1._Now there was a man of the Pharisees. _In the person of Nicodemus the Evangelist now exhibits to our view how vain and fleeting was the faith of those who, having been excited by miracles, suddenly professed to be the disciples of Christ. For since this man was of the order of the Pharisees, and... [ Continue Reading ]
2._He came to Jesus by night. _From the circumstance of his _coming by night _we infer that his timidity was excessive; for his eyes were dazzled, as it were, by the splendor of his own greatness and reputation. (55) Perhaps too he was hindered by shame, for ambitious men think that their reputation... [ Continue Reading ]
3._Verily, verily, I say to thee. _The word Verily ( ἀμὴν) is twice repeated, and this is done for the purpose of arousing him to more earnest attention. For when he was about to speak of the most important and weighty of all subjects, he found it necessary to awaken the attention of Nicodemus, who... [ Continue Reading ]
4._How can a man be born when he is old? _Though the form of expression which Christ employed was not contained in the Law and the prophets, yet as renewal is frequently mentioned in Scripture, and is one of the first principles of faith, it is evident how imperfectly skilled the Scribes at that tim... [ Continue Reading ]
5._Unless a man be born of water. _This passage has been explained in various ways. Some have thought that the two parts of regeneration are distinctly pointed out, and that by the word _Water _is denoted the renunciation of the old man, while by _the Spirit _they have understood the new life. Other... [ Continue Reading ]
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 n... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Wonder not. _This passage has been tortured by commentators in various ways. Some think that Christ reproves the gross ignorance of Nicodemus and other persons of the same class, by saying that_it is not wonderful_, if they do not comprehend that heavenly mystery of regeneration, since even in th... [ Continue Reading ]
8._The wind bloweth where it pleaseth. _Not that, strictly speaking, there is will in the _blowing_, but because the agitation is free, and uncertain, and variable; for the air is carried sometimes in one direction and sometimes in another. How this applies to the case in hand; for if it flowed in a... [ Continue Reading ]
9._How can these things be? _We see what is the chief obstacle in the way of Nicodemus. Every thing that he hears appears monstrous, because he does not understand the manner of it; so that there is no greater obstacle to us than our own pride; that is, we always wish to be wise beyond what is prope... [ Continue Reading ]
10._Thou art a teacher of Israel. _As Christ sees that he is spending his time and pains to no purpose in teaching so proud a man, he begins to reprove him sharply. And certainly such persons will never make any progress, until the wicked confidence, with which they are puffed up, be removed. This i... [ Continue Reading ]
11._We speak what we know. _Some refer this to Christ and John the Baptist; others say that the plural number is used instead of the singular. For my own part, I have no doubt that Christ mentions himself in connection with all the prophets of God, and speaks generally in the person of all. Philosop... [ Continue Reading ]
12._If I have told you earthly things. _Christ concludes that it ought to be laid to the charge of Nicodemus and others, if they do not make progress in the doctrine of the Gospel; for he shows that the blame does not lie with him, that all are not properly instructed, since he comes down even _to t... [ Continue Reading ]
13._No one hath ascended to heaven. _He again exhorts Nicodemus not to trust to himself and his own sagacity, because no mortal man can, by his own unaided powers, enter into heaven, but only he who goes thither under the guidance of the Son of God. For _to ascend to heaven _means here, “to have a p... [ Continue Reading ]
14._And as Moses lifted up the serpent. _He explains more clearly why he said that it is he alone to whom heaven is opened; namely, that he brings to heaven all who are only willing to follow him as their guide; for he testifies that he will be openly and publicly manifested to all, that he may diff... [ Continue Reading ]
16._For God so loved the world. _Christ opens up the first cause, and, as it were, the source of our salvation, and he does so, that no doubt may remain; for our minds cannot find calm repose, until we arrive at the unmerited love of God. As the whole matter of our salvation must not be sought any w... [ Continue Reading ]
17._For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world. _It is a confirmation of the preceding statement; for it was not in vain that God sent his own Son to us. He came not to destroy; and therefore it follows, that it is the peculiar office of the Son of God, that _all who believe _may o... [ Continue Reading ]
18._He who believeth in him is not condemned. _When he so frequently and so earnestly repeats, that all believers are beyond danger of death, we may infer from it the great necessity of firm and assured confidence, that the conscience may not be kept perpetually in a state of trembling and alarm. He... [ Continue Reading ]
