. It might also suggest he is still 'in the dark'. Finally though it might suggest that he does not want a confrontation. He is not seeking to embarrass Jesus but wants to meet with him alone.
ο διδασκαλος ("the teacher", vs 2) Nicodemus calls Jesus "a" teacher; Jesus calls Nicodemus "THE teacher." Obviously Jesus is catching Nicodemus in his words!
βασιλεια του θεου ("Kingdom of God", vs 3). It is interesting that Nicodemus didn't ask about the Kingdom. Jesus seems to give a strange reply. One might argue that Jesus is simply pushing his own agenda. However...Jesus never will use the phrase Kingdom of God in the Gospel of John outside of this conversation. He somehow is addressing a concern specifically for Nicodemus. I wonder if one could make the argument that Jesus whose listening is so powerful that he can force us not only to listen to him, but somehow to listen to ourselves. Why did Nicodemus come to Jesus? Because he wanted to enter into the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus must realize that this is both a gift but also comes with a profound transformation of Nicodemus' life, one akin to a new birth.
ανωθεν ("again" or "above" vs 3) I would argue that 'above' is a better translation here. Not simply because of the context (Jesus says you don't have to come out of the womb, but must be born of the water and Spirit), but because above includes again. If you are born from above, this is the second birth anyway! We must be born again, but this birth isn't through human agency, but God alone.
πνευμα (literally, "pneuma"; meaning "spirit" vs 5, 6 and 8) The word Spirit is related to breath, but also blow and wind. So the verse that reads "The wind blows where it will" could and arguably should be translated "the Spirit blows where it will." In fact, one could read it as "The spirit spirits where it will."
πιστευω ("believe" vs 15 and 16, etc). Believe is only a verb in the Gospel of John. It means trust; it is an action not a thing. It is also in the present and active tense: the one is who is trusting...
εχη ("have" vs 16) The word here is in the present tense. ETERNAL LIFE begins NOW. It is not a future reality, but a present one found in Christ! Whoever is trusting in God has life which continues into eternity.
κοσμος ("world" vs 16). Throughout the Gospel of John, the world doesn't like God. It doesn't understand God (1:10); it doesn't give like God (14:27) ; in fact, it hates God (7:7). This is the world God loves!
ο διδασκαλος ("the teacher", vs 2) Nicodemus calls Jesus "a" teacher; Jesus calls Nicodemus "THE teacher." Obviously Jesus is catching Nicodemus in his words!
βασιλεια του θεου ("Kingdom of God", vs 3). It is interesting that Nicodemus didn't ask about the Kingdom. Jesus seems to give a strange reply. One might argue that Jesus is simply pushing his own agenda. However...Jesus never will use the phrase Kingdom of God in the Gospel of John outside of this conversation. He somehow is addressing a concern specifically for Nicodemus. I wonder if one could make the argument that Jesus whose listening is so powerful that he can force us not only to listen to him, but somehow to listen to ourselves. Why did Nicodemus come to Jesus? Because he wanted to enter into the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus must realize that this is both a gift but also comes with a profound transformation of Nicodemus' life, one akin to a new birth.
ανωθεν ("again" or "above" vs 3) I would argue that 'above' is a better translation here. Not simply because of the context (Jesus says you don't have to come out of the womb, but must be born of the water and Spirit), but because above includes again. If you are born from above, this is the second birth anyway! We must be born again, but this birth isn't through human agency, but God alone.
πνευμα (literally, "pneuma"; meaning "spirit" vs 5, 6 and 8) The word Spirit is related to breath, but also blow and wind. So the verse that reads "The wind blows where it will" could and arguably should be translated "the Spirit blows where it will." In fact, one could read it as "The spirit spirits where it will."
πιστευω ("believe" vs 15 and 16, etc). Believe is only a verb in the Gospel of John. It means trust; it is an action not a thing. It is also in the present and active tense: the one is who is trusting...
εχη ("have" vs 16) The word here is in the present tense. ETERNAL LIFE begins NOW. It is not a future reality, but a present one found in Christ! Whoever is trusting in God has life which continues into eternity.
κοσμος ("world" vs 16). Throughout the Gospel of John, the world doesn't like God. It doesn't understand God (1:10); it doesn't give like God (14:27) ; in fact, it hates God (7:7). This is the world God loves!
Also important to recognize that the WORLD is the object of salvation. The individuals receive eternal life, but the scope of salvation is broader than simply humans.
