NOW (δε). So often in John δε is explanatory and transitional, not adversative. Nicodemus is an instance of Christ's knowledge of men (John 2:25) and of one to whom he did trust himself unlike those in John 2:24. As a Pharisee "he belonged to that party which with all its bigotry contained a salt... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SAME (ουτος). "This one."BY NIGHT (νυκτος). Genitive of time. That he came at all is remarkable, not because there was any danger as was true at a later period, but because of his own prominence. He wished to avoid comment by other members of the Sanhedrin and others. Jesus had already prov... [ Continue Reading ]
EXCEPT A MAN BE BORN ANEW (εαν μη τις γεννηθη ανωθεν). Another condition of the third class, undetermined but with prospect of determination. First aorist passive subjunctive of γενναω. Ανωθεν. Originally "from above" (Mark 15:38), then "from heaven" (John 3:31), then "from the first" (Luke 1:3),... [ Continue Reading ]
Being old (γερων ων). Nicodemus was probably familiar with the notion of re-birth for proselytes to Judaism for the Gentiles, but not with the idea that a Jew had to be reborn. But "this stupid misunderstanding" (Bernard) of the meaning of Jesus is precisely what John represents Nicodemus as making.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF WATER AND THE SPIRIT (εξ υδατος κα πνευματος). Nicodemus had failed utterly to grasp the idea of the spiritual birth as essential to entrance into the Kingdom of God. He knew only Jews as members of that kingdom, the political kingdom of Pharisaic hope which was to make all the world Jewish (Ph... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WHICH IS BORN (το γεγεννημενον). Perfect passive articular participle. The sharp contrast between flesh (σαρξ) and Spirit (πνευμα), drawn already in John 1:13, serves to remind Nicodemus of the crudity of his question in John 3:4 about a second physical birth.... [ Continue Reading ]
MARVEL NOT (μη θαυμασηις). "Do not begin to wonder" (ingressive first aorist active subjunctive with μη), as clearly Nicodemus had done. In John the word θαυμαζω usually means "unintelligent wonder" (Bernard).YE MUST BE BORN ANEW (δε υμας γεννηθηνα ανωθεν). Jesus repeats the point in verse John... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WIND (το πνευμα). In Greek πνευμα means either wind or spirit as _spiritus_ does in Latin (so also in Hebrew and Syriac). Wycliff follows the Latin and keeps spirit here and Marcus Dods argues for it. The word πνευμα occurs 370 times in the N.T. and never means wind elsewhere except in a quota... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW? (Πωσ;) Nicodemus is not helped either by the use of υδωρ or πνευμα to understand δε γεννηθηνα ανωθεν (the necessity of the birth from above or regeneration). He falls back into his "stupid misunderstanding." There are none so dull as those who will not see. Preoccupation prevents insight. Li... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TEACHER OF ISRAEL (ο διδασκαλος του Ισραηλ). The well-known or the authorized (the accepted) teacher of the Israel of God. Note both articles.AND UNDERSTANDEST NOT THESE THINGS? (κα ταυτα ου γινωσκεισ;). After being told by Jesus and after so propitious a start. His Pharisaic theology had m... [ Continue Reading ]
WE SPEAK THAT WE DO KNOW (ο οιδαμεν λαλουμεν). Jesus simply claims knowledge of what he has tried to make plain to the famous Rabbi without success. John uses λαλεω some 60 times, half of them by Jesus, very little distinction existing between the use of λαλεω and λεγω in John. Originally λαλεω r... [ Continue Reading ]
