John 3:12

Bible in Basic English (1941)

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?

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

Εἰ τὰ ἐπίγεια εἶπον ὑμῖν, καὶ οὐ πιστεύετε, πῶς ἐὰν εἴπω ὑμῖν τὰ ἐπουράνια; πιστεύσετε,

Transliteration

If the epigeia eipon hymin, and not pisteuete, how if eipō hymin ta epourania pisteuseté?

Grammar Details

• *epigeia*: accusative, neuter, plural - earthly things
• *eipon*: aorist, 1st singular - I told/said
• *hymin*: personal pronoun, dative, plural - to you [plural]
• *pisteuete*: present, 2nd plural - you believe
• *eipō*: aorist, subjunctive, 1st singular - I might tell/say
• *epourania*: accusative, neuter, plural - heavenly things
• *pisteusete*: future, 2nd plural - you will believe

Word Meanings

• *epigeia*: earthly things/terrestrial matters
• *epourania*: heavenly things/celestial matters
• *pisteuete*: believe/trust/have faith in

Referenced Verses

• 1 Cor 2:7-9 : 7 But we give the news of the secret wisdom of God, which he had kept in store before the world came into existence, for our glory; 8 Of which not one of the rulers of this world had knowledge: for if they had, they would not have put the Lord of glory on the cross: 9 But as it says in the holy Writings, Things which the eye saw not, and which had not come to the ears or into the heart of man, such things as God has made ready for those who have love for him.
• 1 Cor 3:1-2 : 1 And the teaching I gave you, my brothers, was such as I was able to give, not to those who have the Spirit, but to those who are still in the flesh, even to children in Christ. 2 I gave you milk and not meat, because you were, then, unable to take it, and even now you are not able;
• Heb 5:11 : 11 Of whom we have much to say which it is hard to make clear, because you are slow of hearing.
• 1 Pet 2:1-3 : 1 So putting away all wrongdoing, and all tricks and deceits and envies and evil talk, 2 Be full of desire for the true milk of the word, as babies at their mothers' breasts, so that you may go on to salvation; 3 If you have had a taste of the grace of the Lord:
• 1 John 4:10 : 10 And this is love, not that we had love for God, but that he had love for us, and sent his Son to be an offering for our sins.
• 1 Tim 3:16 : 16 And without argument, great is the secret of religion: He who was seen in the flesh, who was given God's approval in the spirit, was seen by the angels, of whom the good news was given among the nations, in whom the world had faith, who was taken up in glory.
• John 1:1-9 : 1 From the first he was the Word, and the Word was in relation with God and was God. 2 This Word was from the first in relation with God. 3 All things came into existence through him, and without him nothing was. 4 What came into existence in him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light goes on shining in the dark; it is not overcome by the dark. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came for witness, to give witness about the light, so that all men might have faith through him. 8 He himself was not the light: he was sent to give witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to every man, was then coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, the world which came into being through him, but the world had no knowledge of him. 11 He came to the things which were his and his people did not take him to their hearts. 12 To all those who did so take him, however, he gave the right of becoming children of God--that is, to those who had faith in his name: 13 Whose birth was from God and not from blood, or from an impulse of the flesh and man's desire. 14 And so the Word became flesh and took a place among us for a time; and we saw his glory--such glory as is given to an only son by his father--saw it to be true and full of grace.
• John 3:3 : 3 Jesus said to him, Truly, I say to you, Without a new birth no man is able to see the kingdom of God.
• John 3:5 : 5 Jesus said in answer, Truly, I say to you, If a man's birth is not from water and from the Spirit, it is not possible for him to go into the kingdom of God.
• John 3:8 : 8 The wind goes where its pleasure takes it, and the sound of it comes to your ears, but you are unable to say where it comes from and where it goes: so it is with everyone whose birth is from the Spirit.
• John 3:13-17 : 13 And no one has ever gone up to heaven but he who came down from heaven, the Son of man. 14 As the snake was lifted up by Moses in the waste land, even so it is necessary for the Son of man to be lifted up: 15 So that whoever has faith may have in him eternal life. 16 For God had such love for the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever has faith in him may not come to destruction but have eternal life. 17 God did not send his Son into the world to be judge of the world; he sent him so that the world might have salvation through him.
• John 3:31-36 : 31 He who comes from heaven is greater than all others: he who comes from earth is of the earth, and of the earth are his words: he who comes from heaven is over all. 32 He gives witness of what he has seen and of what has come to his ears; and no man takes his witness as true. 33 He who so takes his witness has made clear his faith that God is true. 34 For he whom God has sent says God's words; and God does not give him the Spirit by measure. 35 The Father has love for the Son and has put all things into his hands. 36 He who has faith in the Son has eternal life; but he who has not faith in the Son will not see life; God's wrath is resting on him.