Who Was Nicodemus in the Bible?
Who Was Nicodemus in the Bible? Nicodemus was a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews who came to Jesus by night and heard the famous words 'Ye must be born again.'
Key verse: John 3:1-3 (KJV)
Nicodemus was a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews who came to Jesus by night and heard the famous words 'Ye must be born again.'
Nicodemus was a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews who came to Jesus by night and heard the famous words 'Ye must be born again.'
"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night... Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." — John 3:1-3 (KJV)
Meaning
Plain-language explanation
In Context
Surrounding KJV scripture
Related Verses
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The Biblical Answer
Nicodemus appears three times in the Gospel of John. He first came to Jesus secretly at night, acknowledging that no man could do the miracles Jesus did unless God were with him. Jesus' response — 'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God' — became one of the most famous statements in all Scripture, leading into John 3:16. Later, Nicodemus cautiously defended Jesus before the Sanhedrin. Finally, after the crucifixion, he openly helped Joseph of Arimathaea bury Jesus' body, bringing about a hundred pounds of myrrh and aloes — an extraordinary gift. His journey from secret seeker to public disciple shows how the new birth transforms hidden faith into open devotion.
Key Scripture References
"There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews: The same came to Jesus by night... Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God."
"And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight."
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Related Questions
What Does It Mean to Be Born Again?
Being born again means experiencing a spiritual rebirth through faith in Jesus Christ, receiving a new nature and eternal life from God.
Who Was Melchizedek in the Bible?
Melchizedek was a mysterious king of Salem and priest of the Most High God who blessed Abraham and received tithes from him.
Who Was Abraham in the Bible?
Abraham was the father of the Jewish nation, called by God from Ur of the Chaldees, and known as the 'father of faith.'
Who Was Moses?
Moses was the great deliverer and lawgiver of Israel who led the Exodus from Egypt and received the Ten Commandments from God.
Who Was King David?
David was the shepherd boy who became Israel's greatest king, known as 'a man after God's own heart' and an ancestor of Jesus Christ.
Deep Dive Commentary
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The answer above sits inside John. The 365-day chronological plan reads it in the order the events happened.
Read John on day 302 of the chronological Bible reading planKeep the verses to hand
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