There (1) was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a (a) ruler of the Jews: (1) There are none sometimes more unlearned than the learned, but the learned as well as the unlearned must desire wisdom from Christ only. (a) A man of great estimation and a ruler amongst the Jews.... [ Continue Reading ]
The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a (b) teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, (c) except God be with him. (b) We know that you are sent from God to teach us. (c) But he in whom some part of the excellency of God appe... [ Continue Reading ]
(2) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot (d) see the (e) kingdom of God. (2) The beginning of Christianity consists in this, that we know ourselves not only to be corrupt in part, but to be wholly dead in sin: so that our nature ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Nicodemus saith unto him, How (f) can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? (f) How can I who am old be born again? For Nicodemus answers as if Christ's words were only addressed to himself.... [ Continue Reading ]
That which is born of the flesh is (g) flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. (g) That is, fleshly, namely, wholly unclean and under the wrath of God: and therefore this word "flesh" signifies the corrupt nature of man: contrary to which is the Spirit, that is, the man ingrafted int... [ Continue Reading ]
The wind bloweth where it (h) listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit. (h) With free and wandering blasts as it wishes.... [ Continue Reading ]
(3) Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be? (3) The secret mystery of our regeneration which cannot be comprehended by man's capacity, is perceived by faith, and that in Christ only, because he is both God on earth, and man in heaven, that is to say, man in such a way that he... [ Continue Reading ]
Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our (i) witness. (i) You handle doubtful things even though you have no solid basis for believing them, and yet men believe you: but I teach those things that are of a truth and well known,... [ Continue Reading ]
And no (k) man (l) hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] (m) the Son of man which (n) is in heaven. (k) Only Christ can teach us heavenly things, for no man ascends, etc. (l) That is, has any spiritual light and understanding, or ever had any, but only the Son of Go... [ Continue Reading ]
(5) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth (o) in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (5) Nothing else but the free love of the Father is the beginning of our salvation, and Christ is he in whom our righteousness and salvation dwells:... [ Continue Reading ]
(6) For God sent not his Son into the world (p) to condemn the world; but that the (q) world through him might be saved. (6) Christ does not condemn, but rather despising Christ condemns. (p) That is, to be the cause of the condemning of the world, for indeed sins are the cause of death; however,... [ Continue Reading ]
(7) And this is the (r) condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (7) The only reason why men refuse the light that is offered to them is wickedness. (r) That is, the cause of condemnation, which remains in men, unless... [ Continue Reading ]
But he that (s) doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought (t) in God. (s) That is, he that leads an honest life, and is void of all cunning and deceit. (t) That is, with God, God as it were going before.... [ Continue Reading ]
(8) Then there arose a question between [some] of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying. (8) Satan inflames the disciples of John with a fond emulation of their master in order to hinder the course of the gospel: but John, being mindful of his office, not only puts a stop to their endeavour... [ Continue Reading ]
John answered and said, A man (u) can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. (u) Why are you trying to better my state? This is every man's lot and portion, that he cannot better himself in the slightest way.... [ Continue Reading ]
He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is (x) earthly, and (y) speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. (x) Is nothing else but man, a piece of work made of the slime of the earth. (y) Is characterized by nothing but corruption, ignorance, dulness, e... [ Continue Reading ]
And what he hath (z) seen and heard, that he testifieth; and (a) no man receiveth his testimony. (z) What he knows fully and perfectly. (a) That is, very few.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Father loveth the Son, and hath (b) given all things into his hand. (b) Committed them to his power and will.... [ Continue Reading ]
He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not (c) see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (c) Shall not enjoy.... [ Continue Reading ]