John 3 - The King James Study Bible

3:1. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews (member of the Sanhedrin), and a master of Israel (a rabbi, v. 10).

3:2. By night: Probably he feared criticism. John refers several times to “fear of the Jews” (see 7:13; 9:22; 12:42,43; 19:38). Nicodemus accepted Jesus as a teacher and a rabbi from God who worked miracles, but Jesus was not impressed with the depth of Nicodemus’s belief or understanding. Many unbelievers still agree that Jesus was “a great man.”

3:3. Verily, verily (lit., “amen, amen”) occurs only in John’s gospel, and then always for emphasis. Born again may be translated either “again” or “from above.” Perhaps both ideas should be combined here, to indicate the repetition of an act from another source. John might have said “again” had he wished to indicate repetition of an act from the same source. Only John uses this expression in the Gospels. This concept of the New Birth includes these implications: (1) It undercuts Jewish dependence on being sons of Abraham (cf. 8:39). (2) It reveals that there must be a work of God “from above,” since the Jews considered children (new births) to be God’s blessing. (3) It teaches the necessity of a new beginning.

3:5. Born of water implies natural, physical birth, since Spirit refers to supernatural spiritual birth.

3:13. Son of man was a messianic title. See Daniel 7:13 for the Old Testament source.

3:14. Serpent: Nicodemus was a follower of Moses. Numbers 21 tells of the Jewish murmuring, the fiery serpents, the brass serpent, and the healing of the people who looked in faith (cf. 2 Cor. 5:21, showing that Jesus was made “sin for us”).

3:18. This verse answers the question, “Why do people go to hell?” It is because they do not believe in Jesus.

3:22–24. Here are the concurrent ministries of Jesus and John. Sometimes the other gospels may leave the impression that John’s ministry ended when Jesus’ began. Although it did decrease, it continued for a season (cf. Acts 19:1–7).

3:23. Much water suggests that John’s baptism was probably by immersion.

3:34. God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him: Some manuscripts read: “He gives the Spirit without measure,” which would then refer to the sending of the Holy Spirit (cf. 7:37–39; Acts 1:5; 11:15,16).