19._And this is the condemnation _He meets the murmurs and complaints, by which wicked men are wont to censure — what they imagine to be the excessive rigour of God, when he acts towards them with greater severity than they expected. All think it harsh that they who do not believe in Christ should b... [ Continue Reading ]
20._For whosoever doeth what is evil. _The meaning is, that _the light _is hateful to them for no other reason than because they are wicked and desire to conceal their sins, as far as lies in their power. Hence it follows that, by rejecting the remedy, they may be said purposely to cherish the groun... [ Continue Reading ]
21._But he who doeth truth _This appears to be an improper and absurd statement, unless you choose to admit that some are upright and true, before they have been renewed by the Spirit of God, which does not at all agree with the uniform doctrine of Scripture; for we know that faith is the root from... [ Continue Reading ]
22._After these things came Jesus. _It is probable that Christ, when the feast was past, came into that part of Judea which was in the vicinity of the town _Enon_, which was situated in the tribe of Manasseh. The Evangelist says that _there were many waters there_, and these were not so abundant in... [ Continue Reading ]
25._A question then arose. _Not without a good reason does the Evangelist relate that _a question arose from the disciples of John_; for just in proportion as they were ill-informed about doctrine, they are so much the more eager to enter into debate, as ignorance is always bold and presumptuous. If... [ Continue Reading ]
26._To whom thou gavest testimony. _By this argument they endeavor either to make Christ inferior to John, or to show that John, by doing him honor, had laid him under obligations; for they reckon that John conferred a favor on Christ by adorning him with such honorable titles. As if it had not been... [ Continue Reading ]
27._A man cannot receive any thing. _Some refer these words to Christ, as if John accused the disciples of wicked presumption in opposition to God, by endeavoring to deprive Christ of what the Father had given to him. They suppose the meaning to be this: “That within so short a time he has risen to... [ Continue Reading ]
28._You are witnesses to me. _John expostulates with his disciples that they did not give credit to his statements. He had often warned them that he was not the Christ; and, therefore, it only remained that he should be a servant and subject to the Son of God along with others. And this passage is w... [ Continue Reading ]
29._He who hath the bride. _By this comparison, he confirms more fully the statement, that it is Christ alone who is excluded from the ordinary rank of men. For as he who marries a wife does not call and invite his friends to the marriage, in order to prostitute the bride to them, or, by giving up h... [ Continue Reading ]
30._He must increase. _John the Baptist proceeds farther; for, having formerly been raised by the Lord to the highest dignity, he shows that this was only for a time, but now that _the Sun of Righteousness_, (Malachi 4:2) has arisen, he must give way; and, therefore, he not only scatters and drives... [ Continue Reading ]
31._He who cometh from above. _By another comparison he shows how widely Christ differs from all the rest, and how far he is above them; for he compares him to a king or distinguished general, who, speaking from his lofty seat, ought to be heard with reverence for his authority, but shows that it is... [ Continue Reading ]
32._And what he hath seen and heard. _John proceeds in the discharge of his office; for, in order to procure disciples for Christ, he commends Christ’s doctrine as certain, because he utters nothing but what he has received from the Father. _Seeing _and _hearing _are contrasted with doubtful opinion... [ Continue Reading ]
33._But he who receiveth his testimony. _Here he exhorts and encourages the godly to embrace boldly the doctrine of the Gospel, as if he had said that there was no reason why they should be ashamed or uneasy on account of their small number, since they have God as the Author of their faith, who alon... [ Continue Reading ]
34._For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God. _He confirms the preceding statement, for he shows that we have actually to do with God, when we receive the doctrine of Christ; because Christ proceeded from none else than from the Heavenly Father. It is, therefore, God alone who speaks to u... [ Continue Reading ]
35._The Father loveth the Son. _But what is the meaning of this reason? Does he regard all others with hatred? The answer is easy, that he does not speak of the common love with which God regards men whom he has created, or his other works, but of that peculiar love which, beginning with the Son, fl... [ Continue Reading ]
36._He who believeth in the Son. _This was added, not only to inform us that we ought to ask all good things from Christ, but likewise to make us, acquainted with the manner in which they are enjoyed. He shows that enjoyment consists in faith; and not without reason, since by means of it we possess... [ Continue Reading ]