IF I TOLD (ε ειπον). Condition of the first class, assumed to be true.EARTHLY THINGS (τα επιγεια). Things upon the earth like τα επ της γης (Colossians 3:2), not things of an earthly nature or worldly or sinful. The work of the kingdom of God including the new birth which Nicodemus did not unde... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE THAT DESCENDED OUT OF HEAVEN (ε μη ο εκ του ουρανου καταβας). The Incarnation of the Pre-existent Son of God who was in heaven before he came down and so knows what he is telling about "the heavenly things." There is no allusion to the Ascension which came later. This high conception of Ch... [ Continue Reading ]
MOSES LIFTED UP THE SERPENT (Μωυσης υψωσεν τον οφιν). Reference to Numbers 21:7 where Moses set the brazen serpent upon the standard that those who believed might look and live. Jesus draws a vivid parallel between the act of Moses and the Cross on which he himself (the Son of man) "must" (δε, one... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH MAY IN HIM HAVE ETERNAL LIFE (ινα πας ο πιστευων εν αυτω εχη ζωην αιωνιον). Final use of ινα with present active subjunctive of εχω, that he may keep on having eternal life (a frequent phrase in John, always in John αιωνιος occurs with ζωη, 16 times in the Gospel, 6 in 1Jo... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR SO (ουτως γαρ). This use of γαρ is quite in John's style in introducing his comments (John 2:25; John 4:8; John 5:13, etc.). This "Little Gospel" as it is often called, this "comfortable word" (the Anglican Liturgy), while not a quotation from Jesus is a just and marvellous interpretation of... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR GOD SENT NOT THE SON (ου γαρ απεστειλεν ο θεος τον υιον). Explanation (γαρ) of God's sending the Son into the world. First aorist active indicative of αποστελλω. John uses both αποστελλω from which comes αποστολος (John 3:34; John 5:36; John 5:38, etc.) and πεμπω (John 4:34; John 5:23; John 5:... [ Continue Reading ]
IS NOT JUDGED (ου κρινετα). Present passive indicative. Trust in Christ prevents condemnation, for he takes our place and pays the penalty for sin for all who put their case in his hands (Romans 8:32). The believer in Christ as Saviour does not come into judgment (John 5:24).HATH BEEN JUDGED ALRE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS IS THE JUDGMENT (αυτη δε εστιν η κρισις). A thoroughly Johannine phrase for sequence of thought (John 15:12; John 17:3; 1 John 1:5; 1 John 5:11; 1 John 5:14; 3 John 1:6). It is more precisely the process of judging (κρι-σις) rather than the result (κρι-μα) of the judgment. "It is no arbi... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT DOETH ILL (ο φαυλα πρασσων). The word φαυλος means first worthless and then wicked (usually so in N.T.) and both senses occur in the papyri. In John 5:29 see contrast between αγαθα ποιεω (doing good things) and φαυλα πρασσω (practising evil things).HATETH THE LIGHT (μισε το φως). Hence tal... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT DOETH THE TRUTH (ο ποιων την αληθειαν). See 1 John 1:6 for this striking phrase.COMES TO THE LIGHT (ερχετα προς το φως). Is drawn by the light, spiritual heliotropes, not driven from it.THAT MAY BE MADE MANIFEST (ινα φανερωθη). Final ινα with first aorist passive subjunctive of φανεροω.T... [ Continue Reading ]
AFTER THESE THINGS (μετα ταυτα). Transition after the interview with Nicodemus. For the phrase see John 5:1; John 6:1; John 7:1.INTO THE LAND OF JUDEA (εις την Ιουδαιαν γην). Into the country districts outside of Jerusalem. The only example of this phrase in the N.T., but "the region of Judea... [ Continue Reading ]
JOHN WAS ALSO BAPTIZING (ην δε κα ο Ιωανης βαπτιζων). Periphrastic imperfect picturing the continued activity of the Baptist simultaneous with the growing work of Jesus. There was no real rivalry except in people's minds.IN AENON NEAR TO SALIM (εν Αινων εγγυς του Σαλειμ). It is not clearly know... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR JOHN HAD NOT YET BEEN CAST INTO PRISON (ουπω γαρ ην βεβλημενος εις την φυλακην Ιωανης). Periphrastic past perfect indicative of βαλλω explaining (γαρ) why John was still baptizing, the reason for the imprisonment having been given by Luke (Luke 3:19).... [ Continue Reading ]
