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William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 3:1-6

3:1-6 There was a man who was one of the Pharisees who was called Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him: "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do the signs which you do unless God is with him." Jesus answered him: "This is the truth I tell you--unless a man is reborn from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him: "How can a man be born when he is old? Surely he cannot enter into his mother's womb... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 3:1-6

When John relates conversations that Jesus had with enquirers, he has a way of following a certain scheme. We see that scheme very clearly here. The enquirer says something ( John 3:2 ). Jesus answers in a saying that is hard to understand ( John 3:3 ). That saying is misunderstood by the enquirer ( John 3:4 ). Jesus answers with a saying that is even more difficult to understand ( John 3:5 ). And then there follows a discourse and an explanation. John uses this method in order that we... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 3:1-6

Let us start with the kingdom of heaven. What does it mean? We get our best definition of it from the Lord's Prayer. There are two petitions side by side: Thy Kingdom come: Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. It is characteristic of Jewish style to say things twice, the second way explaining and amplifying the first. Any verse of the Psalms will show us this Jewish habit of what is technically known as parallelism: The Lord of hosts is with us: The God of Jacob is... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 3:6

That which is born of the flesh, is flesh ,.... Man by his natural birth, and as he is born according to the flesh of his natural parents, is a mere natural man; that is, he is carnal and corrupt, and cannot discern spiritual things; nor can he, as such, enter into, and inherit the kingdom of God; see 1 Corinthians 2:14 . And therefore there is a necessity of his being born again, or of the grace of the Spirit, and of his becoming a spiritual man; and if he was to be, or could be born... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 3:6

That which is born of the flesh is flesh - This is the answer to the objection made by Nicodemus in John 3:4 . Can a man enter the second time into his mother's womb and be born? Our Lord here intimates that, were even this possible, it would not answer the end; for the plant will ever be of the nature of the seed that produces it - like will beget its like. The kingdom of God is spiritual and holy; and that which is born of the Spirit resembles the Spirit; for as he is who begat, so is he... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 3:6

Verse 6 6.That which is born of the flesh. By reasoning from contraries, he argues that the kingdom of God is shut against us, unless an entrance be opened to us by a new birth, ( παλιγγενεσία) For he takes for granted, that we cannot enter into the kingdom of God unless we are spiritual. But we bring nothing from the womb but a carnal nature. Therefore it follows, that we are naturally banished from the kingdom of God, and, having been deprived of the heavenly life, remain under the yoke of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:1-8

The interview of Christ with Nicodemus. This brings before us one of the most important passages in Scripture. I. NICODEMUS APPEARS HERE AS A RELIGIOUS INQUIRER . 1 . He was " a ruler of the Jews. " That is, not a civic magistrate, but a member of the Sanhedrin, which governed the Jewish community in ecclesiastical concerns. 2 . He was a Pharisee. The most popular and influential of the Jewish sects—narrow in its particularism, and with a zeal springing out... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:3-12

(1) The conditions of admission into the kingdom of God. New birth of the Spirit. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:3-21

5. The revelation of earthly and heavenly things to one who knew that God was with him. read more

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