People

Who was Nicodemus?

A Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews, Nicodemus comes to Jesus at night with questions, and John’s Gospel follows him all the way to the tomb.

General view, Jerusalem, Holy Land-LCCN2002724996 — Public domain. Image credits

Key verse

Jesus answered him, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can’t see God’s Kingdom.”

John 3:3

World English Bible (public domain)

Background

A Pharisee and 'ruler of the Jews,' meaning a member of the Sanhedrin, the ruling council in Jerusalem. Jesus calls him 'the teacher of Israel,' suggesting he was a well-known teacher.

The world Nicodemus lived in

The Pharisees were a respected lay movement devoted to careful keeping of the law. Being seen visiting a controversial Galilean teacher could cost status. Night was also a common time for Torah study.

What stands out

He moved from secret curiosity to public loyalty: first a night visit, then defending Jesus' right to a hearing, then openly helping bury him when the disciples had fled.

What modern readers often miss

'Born again' (John 3:3) can also be translated 'born from above'; Nicodemus takes it in the literal sense.
John 3:16, the most famous verse in the Bible, comes in this conversation.
He brought about 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes, a royal amount of burial spice.
Some have tried to identify him with a wealthy 'Nakdimon ben Gurion' in the Talmud; the link is uncertain.

The culture behind the text

Nicodemus at nightNicodemus was a Pharisee and member of the ruling council. Coming at night may have been to avoid being seen, or just a quiet time for discussion. "Born again" can also mean "born from above."John 3:1-8; John 19:39

Study notes

Born again · John 3:3Anōthen means both "again" and "from above." Nicodemus hears "again"; Jesus means a birth from God.The wind blows where it wishes · John 3:8Pneuma means both wind and spirit. Like the wind, the Spirit's new birth is real but can't be controlled.For God so loved the world · John 3:16God's love for "the world," humanity in rebellion, is shown in giving his one and only Son so that whoever believes has eternal life.

Key passages

John 3:1-21The night conversation John 7:45-52Defending Jesus’ right to a hearing John 19:38-42Helping bury Jesus

How the Bible connects it

Every cross-reference in Lampstead says why it’s linked. A few from this page:

John 3:3 → John 3:5-6Why: Jesus explains this new birth as being born of water and the SpiritJesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and Spirit, he can’t enter into God’s Kingdom. That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”John 3:3 → 2 Corinthians 5:17Why: Paul says anyone in Christ is a new creation, the radical newness Jesus calls being born againTherefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new.John 3:3 → 1 Peter 1:23-25Why: Peter says believers are born again of imperishable seed through God's word…having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the word of God, which lives and remains forever. For, “All flesh is like grass, and all of man’s glory like the flower in the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls; but the Lord’s word endures forever.” This is the word of Good News which was preached to you.John 3:3 → 1 John 3:9Why: John says those born of God have his seed in them, the new birth Jesus requiresWhoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him, and he can’t sin, because he is born of God.John 3:16 → John 3:15Why: The verse before promises eternal life to everyone who believes in the lifted-up Son…that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.John 3:16 → John 6:40Why: Jesus says the Father's will is that everyone who believes in the Son has eternal life, the same gift God's love offers hereThis is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.John 3:16 → John 10:28Why: Jesus says those he gives eternal life will never perish, the same outcome God's love secures hereI give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.John 3:16 → Romans 5:8Why: Paul says God shows his love in Christ dying for us while we were sinnersBut God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

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Read John 3 with verse-by-verse study notes, cross-references that explain why they’re linked, people and places. Free during the beta.

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Sources behind these notes: Josephus on the Pharisees (Antiquities 18.12-15); Babylonian Talmud Ta'anit 19b-20a (Nakdimon, identification uncertain).; Josephus, Antiquities (Perseus Digital Library, Tufts University); Albert Barnes, Notes on the Bible (1834–85); Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible (1706). Bible text: World English Bible (public domain).