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Friday, November 22nd, 2024
the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Read the Bible

King James Version

John 3:13

And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Jesus, the Christ;   Jesus Continued;   Life;   The Topic Concordance - Jesus Christ;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Christ Is God;   Christ, the Prophet;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Nicodemus;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Jesus christ;   John, gospel of;   Son of man;   Teacher;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Ascension of Jesus Christ;   Disciple, Discipleship;   Jesus Christ, Name and Titles of;   Man from Heaven;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Episcopacy;   Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Moses;   Nicodemus;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Devil;   Jesus Christ;   Manoah;   Son of Man;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Holy Spirit;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Gospels;   John, Gospel of;   John, Theology of;   Logos;   Mss;   Nicodemus;   Scribes;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Above and below;   Annunciation, the ;   Ascension;   Attributes of Christ;   Creator (Christ as);   Death of Christ;   Discourse;   Earthly and Heavenly ;   Heaven;   Heaven ;   Holy Spirit;   Humanity of Christ;   Humiliation of Christ;   Individuality;   Mental Characteristics;   Metaphors;   Moses ;   Names and Titles of Christ;   Omnipresence;   Pre-Existence;   Property (2);   Prophet;   Righteous, Righteousness;   Sacrifice (2);   Session;   Son of God;   Son of Man;   Teaching of Jesus;   Trinity (2);   World ;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ascension;   Son of Man, the;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Regeneration;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Son of man;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Pre-Existence of Jesus Christ;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Tabernacle, the;   Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Ascend;   Ephesians, Epistle to the;   Johannine Theology, the;   Nicodemus;   Person of Christ;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Nicodemus;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for May 17;   Every Day Light - Devotion for December 4;  

Parallel Translations

Easy-to-Read Version
The only one who has ever gone up to heaven is the one who came down from heaven—the Son of Man.
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
And no man ascendeth vp to heaven but he that came doune from heaven that is to saye the sonne of man which is in heaven.
Hebrew Names Version
No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.
International Standard Version
"No one has gone up to heaven except the one who came down from heaven, the Son of Man who is in heaven.who is in heaven">[fn]Proverbs 30:4; John 6:33,38, 51,62; 16:28; Acts 2:34; 1 Corinthians 15:47; Ephesians 4:9-10;">[xr]
New American Standard Bible
"No one has ascended into heaven, except He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.
New Century Version
The only one who has ever gone up to heaven is the One who came down from heaven—the Son of Man.
Update Bible Version
And no one has ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, the Son of man.
Webster's Bible Translation
And no man hath ascended to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man who is in heaven.
English Standard Version
No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
World English Bible
No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
For no one hath gone up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, the Son of man, who is in heaven.
Weymouth's New Testament
There is no one who has gone up to Heaven, but there is One who has come down from Heaven, namely the Son of Man whose home is in Heaven.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And no man stieth in to heuene, but he that cam doun fro heuene, mannys sone that is in heuene.
English Revised Version
And no man hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, which is in heaven.
Berean Standard Bible
No one has ascended into heaven except the One who descended from heaven-the Son of Man.
Contemporary English Version
No one has gone up to heaven except the Son of Man, who came down from there.
Amplified Bible
"No one has gone up into heaven, but there is One who came down from heaven, the Son of Man [Himself—whose home is in heaven].
American Standard Version
And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, who is in heaven.
Bible in Basic English
And no one has ever gone up to heaven but he who came down from heaven, the Son of man.
Complete Jewish Bible
No one has gone up into heaven; there is only the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man.
Darby Translation
And no one has gone up into heaven, save he who came down out of heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven.
Etheridge Translation
AND no man hath ascended into heaven, but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man, he who is in heaven.
Murdock Translation
And no one hath ascended to heaven, but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven.
King James Version (1611)
And no man hath ascended vp to heauen, but hee that came downe from heauen, euen the Sonne of man which is in heauen.
New Living Translation
No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven.
New Life Bible
"No one has gone up into heaven except the One Who came down from heaven. That One is the Son of Man *Who is in heaven.
New Revised Standard
No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.
Geneva Bible (1587)
For no man ascendeth vp to heauen, but he that hath descended from heauen, that Sonne of man which is in heauen.
George Lamsa Translation
No man has ascended to heaven, except he who came down from heaven, even the Son of man who is in heaven.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, no one, hath ascended into heaven, save he that, out of heaven, descended, - The Son of Man.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And no man hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended from heaven, the Son of man who is in heaven.
Revised Standard Version
No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And no man ascendeth vp to heauen, but he that came downe from heauen, euen the sonne of man which is in heauen.
Good News Translation
And no one has ever gone up to heaven except the Son of Man, who came down from heaven."
Christian Standard Bible®
No one has ascended
Lexham English Bible
And no one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
Literal Translation
And no one has gone up into Heaven, except He having come down out of Heaven, the Son of Man who is in Heaven.
Young's Literal Translation
and no one hath gone up to the heaven, except he who out of the heaven came down -- the Son of Man who is in the heaven.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And no man ascendeth vp in to heauen, but he that is come downe from heaue, (namely) the sonne of man which is in heauen.
Mace New Testament (1729)
for no man hath penetrated into the secrets of heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the son of man, who is in heaven.
THE MESSAGE
"No one has ever gone up into the presence of God except the One who came down from that Presence, the Son of Man. In the same way that Moses lifted the serpent in the desert so people could have something to see and then believe, it is necessary for the Son of Man to be lifted up—and everyone who looks up to him, trusting and expectant, will gain a real life, eternal life.
New English Translation
No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven—the Son of Man.
New King James Version
No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven. [fn]
Simplified Cowboy Version
Nobody has ever gone to heaven and come back, but the Top Hand rode down from heaven to help y'all.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
"No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.
Legacy Standard Bible
And no one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

