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Joh 3:3. Ἐὰν μὴ τίς, Unless one [Except a man]) The expression is indefinite: Nicodemus, however, rightly applies it to himself. Comp. Joh 3:7, ye. The sense here is: That opinion of thine, Nicodemus, as to Jesus is not sufficient: it is needful that you absolutely believe, and submit yourself to the heavenly ordinance, even baptism. Comp. Mar 16:16, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.” This was the doctrine necessary for Nicodemus. Accordingly Jesus began from this point, as Nicodemus indeed had furnished the handle.-γεννηθῇ, be born) This is put forward first under a figure, in hard language, in order to convince [convict] Nicodemus of ignorance; it is afterwards, when he was humbled, shown in plain [literal] words, Joh 3:15, “That whosoever believeth in Him should not perish,” etc., etc. [Comp. 1Jn 5:1, Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.] The same truth is expressed in this passage, as Matthew 3 expresses by the word μετανοίας, repentance. For this word does not occur in the whole Gospel according to John.[50] [Beware of thinking that the work of faith is accomplished without any trouble: for it is (nothing short of) a generation from above. Beware again, on the other hand, of regarding regeneration as more difficult than it really is: it is simply, to wit, accomplished by faith (i.e. in the act of believing).-V. g.]-ἄνωθεν) Comp. Joh 3:2; Joh 3:7; Joh 3:11, “We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen,” etc.; 31, “He that cometh from above is above all.” ἄνωθεν signifies from above, whence the Son of man hath come down.-οὐ δύναται, cannot) Nicodemus had not himself sufficiently known [the full significancy of] what (Joh 3:2, Thou art a Teacher come from God) he had said.-ἰδεῖν, to see) even now, and after this life: to see, with [real] enjoyment.-τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, the kingdom of God) [Nicodemus was aspiring after this; yet being ignorant of how great consequence in this respect faith in Jesus was.-V. g.] He who sees Christ, sees this. Whence the new birth [cometh], thence [also cometh] acquaintance with Him.
[50] Both Evangelists open the Gospel with the same initiatory truth, though the difference of the word in one from that of the other proves the coincidence undesigned.-E. and T.