Scofield Reference Bible Notes
John 3

Jhn 3:1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:

Nicodemus

Jhn 7:50-51; 19:39.

Jhn 3:2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

God be with him

Act 10:38.

Jhn 3:3 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.

born again

Or, from above.

Jhn 1:13; Gal 6:15; Eph 2:10; Tit 3:5; Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23.

Regeneration:

1. The necessity of the new birth grows out of the incapacity of the natural man to "see" or "enter into" the kingdom of God. However gifted, moral, or refined, the natural man is absolutely blind to spiritual truth, and impotent to enter the kingdom; for he can neither obey, understand, nor please God (Jhn 3:3, 5-6; Psa 51:5; Jer 17:9; Mar 7:21-23; 1Co 2:14; Rom 8:7-8; Eph 2:3. See Scofield Matthew 6:33, note).
2. The new birth is not a reformation of the old nature (Scofield Romans 6:6, note), but a creative act of the Holy Spirit (Jhn 3:5; 1:12-13; 2Co 5:17; Eph 2:10; 4:24).
3. The condition of the new birth is faith in Christ crucified (Jhn 3:14-15; 1:12-13; Gal 3:24).
4. Through the new birth the believer becomes a partaker of the divine nature and of the life of Christ Himself (Gal 2:20; Eph 2:10; 4:24; Col 1:27; 1Pe 1:23-25; 2Pe 1:4; 1Jo 5:10-12).

Jhn 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

born of water

Eze 36:25; Mar 16:16; Act 2:38; Tit 3:5-6; 1Pe 3:21.

Jhn 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

flesh

Flesh. Jhn 6:63. (Jhn 1:13; Jde 1:23.)

Jhn 3:8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.

so is every one that is born of the Spirit

Rom 9:15, 18.

Jhn 3:10 Jesus answered and said unto him, Art thou a master of Israel, and knowest not these things?

Art thou a master of Israel

Literally Art thou the teacher of Israel, etc.

Jhn 3:12 If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?

earthly things, and ye believe not

Jhn 3:3, 5, 8; Heb 5:11-12.

ye believe…heavenly things

1Ti 3:16; 1Jo 5:7.

Jhn 3:13 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.

Son of man

See Scofield Matthew 8:20, note.

Jhn 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

Moses lifted up the serpent

Inspiration. Jhn 5:46-47. (Exo 4:15; Rev 22:19.)

Jhn 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

world [See also Jhn 3:17, 19.]

kosmos (Mat 4:8) = mankind.

only begotten Son

Isa 9:6.

perish

Greek - apollumi, translated "marred," Mar 2:22; "lost," Mat 10:6; 15:24; 18:11; Luk 15:4, 6, 32. In no N.T. instance does it signify cessation of existence or of consciousness. It is the condition of every non-believer.

Jhn 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

condemn

Or, judge, and so in Jhn 3:18-19, cf. Jhn 15:22-24.

saved

See Scofield Romans 1:16, note.

Jhn 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

He that believeth on him is not condemned

Jhn 6:40, 47; Rom 8:1.

Jhn 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

reproved

Or, discovered.

Jhn 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

he that doeth truth cometh to the light

Psa 119:105; 139:23.

deeds…are wrought in God

Jhn 15:4-5; 1Co 15:10.

Jhn 3:22 After these things came Jesus and his disciples into the land of Judaea; and there he tarried with them, and baptized.

baptized

Jhn 4:2.

Jhn 3:23 And John also was baptizing in Aenon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

they came, and were baptized

Mat 3:5-6.

Jhn 3:24 For John was not yet cast into prison.

not yet cast into prison

Mat 14:3.

Jhn 3:25 Then there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews about purifying.

purifying

Num 19:7; Heb 9:9, 14; 1Pe 3:21.

Jhn 3:27 John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven

Rom 12:5, 8; 1Co 3:6; Heb 5:4; 1Pe 4:10-11.

Jhn 3:28 Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him.

I am sent before him

Mal 3:1.

Jhn 3:29 He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.

bridegroom

Bride (of Christ). Rom 7:4. (Jhn 3:29; Rev 19:6-8.)

Jhn 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

He must increase

Isa 9:7.

Jhn 3:32 And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony.

he hath seen and heard

Jhn 15:15.

Jhn 3:33 He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true.

set to his seal that God is true

Isa 55:4, 11; 1Jo 5:10.

Jhn 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.

he whom God hath sent

Jhn 7:16.

God giveth not the Spirit by measure

Holy Spirit (N.T.). Jhn 3:5-6, 8, 34; Jhn 4:23-24. (Mat 1:18; Act 2:4.)

Jhn 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

believeth

Faith. Jhn 3:15-16, 18, 36; Jhn 5:24, 44. (Gen 3:20; Heb 11:39.)

everlasting life

Life (eternal). Jhn 3:15-16, 36; Jhn 4:14, 36. (Mat 7:14; Rev 22:19.)

wrath of God

Gal 3:10; 1Th 1:10.