Contextual Overview

1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9 Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? 10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

no man: John 1:18, John 6:46, Deuteronomy 30:12, Proverbs 30:4, Acts 2:34, Romans 10:6, Ephesians 4:9

but: John 6:33, John 6:38, John 6:51, John 6:62, John 8:42, John 13:3, John 16:28-30, John 17:5, 1 Corinthians 15:47

even: John 1:18, Matthew 28:20, Mark 16:19, Mark 16:20, Acts 20:28, Ephesians 1:23, Ephesians 4:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 11:5 - General Exodus 3:8 - I am Exodus 19:11 - the Lord Numbers 11:17 - I will come 2 Kings 2:12 - he saw him Song of Solomon 8:1 - find thee Isaiah 45:22 - Look Ezekiel 2:1 - Son Daniel 7:13 - one like Luke 5:24 - that the John 1:51 - the Son John 3:11 - We speak John 3:12 - heavenly John 3:31 - that cometh John 6:50 - the bread John 8:23 - Ye are from John 16:27 - and have Acts 7:34 - and am 1 John 1:2 - which was

Cross-References

Genesis 3:4
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Genesis 3:6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.
Genesis 3:9
And the Lord God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Genesis 3:10
And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Genesis 3:12
And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.
Genesis 44:15
And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye not that such a man as I can certainly divine?
1 Samuel 13:11
And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash;
2 Samuel 3:24
Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
John 18:35
Pilate answered, Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests have delivered thee unto me: what hast thou done?
1 Timothy 2:14
And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And no man hath ascended into heaven,.... Though Enoch and Elias had, yet not by their own power, nor in the sense our Lord designs; whose meaning is, that no man had, or could go up to heaven, to bring from thence the knowledge of divine and heavenly things; in which sense the phrase is used in Deuteronomy 30:12, and which may be illustrated by John 1:18; wherefore inasmuch as Nicodemus had acknowledged Christ to he a teacher come from God, our Lord, would have him know, that he was the only teacher of heavenly things, as being the only person that had been in heaven, and in the bosom of the Father; and therefore, if he, and the rest of the Jews, did not receive instructions from him, they must for ever remain ignorant; for there never had been, nor was, nor could be, any mere man that could go up to heaven, and learn the mysteries of God, and of the kingdom of heaven, and return and instruct men in them:

but he that came down from heaven; meaning himself, who is the Lord from heaven, and came from thence to do the will of God by preaching the Gospel, working miracles, obeying the law, and suffering death in the room of his people, and thereby obtaining eternal redemption for them. Not that he brought down from heaven with him, either the whole of his human nature, or a part of it; either an human soul, or an human body; nor did he descend locally, by change of place, he being God omnipresent, infinite and immense, but by assumption of the human nature into union with his divine person:

