John 3:12

Translations

King James Version (KJV)

If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

American King James Version (AKJV)

If I have told you earthly things, and you believe not, how shall you believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

American Standard Version (ASV)

If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things?

Basic English Translation (BBE)

If you have no belief when my words are about the things of earth, how will you have belief if my words are about the things of heaven?

Webster's Revision

If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how will ye believe if I tell you heavenly things?

World English Bible

If I told you earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

English Revised Version (ERV)

If I told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you heavenly things?

Definitions for John 3:12

Tell - To number; count.

Clarke's John 3:12 Bible Commentary

If I have told you earthly things - If, after I have illustrated this new birth by a most expressive metaphor taken from earthly things, and after all you believe not; how can you believe, should I tell you of heavenly things, in such language as angels use, where earthly images and illustrations can have no place? Or, if you, a teacher in Israel, do not understand the nature of such an earthly thing, or custom of the kingdom established over the Jewish nation, as being born of baptism, practised every day in the initiation of proselytes, how will you understand such heavenly things as the initiation of my disciples by the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire from heaven, if I should proceed farther on the subject?

Barnes's John 3:12 Bible Commentary

If I have told you earthly things - Things which occur on earth. Not sensual or worldly things, for Jesus had said nothing of these; but he had told him of operations of the Spirit which had occurred "on earth," whose effects were visible, and which "might" be, therefore, believed. These were the plainest and most obvious of the doctrines of religion.

How shall ye believe - How will you believe. Is there any probability that you will understand them?

Heavenly things - Things pertaining to the government of God and his doings in the heavens; things which are removed from human view, and which cannot be subjected to human sight; the more profound and inscrutable things pertaining to the redemption of men. Hence, learn:

1. The height and depth of the doctrines of religion. There is much that we cannot yet understand,

2. The feebleness of our understandings and the corruptions of our hearts are the real causes why doctrines of religion are so little understood by us.

3. There is before us a vast eternity, and there are profound wonders of God's government, to be the study of the righteous, and to be seen and admired by them forever and ever.

Wesley's John 3:12 Bible Commentary

3:12 Earthly things - Things done on earth; such as the new birth, and the present privileges of the children of God. Heavenly things - Such as the eternity of the Son, and the unity of the Father, Son, and Spirit.

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