john-3:1-20

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:7

"Born anew!" The turn which our Lord Jesus gave to this conversation with Nicodemus must have been a great surprise to the "teacher of Israel." The thoughts of the rabbi seem to have run, naturally enough, upon outward and tangible realities. To him a prophet was authenticated by "signs;" a "kingdom" was something of political interest, "birth" was physical, etc. Christ's way of looking at religion, and at the religious life, evidently perplexed him. Yet it would seem that afterwards, when... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:8

The wind bloweth where it willeth, and thou hearest (his voice) the sound thereof, but thou knowest not whence it cometh and whither it goeth. Vulgate (followed by Wickliffe and the Rheims versions) is, Spiritus ubi vult spirat et vocem ejus audis, sed nescis unde veniat, aut quo vadat: sic est omnis qui natus est ex Spiritu. Augustine, though acquainted with the other rendering, approves of this; so Origen, Bengel. The great majority of commentators and versions have held that the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:8

The wind and the Spirit. Things natural are the emblems of things spiritual. It is no accident that in this very verse the same word is used to designate the wind that blows upon the surface of the earth, and the Spirit that breathes over the souls of men. In many languages the breeze or the breath is the symbol of the unseen vital principle that distinguishes living beings from the material universe, and even of the higher and properly spiritual nature. Our Lord in this passage of his... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:9

Nicodemus answered and said to him , How can these things come to pass? He takes the position now of a learner, and does not by his query repudiate regeneration as absolutely impossible, but he asks the questions "why" and "how." He may reveal his continued ignorance of the subject matter, but he is willing to be taught. The idea we form of our Lord's reply is regulated by the strict meaning we assign to the question—( πῶς ;) "how?" (cf. Romans 2:19 , Romans 2:29 , and note on ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:9-13

The advent of a wholly new teaching. Nicodemus asks in surprise, "How can these things be?" And Jesus, with equal surprise, asks how a teacher in Israel can be ignorant of them. Then he discloses a new scheme of truth. I. THE NEW TEACHING "We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen." Mark: 1 . Its nature. "That we do know." 2 . Its source. "That we have seen." Man believes, for he must here walk by faith, not by sight; but Jesus sees. He has seen heaven,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:10

Jesus answered and said to him, Art thou the teacher of Israel, and perceivest thou not these things? The term "Israel" is used four times by John ( John 1:31 , John 1:49 ; John 12:13 ; and here). In each place the high dignity, calling, and glory of the nation chosen for the loftiest privilege and destiny are involved. Notice the article, "the Israel" of God. The article before διδάσκαλος gives a high distinction to Nicodemus. Schottgen and Lucke suppose some special office to be... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:11

Verily, verily, I say to thee, We speak that which we know, and testify that which we have seen. Lucke and Meyer think that our Lord here merely uses the pluralis majestaticus— uses it as St. Paul does, when clearly he was referring to himself alone. It is difficult to believe this in the curious and impressive change of person here adopted, and the return to the first person singular in John 3:12 . There was some reason why Jesus, in making this particular saying, uses the plural. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:12

If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how will ye believe if I tell you of heavenly things? Our Lord here drops the plural form of address, and returns to the singular. He is about to refer to matters in which the testimony of disciples was not available. It has sometimes been said that the "earthly" and "heavenly" things refer to the wind parable and its interpretation. But, on the supposition that there is a parable or metaphor in John 3:8 , which we have seen reason to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:13

And . The simple copula is here fuller significance. Olshausen regards it as "adversative," equivalent to "yet." Meyer, as a simple continuation of the previous statement. The καὶ has more than a mere conjunctive force. Lance puts it thus: "And yet you must be told heavenly things by him who, being the Heavenly One, is himself the first subject of this revelation." No one hath ascended into heaven. The past tense must be honestly considered. The word cannot refer to the future ascension... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:13-15

(2) The truth concerning the Son of man and his sacrifice. read more

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:7

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:8

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:8

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:9

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:9-13

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:10

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:11

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:12

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:13

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:13-15

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