John 3:18
What does John 3:18 mean?
A plain-English look at John 3:18 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What John 3:18 means
This verse delineates the spiritual condition of humanity: those who "believeth on him" are not subject to divine judgment, having passed from death to life through their faith. Conversely, those who "believeth not" are already under God's judgment, not because of something God *will do* in the future, but because they have deliberately rejected the unique and saving provision of God's "only begotten Son," thus remaining in their state of condemnation.
John 3:18 in context
John 3 — You Must Be Born Again
By night a Pharisee named Nicodemus comes to Jesus, half-confessing him as a teacher sent from God. Jesus cuts past the compliment: 'except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' Religion will not do; reformation will not do; only a new birth by water and the Spirit. The chapter rises to the most-quoted verse in the Bible — 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son' — and ends with John the Baptist's last public testimony: 'He must increase, but I must decrease.'
- New birth
- The Spirit
- God's love for the world
- Faith and life
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.
KJV
King James Version · 1611He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949The man who has faith in him does not come up to be judged; but he who has no faith in him has been judged even now, because he has no faith in the name of the only Son of God.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862he who is believing in him is not judged, but he who is not believing hath been judged already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752He that believeth in him is not judged. But he that doth not believe is already judged: because he believeth not in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890He that believes on him is not judged: but he that believes not has been already judged, because he has not believed on the name of the only-begotten Son ofGod.
Context
Following the explanation that Christ came to save, not to judge, this verse immediately introduces the two distinct outcomes based on one's response to the Son. It clearly separates those who believe from those who do not, establishing a present reality of either salvation or condemnation. This definitive statement on belief versus unbelief sets the stage for Jesus to explain *why* many choose darkness over light in the following verses.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- 1 John 5:12
He that hath the Son hath the life; he that hath not the Son of God hath not the life.
- John 1:18
No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.
- Romans 5:1
Being therefore justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ;
- Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.
- Romans 8:34
who is he that condemneth? It is Christ Jesus that died, yea rather, that was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
- Hebrews 12:25
See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not when they refused him that warned them on earth, much more shall not we escape who turn away from him that warneth from heaven:
Sermon ideas from John 3:18
Angles a pastor or small-group leader might preach or teach from this passage, drawn from the chapter's main themes.
What John 3:18 teaches us about new birth
What John 3:18 teaches us about the spirit
What John 3:18 teaches us about god's love for the world
What John 3:18 teaches us about faith and life
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