João 3
R.C.H. Lenski · Citado em PreceptAustin
João 3
Lenski has an interesting comment - These questions of Nicodemus have sometimes been misunderstood. This is not mere unspiritual denseness that is unable to rise above the idea of physical birth; nor rabbinical skill in disputation that tries to make Jesus’ requirement sound absurd, which Jesus would never have answered as he did; nor hostility to the requirement of Jesus. Nicodemus simply puts the requirement laid down by Jesus into words of his own; and by doing this in the form of questions he indicates where his difficulty lies. He thus actually asks Jesus for further explanation and enlightenment, and Jesus gives him this. (Borrow The Interpretation of St. John's Gospel) Bruce Barton - These questions that focused solely on birth—whether spoken sincerely or sarcastically—show that Nicodemus did not perceive the spiritual intent of Jesus’ words. He saw only the literal meaning and questioned its absurdity. But with all his learning he should have understood that God can and will give spiritual rebirth. The prophets had spoken about this spiritual regeneration (see Ezekiel 36:25–27; see also Jeremiah 31:31–34; Joel 2:28–32). (LAC - Gospel of John - Borrow) Kenneth Gangel - Do we understand this as a literal question or a figure of speech suggesting something like “I’m too old to change?” Since Nicodemus was still unaware that Jesus was speaking in the spiritual realm, I favor taking his response literally. The physical world is often unexplainable just like the spiritual world, and Jesus later used the wind as an example to make that point. A person cannot respond to spiritual truth in natural ways. Though the metaphor may have changed somewhat, Nicodemus could have heard this message even before Jesus’ public ministry began. John the Baptist had preached that the king was already in their midst, but they would not experience the kingdom just because they were children of Abraham. Jews had compelled Gentiles to be baptized in order to participate in the nation, and John warned them that the Jews needed the baptism of repentance. The rite of Jewish baptism for proselytes does not necessarily depict the new birth Jesus proclaimed. But it contained the idea of washing away one’s old and defiled life in order to emerge as a new person. But Nicodemus could not make the connection; he was stuck on a physical wavelength. (See Holman New Testament Commentary - John) Tenney - Nicodemus’s reply may be interpreted in two ways. At first sight he appears to be quite materialistic in his attitude, thinking that Jesus was advocating the impossibility of a second physical birth. On the other hand, he may not have so understood Jesus’ statement. Perhaps he meant, “How can a man whose habits and ways of thinking have been fixed by age expect to change radically?” Physical rebirth is impossible, but is spiritual change any more feasible? (Borrow The Expositor's Bible Commentary) Dods makes an interesting point "Had our Lord said: ‘Every Gentile must be born again,’ he would have understood.” As
João 3
Lenski says "The plural pronoun in the phrase μετὰ ταῦτα includes all that Jesus had done in Jerusalem (Jn 2:12–3:21) although John has given only a slight hint in Jn 2:23+ as to what this included. Jesus now moves from the capital “into the Judean country.” (Borrow The Interpretation of St. John's Gospel) Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea - Recall that Jesus previous discussion with Nicodemus took place in Jerusalem (Jn 2:23+) which is of course in the territory of Judea. Therefore John is describing Jesus moving from the city to the countryside, where baptizing could be performed.
João 3
Lenski - “He must grow,” refers both to the office of Jesus and to his success in winning men. His work had only begun. “I must become less” likewise refers both to the office and the followers of the Baptist. Presently his task will be entirely done. (Borrow The Interpretation of St. John's Gospel) Its what the Rev. Richard Baxter (1615–1691) said on his deathbed, when someone was remembering the good which many had received by his preaching and writings, Mr. Baxter replied, “I was but a pen in God’s hand, and what praise is due to a pen?” John