[even] the son of man which is in heaven; at the same time he was then on earth: not that he was in heaven in his human nature, and as he was the son of man; but in his divine nature, as he was the Son of God; see John 1:18; though this is predicated of his person, as denominated from the human nature, which was proper to him only in his divine nature; for such is omnipresence, or to be in heaven and earth at the same time: just as on the other hand God is said to purchase the church with his blood, and the Lord of glory is said to be crucified, Acts 20:28, where those things are spoken of Christ, as denominated from his divine nature, which were proper only to his human nature; and is what divines call a communication of idioms or properties; and which will serve as a key to open all such passages of Scripture: and now as a proof of our Lord's having been in heaven, and of his being a teacher come from God, and such an one as never was, or can be, he opens and explains a type respecting himself, in the following verse.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And no man hath ascended into heavens - No man, therefore, is qualified to speak of heavenly things, John 3:12. To speak of those things requires intimate acquaintance with them - demands that we have seen them; and as no one has ascended into heaven and returned, so no one is qualified to speak of them but He who came down from heaven. This does not mean that no one had Gone to heaven or had been saved, for Enoch and Elijah had been borne there (Genesis 5:24; compare Hebrews 11:5; 2 Kings 2:11); and Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and others were there: but it means that no one had ascended and “returned,” so as to be qualified to speak of the things there.

But he that came down ... - The Lord Jesus. He is represented as coming down, because, being equal with God, he took upon himself our nature, John 1:14; Philippians 2:6-7. He is represented as “sent” by the Father, John 3:17, John 3:34; Gal 4:4; 1 John 4:9-10.

The Son of man - Called thus from his being “a man;” from his interest in man; and as expressive of his regard for man. It is a favorite title which the Lord Jesus gives to himself.

Which is in Heaven - This is a very remarkable expression. Jesus, the Son of man, was then bodily on earth conversing with Nicodemus; yet he declares that he is “at the same time” in heaven. This can be understood only as referring to the fact that he had two natures that his “divine nature” was in heaven, and his “human nature” on earth. Our Saviour is frequently spoken of in this manner. Compare John 6:62; Joh 17:5; 2 Corinthians 8:9. Since Jesus was “in” heaven - as his proper abode was there - he was fitted to speak of heavenly things, and to declare the will of God to man And we may learn:

1.That the truth about the deep things of God is not to be learned from “men.” No one has ascended to heaven and returned to tell us what is there; and no infidel, no mere man, no prophet, is qualified of himself to speak of them.

2.That all the light which we are to expect on those subjects is to be sought in the Scriptures. It is only Jesus and his inspired apostles and evangelists that can speak of those things.

  1. It is not wonderful that some things in the Scriptures are mysterious. They are about things which we have not seen, and we must receive them on the “testimony” of one who has seen them.
  2. The Lord Jesus is divine. He was in heaven while on earth. He had, therefore, a nature far above the human, and is equal with the Father, John 1:1.



Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 3:13. No man hath ascended — This seems a figurative expression for, No man hath known the mysteries of the kingdom of God; as in Deuteronomy 30:12; Psalms 73:17; Proverbs 30:4; Romans 11:34. And the expression is founded upon this generally received maxim: That to be perfectly acquainted with the concerns of a place, it is necessary for a person to be on the spot. But our Lord probably spoke to correct a false notion among the Jews, viz. that Moses had ascended to heaven, in order to get the law. It is not Moses who is to be heard now, but Jesus: Moses did not ascend to heaven; but the Son of man is come down from heaven to reveal the Divine will.

That came down — The incarnation of Christ is represented under the notion of his coming down from heaven, to dwell upon earth.

Which is in heaven. — Lest a wrong meaning should be taken from the foregoing expression, and it should be imagined that, in order to manifest himself upon earth he must necessarily leave heaven; our blessed Lord qualifies it by adding, the Son of man who is in heaven; pointing out, by this, the ubiquity or omnipresence of his nature: a character essentially belonging to God; for no being can possibly exist in more places than one at a time, but HE who fills the heavens and the earth.


 
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