Mark 10:15

10:15 I tell you the truth, ¹  whoever does not receive ²  the kingdom of God like a child ³  will never ⁴  enter it.”

Matthew 18:3

18:3 and said, “I tell you the truth, ⁵  unless you turn around and become like little children, ⁶  you will never ⁷  enter the kingdom of heaven!

John 3:5

3:5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, ⁸  unless a person is born of water and spirit, ⁹  he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

John 3:2

3:2 came to Jesus ¹⁰  at night ¹¹  and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs ¹²  that you do unless God is with him.”

John 1:11

1:11 He came to what was his own, ¹³  but ¹⁴  his own people ¹⁵  did not receive him. ¹⁶ 

¹ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

² sn On receive see John 1:12.

³ sn The point of the comparison receive the kingdom of God like a child has more to do with a child’s trusting spirit and willingness to be dependent and receive from others than any inherent humility the child might possess.

⁴ tn The negation in Greek (οὐ μή, ou mh) is very strong here.

⁵ tn Grk “Truly (ἀμήν, amhn), I say to you.”

⁶ sn The point of the comparison become like little children has more to do with a child’s trusting spirit, as well as willingness to be dependent and receive from others, than any inherent humility the child might possess.

⁷ tn The negation in Greek (οὐ μή, ou mh) is very strong here.

⁸ tn Grk “Truly, truly, I say to you.”

⁹ tn Or “born of water and wind” (the same Greek word, πνεύματος [pneumatos], may be translated either “spirit/Spirit” or “wind”).

¹⁰ tn Grk “him”; the referent (Jesus) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

¹¹ tn Or “during the night.”

¹² sn The reference to signs (σημεῖα, shmeia) forms a link with John 2:23-25. Those people in Jerusalem believed in Jesus because of the signs he had performed. Nicodemus had apparently seen them too. But for Nicodemus all the signs meant is that Jesus was a great teacher sent from God. His approach to Jesus was well-intentioned but theologically inadequate; he had failed to grasp the messianic implications of the miraculous signs.

¹³ tn Grk “to his own things.”

¹⁴ tn Grk “and,” but in context this is an adversative use of καί (kai) and is thus translated “but.”

¹⁵ tn “People” is not in the Greek text but is implied.

¹⁶ sn His own people did not receive him. There is a subtle irony here: When the λόγος (logos) came into the world, he came to his own (τὰ ἴδια, ta idia, literally “his own things”) and his own people (οἱ ἴδιοι, Joi idioi), who should have known and received him, but they did not. This time John does not say that “his own” did not know him, but that they did not receive him (παρέλαβον, parelabon). The idea is one not of mere recognition, but of acceptance and welcome.