A QUESTIONING (ζητησις). Old word from ζητεω. See Acts 15:2 for the word where also ζητημα (question) occurs. Ζητησις (process of inquiry) means a meticulous dispute (1 Timothy 6:4).WITH A JEW (μετα Ιουδαιου). So correct text, not Ιουδαιων (Jews). Probably some Jew resented John's baptism of Je... [ Continue Reading ]
RABBI (Ραββε). Greeting John just like Jesus (John 1:38; John 3:2).BEYOND JORDAN (περαν του Ιορδανου). Evident reference to John's witness to Jesus told in John 1:29-34.TO WHOM THOU HAST BORNE WITNESS (ω συ μεμαρτυρηκας). Note avoidance of calling the name of Jesus. Perfect active indicative... [ Continue Reading ]
EXCEPT IT HAVE BEEN GIVEN HIM FROM HEAVEN (εαν μη η δεδομενον αυτω εκ του ουρανου). See the same idiom in John 6:65 (cf. John 19:11). Condition of third class, undetermined with prospect of determination, εαν μη with the periphrastic perfect passive subjunctive of διδωμ. The perfect tense is rare... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAID (ειπον). As in John 1:20; John 1:23. He had always put Jesus ahead of him as the Messiah (John 1:15).BEFORE HIM (εμπροσθεν εκεινου). "Before that one" (Jesus) as his forerunner simply.I AM SENT (απεσταλμενος ειμ). Periphrastic perfect passive indicative of αποστελλω.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BRIDEGROOM (νυμφιος). Predicate nominative without article. Both νυμφη (bride) and νυμφιος are old and common words. Jesus will use this metaphor of himself as the Bridegroom (Mark 2:19) and Paul develops it (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-32) and so in Revelation (John 19:7; John 21:2). J... [ Continue Reading ]
MUST (δε). It has to be (see John 3:14). He is to go on growing (present active infinitive αυξανειν) while I go on decreasing (present passive infinitive ελαττουσθα, from comparative ελαττων, less). These are the last words that we have from John till the despondent message from the dungeon in Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
IS ABOVE ALL (επανω παντων). Ablative case with the compound preposition επανω. See the same idea in Romans 9:5. Here we have the comments of Evangelist (John) concerning the last words of John in verse John 3:30 which place Jesus above himself. He is above all men, not alone above the Baptist. B... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT HE HATH SEEN AND HEARD (ο εωρακεν κα ηκουσεν). Perfect active indicative followed by aorist active indicative, because, as Westcott shows, the first belongs to the very existence of the Son and the latter to his mission. There is no confusion of tenses here.NO MAN (ουδεις). There were crow... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH SET HIS SEAL (εσφραγισεν). First aorist active indicative of σφραγιζω for which verb see Matthew 27:66. The metaphor of sealing is a common one for giving attestation as in John 6:27. The one who accepts the witness of Jesus attests that Jesus speaks the message of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORDS OF GOD (τα ρηματα του θεου). God sent his Son (John 3:17) and he speaks God's words.BY MEASURE (εκ μετρου). That is God has put no limit to the Spirit's relation to the Son. God has given the Holy Spirit in his fulness to Christ and to no one else in that sense.... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH GIVEN ALL THINGS INTO HIS HAND (παντα δεδωκεν εν τη χειρ αυτου). John makes the same statement about Jesus in John 13:3 (using εις τας χειρας instead of εν τη χειρ). Jesus makes the same claim in John 5:19-30; Matthew 11:27; Matthew 28:18.... [ Continue Reading ]
HATH ETERNAL LIFE (εχε ζωην αιωνιον). Has it here and now and for eternity.THAT OBEYETH NOT (ο απειθων). "He that is disobedient to the Son." Jesus is the test of human life as Simeon said he would be (Luke 2:34). This verb does not occur again in John's Gospel.... [ Continue Reading ]