John 3 - NIV First Century Study Bible

3:1 Nicodemus the Pharisee. It’s possible this is the same Nicodemus, son of Gorion, mentioned in rabbinic literature. He had a large estate in Galilee and was very wealthy. Because he opposed the revolt in ad 70, some of the Zealots burned down his granary. (Flusser, Jesus, 148.)

3:3 Born again. The Greek literally reads “born from above.” Jesus was clearly speaking about complete transformation, being born of God, which is echoed in the Prophets (see Jer 31:33–34; Eze 11:19–20). R. Yose ben Halafta talked about conversion to Judaism in similar terms: “One who has become a proselyte [convert] is like a child newly born.” (b. Yebamoth 48b; cf 22a; 62a; 97b; b. Bekoroth 47a; quoted in Arnold, Backgrounds Commentary, 2:35.) Conversion to Judaism also required a mikveh, or a ritual bath. Jesus’ words to Nicodemus, a religious Pharisee, seem to suggest that Nicodemus also needed a kind of conversion.

3:5 Water and the Spirit. Jesus was likely alluding to Ezekiel’s promise that God would cleanse with water and give a new spirit in the final restoration of Israel (see Eze 36:25–27). This was similar to the theology of the Dead Sea Scrolls community. The Dead Sea Scrolls read, “He will cleanse him of all wicked deeds by means of a holy spirit; like purified water He will sprinkle upon him the spirit of truth.” (Dead Sea Scrolls, 1QS 4:19–21.)

3:12 Spoken . . . of earthly things. R. Gamaliel said to the emperor, “You do not know that which is on earth; should you know what is in heaven.” (b. Sanhedrin 39a.)

3:14 The Son of man must be lifted up. In contrast to other important figures who ascended to God (Enoch and Elijah), the Son of Man descended from heaven (see v. 13). And as Moses’ snake gave life to those who looked upon it, so the Son of Man will give the eternal life of God to those who look (believe) upon him (see note on Nu 21:4–9).

3:15 Eternal life in him. The life John was speaking of is the eternal life of God—present from the beginning as word and light (see 1:1–5). The Greek word for “life” used here is zoe, which had spiritual, rather than biological, overtones. “Eternal life” (Greek ainious zoe) was a favorite phrase of John’s, used 17 times in his Gospel. An aion refers to a period of time without a definitive end. Though the term “eternal life” remains somewhat mysterious, it probably means to know and experience the life of God (see 17:3), which death cannot destroy. (Brown, John I–XII, 29:507.) Like the concept of the “kingdom of God,” eternal life is available in the present.

3:30 Greater . . . less. This was significant for the church of the fourth century ad and influenced the Christian calendar. The birthday of John the Baptist was fixed at June 24, near the summer solstice; from that date on the days grow shorter. Jesus’ birthday was fixed at December 25, near the winter solstice; from that date on the days grow longer.