John Chapter 3

From The Open Bible Project

3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, 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.

3:2 The same came to him by night, and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is 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 appears. And if Nicodemus had rightly known Christ, he would not only have said that God was with him, but in him, as Paul does in (2 Corinthians 1:19).

3:3 Jesus answered him, "Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born [8] anew, [See John Footnotes 8] he can't see the 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 has need to be created anew, with regard to its qualities, which can be done by no other power, but by the divine and heavenly, by which we were first created.
• (d) That is, "go in", or "enter", as he expounds himself below in (John 3:5).
• One who enters the Kingdom of God can see the Kingdom for he has eyes to see.(Matthew 13:14-17).--JP 12:50, 15 February 2008 (PST)
• (e) The Church: for Christ shows here how we come to be citizens and to have anything to do in the city of God.

3:4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a 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.

3:5 Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God!

3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. 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 into Christ through the grace of the Holy Spirit, whose nature is everlasting and immortal, though the strife of the flesh remains.

3:7 Don't marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.'

3:8 The [9] wind [See John Footnotes 9] blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don't know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

• (h) With free and wandering blasts as it wishes.
• "where it wants to" God is sovereignly doing what He wants.(Rom 9:14-23).--JP 12:50, 15 February 2008 (PST)

3:9 Nicodemus answered 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 is God also, and therefore almighty: and God in such a way that he is man also, and therefore his power is made manifest to us.

3:10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and don't understand these things?

3:11 Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don't receive our 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, and you do not believe me.

3:12 If I told you earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

3:13 No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who 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 God who came down to us.
• (m) Whereas he is said to have come down from heaven, this must be understood as referring to his Godhead, and of the manner of his conception: for Christ’s birth upon the earth was heavenly and not earthly, for he was conceived by the Holy Spirit.
• (n) That which is proper to the divinity of Christ, is here spoken of the whole Christ, to show us that he is but one person in which two natures are united.
• Notice how "No one has ascended into heaven" for the way was not yet opened. Full redemption had not come until the AD70 Parousia. (1 Thess 4.13-18)--JP 12:50, 15 February 2008 (PST)

3:14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

3:15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

• God does not lend temporary life as one on parole but He gives eternal life. --JP 12:50, 15 February 2008 (PST)

3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal 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: and faith is the instrument or means by which we apprehend it, and everlasting life is that which is set before us to apprehend.
• (o) It is not the same to believe in a thing, and to believe about a thing, for we may not believe in anything except in God alone, but we may believe about anything whatever, says Nazianzene in his Oration of the Spirit.

3:17 For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.

• (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, Christ will still judge the living and the dead.
• (q) Not only the people of the Jews, but whoever will believe in him.

3:18 He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

3:19 This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works 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 through God’s great benefit they are delivered from it.

3:20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.

3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done 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.

3:22 After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized.

3:23 John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized.

3:24 For John was not yet thrown into prison.

3:25 There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John's disciples with some Jews about purification.

• (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 endeavours, but also takes occasion by that means to give testimony of Christ, that in him alone the Father has set forth everlasting life.

3:26 They came to John, and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him."

3:27 John answered, "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been 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.

3:28 You yourselves testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before him.'

3:29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full.

3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

3:31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the Earth belongs to the Earth, and speaks of the Earth. He who comes 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, dullness, etc.

3:32 What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness.

• (z) What he knows fully and perfectly.
• (a) That is, very few.

3:33 He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.

3:34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.

3:35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.

• (b) Committed them to his power and will.

3:36 One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who [10] disobeys [See John Footnotes 10] the Son won't see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."

• (c) Shall not enjoy.