John 3:1-15

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

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 3:7-13

3:7-13 Do not be surprised that I said to you: "You must be reborn from above. The wind blows where it will, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes and whither it goes. So is every one that is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus answered: "How can these things happen?" Jesus answered: "Are you the man whom everyone regards as the teacher of Israel, and you do not understand these things? This is the truth I tell you--we speak what we know, and we bear witness to what we... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 3:14-15

3:14-15 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that every one who believes in him may have eternal life. John goes back to a strange Old Testament story which is told in Numbers 21:4-9 . On their journey through the wilderness the people of Israel murmured and complained and regretted that they had ever left Egypt. To punish them God sent a plague of deadly, fiery serpents; the people repented and cried for mercy. God instructed Moses... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 3:1

There was a man of the Pharisees ,.... The Syriac version adds, "there"; that is, at Jerusalem; and who was among those that believed in the name of Christ, upon seeing the miracles he did at the feast of the passover, in that place. This man was not a common and ordinary man, but a man of note and eminence, of dignity and figure; and who was of the sect of the Pharisees, which was the strictest sect for religion and holiness, among the Jews; and which, as corrupt as it was, was also the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 3:2

The same came to Jesus by night ,.... Through fear of the Jews, of being reproached or turned out of his place by them; or through shame, that such a doctor as he was, should be known to go to Jesus of Nazareth, to be instructed by him; or lest he should offend any of his brethren of the sanhedrim: though some things may be said in favour of this conduct of Nicodemus; for since Christ would not trust himself with those that believed in him upon seeing his miracles, John 2:23 , among whom... read more

John Gill

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

Jesus answered and said unto him ,.... Not to any express question put by Nicodemus; unless it can be thought, that a question of this kind might be asked, what is the kingdom of God, so much spoken of in thy ministry? and what is requisite to the seeing and enjoying of it? though not recorded by the evangelist; but rather to the words of Nicodemus, concluding from his miracles, that he was the Messiah; and that the kingdom of God was now approaching, or the world to come, the Jews so much... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 3:4

Nicodemus saith unto him ,.... Understanding him of a natural birth, to be repeated: how can a man be born when he is old ? as it seems by this, he himself now was: can he enter the second time into his mothers womb, and be born ? the Ethiopic version adds, "again"; and the Arabic version, "and then be born"; this he urges, as absurd, impracticable, and impossible; and which shows him to have been as yet a natural man, who could not receive nor discern spiritual things. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 3:5

Jesus answered, verily, verily, I say unto thee ,.... Explaining somewhat more clearly, what he before said: except a man be born of water and of the Spirit : these are, מלות שנות , "two words", which express the same thing, as Kimchi observes in many places in his commentaries, and signify the grace of the Spirit of God. The Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read, "the Holy Spirit", and so Nonnus; and who doubtless is intended: by "water", is not meant material water, or baptismal... read more

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