John 3:4-8 NIV

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

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

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 3:7

Marvel not that I said unto thee ,...., For Nicodemus was quite astonished, at this doctrine of the new birth; it was altogether new to him, and unheard of by him; nor could he understand, nor conceive in what manner it could be: ye must be born again ; in "four" of Beza's copies, it is read "we"; but as Christ was not begotten in a carnal way, or descended not from Adam in the ordinary way of generation, he was not carnal and corrupt, nor in the least tainted with sin; and so stood in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 3:8

The wind bloweth where it listeth ,.... For ought any mortal can say, or do to the contrary: and so the Spirit of God is a free agent in regeneration; he works how, and where, and when he pleases; he acts freely in the first operation of his grace on the heart, and in all after influences of it; as well as in the donation of his gifts to men, for different purposes; see 1 Corinthians 12:11 ; and this grace of the Spirit in regeneration, like the wind, is powerful and irresistible; it... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 3:4

How can a man be born when he is old? - It is probable that Nicodemus was pretty far advanced in age at this time; and from his answer we may plainly perceive that, like the rest of the Jews, and like multitudes of Christians, he rested in the letter, without paying proper attention to the spirit: the shadow, without the thing signified, had hitherto satisfied him. Our Lord knew him to be in this state, and this was the cause of his pointed address to him. read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 3:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 3:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 3:4

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