John
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John 3
John 3
1Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: 2the same came unto him by night, and said to him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him.
1There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
Commentary · verses 1-2
3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
3Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Commentary · verse 3
Doctrine: Jesus said that unless a man be born anew, he cannot see the Kingdom of God. The original language actually translated the word "anew" to "from above, from a higher place, from the first, from the beginning, from the very first"...born spiritually. The Kingdom of God is now a spiritual kingdom. Everyone is born physically. The way to see the Kingdom of God is to intentionally choose to be born spiritually, to make the spiritual pre-eminent over the physical.
4Nicodemus saith unto 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?
4Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?
Commentary · verse 4
Nicodemus was confused because he was thinking only about the physical. He wanted to know how a man could be born twice. Jesus was bringing new Doctrine. Jesus had this authority because He was a Semikah Rabbi.
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born anew.
5Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Commentary · verses 5-7
Jesus brought resolution to the two births: physically by the water of the womb and spiritually by the Holy Spirit.
8The wind bloweth where it will, and thou hearest the voice thereof, but knowest not whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
8The wind bloweth where it 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.
Commentary · verse 8
Doctrine: The Holy Spirit is untamed and so is everyone who is born of the Spirit. Those who are "born of the Spirit" are those who allow the Spirit to work through them. This is living by grace: "the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life."
Doctrines on this passage
9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
9Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
Commentary · verse 9
Nicodemus wanted to know how these things can be.
10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou the teacher of Israel, and understandest not these things?
11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that which we know, and bear witness of that which we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12If I told you earthly things and ye believe not, how shall ye believe if I tell you heavenly things?
10Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?
11Verily, verily, I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness.
12If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?
Commentary · verses 10-12
If we do not believe in physical things (that you can see) how can we believe spiritual things (that you cannot see)? The spiritual realm works according to the same principles as the physical realm. The next passage was often credited to Jesus, but many scholars realize now the words were John's as he commented on the meaning behind what Jesus stated to Nicodemus.
13And no one hath ascended into heaven, but he that descended out of heaven, even the Son of man, who is in heaven.
13And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
Commentary · verse 13
If a person believes Jesus said this, then Jesus was saying He was both out of heaven and in heaven at the same time. This would create a lot of contradictions with the rest of the events that Jesus experienced, especially His separation from God when He was crucified. If a person believes John stated this, then John wrote this passage about Jesus after Jesus had resurrected and returned to heaven.
14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up; 15that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life.
14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Commentary · verses 14-15
John stated that whoever believes (is fully convinced) in Jesus will have eternal life. Your beliefs come out in your actions. A person who believes in Jesus lives by grace through faith.
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Commentary · verse 16
Doctrine: God sent Jesus because He loves the world. God offered the world a value (eternal life) without expecting anything in return. God does not make us believe in Jesus.
Doctrines on this passage
17For God sent not the Son into the world to judge the world; but that the world should be saved through him.
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Commentary · verse 17
Doctrine: Jesus did not come to judge but to save the world. Many Christians can quote and believe in verse 16, yet do not know and do not live by verse 17. What followed was an explanation from John why Jesus did not come to judge...
Doctrines on this passage
18He that believeth on him is not judged: he that believeth not hath been judged already, because he hath not believed on the name of the only begotten Son of God.
18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
Commentary · verse 18
Doctrine: Those who do not believe have been judged already. The following verses explained the judgment...
Doctrines on this passage
19And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.
20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, lest his works should be reproved.
21But he that doeth the truth cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, that they have been wrought in God.
19And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Commentary · verses 19-21
Doctrine: Being open, truthful, and vulnerable is proof that you love the light, that you want your actions to be apparent/realized by others. Our actions prove whether or not we hate the light (Jesus) or love the light (Jesus). Those who hate the light hide their actions.
22After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judæa; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
22After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.
Commentary · verse 22
See John 4:2, people were baptized but not by Jesus.
23And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
24For John was not yet cast into prison.
23And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.
24For John was not yet cast into prison.
Commentary · verses 23-24
From the other Gospel Accounts, John the Baptist was imprisoned early in Jesus' ministry. This chapter showed some of the events at the very beginning of Jesus' public ministry that were not shared in the other Gospels. Jesus, through His disciples, baptized people at the same time John was baptizing people.
25There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John’s disciples with a Jew about purifying.
26And they came unto John, and said to him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou hast borne witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
25Then there arose a question between some of John’s disciples and the Jews about purifying.
26And they came unto John, and said unto him, Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom thou barest witness, behold, the same baptizeth, and all men come to him.
Commentary · verses 25-26
John the Baptist's disciples told him more men were going to Jesus to be baptized.
27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it have been given him from heaven.
28Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but, that I am sent before him.
29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, that standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is made full.
27John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.
28Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.
29He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.
Commentary · verses 27-29
Doctrine: John the Baptist is Jesus' best-man. John the Baptist referenced the Doctrine of Marriage and weddings. During the wedding feast, the best-man stands outside the huppah (marital chamber) while the couple is consummating their Marriage Covenant. The best-man is standing watch and insuring no one interrupts them. When the Covenant is completed, the groom calls to the best-man. The bedsheet is shown to those gathered to prove the bride was not married to anyone else and everyone rejoices because the bride is excellent and their community/culture may continue. Jesus is the Groom. The Church is the Bride. John the Baptist is the best-man.
30He must increase, but I must decrease.
30He must increase, but I must decrease.
Commentary · verse 30
Doctrine: This ought to be our objective, get our flesh out of God's way (decrease) so that the Spirit can work through us (increase). John the Baptist's mission was to point people to Jesus. He had done this. Also, this was prophetic in that John would be martyred by Herod.
31He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is of the earth, and of the earth he speaketh: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
31He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
Commentary · verse 31
Doctrine: John the Baptist knew Jesus was the Messiah. He stated Jesus came "from above." This was the same word used in John 3:3 and 3:7 for "born anew." We must be born of Christ, the One from above.
Doctrines on this passage
32What he hath seen and heard, of that he beareth witness; and no man receiveth his witness.
33He that hath received his witness hath set his seal to this, that God is true.
34For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for he giveth not the Spirit by measure.
35The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
36He that believeth on the Son hath eternal life; but he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him.
32And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.
33He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.
34For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
35The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.
36He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Commentary · verses 32-36
Doctrine: John the Baptist summed up Salvation. The key to eternal life is to believe the Son of God: Jesus. If a person does not obey Jesus, that person will have eternal wrath.
Commentary · verse 36
John 1-3 covered the events that occurred at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry up to Jesus' disciples baptizing people near John the Baptist and his disciples.
Doctrines on this passage
While Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Passover, Nicodemus, a Pharisee, came to Jesus by night. Was he trying to keep this conversation private? He called Jesus "Rabbi." "Rabbi" meant "Master; Teacher." It was a title used by the Jews to address their teachers and also to honor them. Nicodemus knew Jesus was from God because of the signs Jesus had done which included driving the money-changers from the temple.