Church Fathers Commentary John 3:1-3

"Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: the 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. Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except one be born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God." — John 3:1-3 (ASV)

St. Augustine of Hippo: He had said above that when He was at Jerusalem, many believed in His name when they saw the miracles He performed. Nicodemus was one of this number, of whom we are told: There was a man of the Pharisees, Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

The Venerable Bede: His rank is given as "a ruler of the Jews," and then what he did: This man came to Jesus by night. He was hoping, by such a secret interview, to learn more of the mysteries of the faith, since the recent public miracles had given him a basic knowledge of them.

St. John Chrysostom: However, he was still held back by a weakness common among the Jews, and therefore he came in the night, being afraid to come in the day. The Evangelist speaks of such people elsewhere: Nevertheless, among the chief rulers also many believed on Him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue.

St. Augustine of Hippo: Nicodemus was one of the number who believed but were not yet born again. Therefore, he came to Jesus by night. In contrast, those who are born of water and the Holy Spirit are addressed by the Apostle: You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

Haymo of Auxerre: Or, it may well be said that he came in the night because he was enveloped in the darkness of ignorance and had not yet come to the light—that is, the belief that our Lord was truly God. In the language of Holy Scripture, night represents ignorance. And he said to Him, Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God. The Hebrew word "Rabbi" means "Master" in Latin. We see that he calls Him a Master, but not God; he does not hint at that. He believes Him to be sent from God but does not see that He is God.

St. Augustine of Hippo: The basis for his belief is clear from what immediately follows: For no one can do these miracles that You do, unless God is with him. Nicodemus, then, was one of the many who believed in His name when they saw the signs that He did.

St. John Chrysostom: However, he did not form any grand conception of Jesus from His miracles and still attributed to Him only a human character. He spoke of Him as a prophet sent to carry out a commission, as if He needed assistance to do His work, whereas the Father had begotten Him perfect, self-sufficient, and free from all deficiency.

Since it was Christ’s design for the present not so much to reveal His own dignity as to prove that He did nothing contrary to the Father, He is often humble in His words, while His actions always testify to His power. Therefore, on this occasion, He says nothing to Nicodemus expressly to magnify Himself. Instead, He imperceptibly corrects his low view of Him and teaches him that He was Himself all-sufficient and independent in His miraculous works. Hence, He answers, Verily, verily, I say to you, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

St. Augustine of Hippo: These, then, are the people to whom Jesus entrusts Himself—those who are born again, who do not come to Jesus by night as Nicodemus did. Such people immediately make a public profession.

St. John Chrysostom: He says, therefore, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. It is as if He said, "You are not yet born again—that is, of God, by a spiritual birth—and therefore your knowledge of Me is not spiritual, but carnal and human. But I say to you, that neither you nor anyone, unless he is born again of God, will be able to see the glory that is around Me, but will be outside the kingdom, for it is the birth of baptism that enlightens the mind."

Alternatively, the meaning is: unless you are born "from above" and have received the certainty of My doctrines, you are wandering from the way and are far from the kingdom of heaven. By these words, our Lord discloses His nature, showing that He is more than what He appears to be to the outward eye. The expression "from above," according to some, means from heaven; according to others, from the beginning.

If the Jews had heard this, they would have left Him in scorn. But Nicodemus shows the love of a disciple by staying to ask more questions.