john-3:5

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - John 3:1-21

1-8 Nicodemus was afraid, or ashamed to be seen with Christ, therefore came in the night. When religion is out of fashion, there are many Nicodemites. But though he came by night, Jesus bid him welcome, and hereby taught us to encourage good beginnings, although weak. And though now he came by night, yet afterward he owned Christ publicly. He did not talk with Christ about state affairs, though he was a ruler, but about the concerns of his own soul and its salvation, and went at once to them.... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - John 3:1-99

John 3 THIS CHAPTER REALLY begins with a word, which may be translated, But, though it is omitted in the Authorised Version. Nicodemus was amongst those impressed with the miracles, but in his case something further existed. The signs he had witnessed had led him in his thoughts to God, and after God he sought. The orthodox way of seeking God was to go to the Temple, and that Nicodemus would have done by day. He chose the unorthodox way of seeking an interview with this “Teacher come from... read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - John 3:4-8

The mode of regeneration: v. 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? v. 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. v. 6. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. v. 7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. v. 8. The wind bloweth... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - John 3:1-21

VJESUS IN JERUSALEM, AND NICODEMUS AS A WITNESS OF THE FIRST POWERFUL IMPRESSION OF JESUS UPON THE PHARISEES. THE CONVERSATION OF CHRIST WITH NICODEMUS BY NIGHT CONCERNING THE HEAVENLY BIRTH AS THE CONDITION OF ENTRANCE INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD. SYMBOLISM OF WATER, WIND, AND THE BRAZEN SERPENT.John 3:1-21(John 3:1-15, Gospel for Trinity Sunday; John 3:16-21, Gospel for 2nd Pentecost)1[But]1 there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2The same came to Jesus [him]2 by... read more

Frederick Brotherton Meyer

F.B. Meyer's 'Through the Bible' Commentary - John 3:1-8

New Life from above the Need of All John 2:23-25 ; John 3:1-8 A solemn question is suggested by John 2:24 . Can Jesus trust Himself to us? We must show ourselves worthy of His trust. In John 3:1-36 ; John 4:1-54 we have two remarkable instances of the Lord’s intimate knowledge of the human heart. Apparently Nicodemus had shrunk from identifying himself with John’s baptism. He was one of the richest men in Jerusalem, and our Lord addressed him as the teacher, John 2:10 , r.v. He was willing... read more

G. Campbell Morgan

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible - John 3:1-36

Nicodemus would seem to have been one of the finest products of Judaism. He was thoroughly sincere. Moreover, he was determined to investigate for himself, and so came to Jesus by night, not because he was cowardly, but because he sought a lonely and personal interview. This was the man to whom our Lord revealed the necessity for the new birth. When the statement created difficulty in the mind of Nicodemus, our Lord revealed to him the fact and necessity for the Cross. Whether Nicodemus... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - John 3:1-15

The New Birth John 3:1-15 INTRODUCTORY WORDS The story of Nicodemus is common to us all, and yet there is, perhaps, much in it which needs to be emphasized, and there may be some things hidden away that we may not yet have discovered. In the message of Nicodemus, which confronts us now, we can readily discern how Nicodemus is a representative of national Israel, and how as such, he was altogether ignorant of the deeper spiritual meanings of salvation and regeneration, 1. An ignorant nation.... read more

Robert Neighbour

Wells of Living Water Commentary - John 3:1-16

Salvation Made Plain John 3:1-16 INTRODUCTORY WORDS We are using the story of Nicodemus as the basis of our message for today. However, we are planning to bring out some very vital considerations which no one portion of Scripture would supply. Therefore, we will go from Scripture to Scripture for much of our discussion. We wish to present to you a brief story of Nicodemus. 1. The description of man's best. Nicodemus was one of Israel's teachers. That he summed up the very highest ideals of... read more

Peter Pett

Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible - John 3:5

‘Jesus answered, “In very truth I tell you, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the Kingly Rule of God.’ Jesus replies that He is speaking about a birth “of water and Spirit” without which entry under the reign of God is impossible. The connection of water with Spirit may possibly, but not certainly, look back to John’s baptism in the writer’s mind, but it is not strictly of baptism that Jesus is thinking. He is thinking of the Old Testament prophecies about... read more

Arthur Peake

Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible - John 3:1-21

John 3:1-Ecclesiastes : . The Conversation with Nicodemus.— Nicodemus is an example of those to whom the Lord could not trust Himself. The story shows how He tried to bring those whom His teaching had impressed to a truer conception of the Messianic kingdom. Here as in all the Johannine speeches the conversation is recorded in terms which reflect later thought, and it passes out into more general thoughts and ideas Nicodemus disappears, and before the end the author is teaching the men of his... read more