John 3:3

Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments - John 3:1-36

John 3:1 . Nicodemus, a ruler of the jews. This rabbi is named by John as defending our Saviour in the council, and as attending the crucifixion. A gospel of the passion and the resurrection of Christ was published under his name; and though generally reputed spurious, yet it is mentioned by Bede, and by other good authors. He is understood to have left Judea when Stephen was martyred. John 3:3 . Except a man be born again. The jews thought, that to be of Abraham’s seed and to keep the... read more

Joseph Exell

The Biblical Illustrator - John 3:3-5

John 3:3-5Except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of GodThe birth of the new manMan is confronted with two facts.1. The existence of evil. 2. The hope of deliverance. Christ here shows how this hope may be realized, viz., by a new birth, and by that alone. I. WHY MUST THIS BE? Simply because to live in heaven we must have the life of heaven. Man can enter no world but by a birth, and to enter heaven, therefore, he must be born into it. To the heavenly world man is dead Ephesians... read more

John Trapp

John Trapp Complete Commentary - John 3:3

3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Ver. 3. Except a man be born again ] E supernis, Out of heaven, Erasm. Except a man be first unmade (as St Peter expounds our Saviour) and newly made up again, ταις αμαρτιαις απογενομενοι , 1 Peter 2:24 ; except the whole frame of the old conversation be dissolved, and a better erected, there is no heaven to be had. Heaven is too hot to hold unregenerate... read more

Samuel Bagster

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge - John 3:3

Verily: John 1:51, Matthew 5:18, 2 Corinthians 1:19, 2 Corinthians 1:20, Revelation 3:14 Except: John 3:5, John 3:6, John 1:13, Galatians 6:15, Ephesians 2:1, Titus 3:5, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:3, 1 Peter 1:23-Lamentations :, 1 John 2:29, 1 John 3:9, 1 John 5:1, 1 John 5:18 again: or, from above, James 1:17, James 3:17 he cannot: John 3:5, John 1:5, John 12:40, Deuteronomy 29:4, Jeremiah 5:21, Matthew 13:11-Nehemiah :, Matthew 16:17, 2 Corinthians 4:4 Reciprocal: Numbers 5:22 - Amen... read more

John Wesley

Wesley's Explanatory Notes - John 3:3

Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.Jesus answered — That knowledge will not avail thee unless thou be born again - Otherwise thou canst not see, that is, experience and enjoy, either the inward or the glorious kingdom of God. In this solemn discourse our Lord shows, that no external profession, no ceremonial ordinances or privileges of birth, could entitle any to the blessings of the Messiah's kingdom:... read more

Daniel Whedon

Whedon's Commentary on the Bible - John 3:3

3. Except a man Our Lord’s reply seems abrupt; but it was perfectly suited to the case. Nicodemus was a logical believer upon the ground of miracle. Jesus forthwith proceeds, therefore, to lead him from that starting-point, to the full heart reception of the deeper spiritual truths of Christianity, and to the full experience of their truth and power. His deeper points are, original sin, regeneration by the Spirit, atonement, salvation by faith, condemnation by unbelief. He cannot see... read more