Ἰωάννην 3:21

Greek Modern Translation

οστις ομως πραττει την αληθειαν, ερχεται εις το φως, δια να φανερωθωσι τα εργα αυτου οτι επραχθησαν κατα Θεον.

Parallel Translations

SBL Greek New Testament (2010)
ὁ δὲ ποιῶν τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἔρχεται πρὸς τὸ φῶς, ἵνα φανερωθῇ αὐτοῦ τὰ ἔργα ὅτι ἐν θεῷ ἐστιν εἰργασμένα.

Tischendorf 8th Edition
ὁ δὲ ποιῶν τὴν ἀλήθειαν ἔρχεται πρὸς τὸ φῶς, ἵνα φανερωθῇ αὐτοῦ τὰ ἔργα, ὅτι ἐν θεῷ ἐστιν εἰργασμένα.

Textus Receptus (1550/1894)
ο δε ποιων την αληθειαν ερχεται προς το φως ινα φανερωθη αυτου τα εργα οτι εν θεω εστιν ειργασμενα

Westcott/Hort UBS4 (1881)
ο δε ποιων την αληθειαν ερχεται προς το φως ινα φανερωθη αυτου τα εργα οτι εν θεω εστιν ειργασμενα

Byzantine/Majority Text
ο δε ποιων την αληθειαν ερχεται προς το φως ινα φανερωθη αυτου τα εργα οτι εν θεω εστιν ειργασμενα

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he that: John 1:47, John 5:39, Psalms 1:1-3, Psalms 119:80, Psalms 119:105, Psalms 139:23, Psalms 139:24, Isaiah 8:20, Acts 17:11, Acts 17:12, 1 John 1:6

that his: John 15:4, John 15:5, Isaiah 26:12, Hosea 14:8, 1 Corinthians 15:10, 2 Corinthians 1:12, Galatians 5:22, Galatians 5:23, Galatians 6:8, Ephesians 5:9, Philippians 1:11, Philippians 2:13, Colossians 1:29, Hebrews 13:21, 1 Peter 1:22, 2 Peter 1:5-10, 1 John 2:27-29, 1 John 4:12, 1 John 4:13, 1 John 4:15, 1 John 4:16, Revelation 3:1, Revelation 3:2, Revelation 3:15

they are: 3 John 1:11

Reciprocal: Psalms 25:12 - him Psalms 31:19 - wrought Luke 5:17 - that there John 12:36 - believe Ephesians 2:10 - we are Ephesians 5:13 - for 2 Timothy 3:7 - learning

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But he that doth truth,.... That which is true, right and good: "he whose work is just", as the Ethiopic version renders it; or, "he that does that which is right", so the Persic; that which is according to the will of God, and from a principle of love to him, and with a view to his glory:

cometh to the light; to Christ, and to his word, and ordinances:

that his deeds may be made manifest; being brought to the light, to the test, and standard, whether they, are right, or wrong; and that it may appear,

that they are wrought in God; or "by God"; by his assistance, and gracious influence, without which men can do nothing; for it is God that works in them both to will and to do: or, "according to God", as others render it; according to the will of God, both for matter and manner: or "for God", as the Ethiopic version renders it; for the glory of God, which ought to be the aim, and end of every action. The Persic version reads the whole thus, "that the work which is between God and him may be known"; that such deeds may be discovered, which are only known to God and himself.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Are that doeth truth - He who does right, or he that obeys the truth. Truth here is opposed to error and to evil. The sinner acts from falsehood and error. The good man acts according to truth. The sinner believes a lie - that God will not punish, or that there is no God, or that there is no eternity and no hell. The Christian believes all these, and acts as if they were true. This is the difference between a Christian and a sinner.

Cometh to the light - Loves the truth, and seeks it more and more. By prayer and searching the Scriptures he endeavors to ascertain the truth, and yield his mind to it.

May be made manifest - May be made clear or plain; or that it may be made plain that his deeds are performed in God. He searches for truth and light that he may have evidence that his actions are right.

Wrought in God - That they are performed according to the will of God, or perhaps by the assistance of God, and are such as God will approve. The actions of good people are performed by the influence and aid of God, Philippians 2:12. Of course, if they are performed by his aid, they are such as he will approve. Here is presented the character of a good man and a sincere Christian. We learn respecting that character:

1. He does truth. He loves it, seeks it, follows it.
2. He comes to the light. He does not attempt to deceive himself or others.
3. He is willing to know himself, and aims to do it. He desires to know the true state of his heart before God.
4. A special object of his efforts is that his deeds may be “wrought in God.” He desires to be a good man; to receive continual aid from God, and to perform such actions as he will approve.

This is the close of our Lord’s discourse with Nicodemus - a discourse condensing the gospel, giving the most striking exhibition and illustration of truth, and representing especially the fundamental doctrine of regeneration and the evidence of the change. It is clear that the Saviour regarded this as lying at the foundation of religion. Without it we cannot possibly be saved. And now it becomes every reader, as in the presence of God, and in view of the judgment-seat of Christ, solemnly to ask himself whether he has experienced this change? whether he knows by experience what it is to be born of that Spirit? If he does he will be saved. If not, he is in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity, and should give no sleep to his eyes until he has made his peace with God.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 3:21. Wrought in God. — In his presence, and through his assistance. This is the end of our Lord's discourse to Nicodemus; and though we are not informed here of any good effects produced by it, yet we learn from other scriptures that it had produced the most blessed effects in his mind, and that from this time he became a disciple of Christ. He publicly defended our Lord in the Sanhedrin, of which he was probably a member, John 7:50, and, with Joseph of Arimathea, gave him an honourable funeral, John 19:39, when all his bosom friends had deserted him. See Dodd.