ACC ~ John 3 v9 - 10

THOSE NOT BORN OF THE SPIRIT

AUGUSTINE: If you are born of the Spirit, you too shall be like the Spirit, that is, that one who is not born of the Spirit does not know where you come from or where you go. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 12.5. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 7:83*.

NICODEMUS IS TAUGHT HUMILITY

AUGUSTINE: Do we think that the Lord meant to insult this master of the Jews? The Lord knew what he was doing. He wanted the man to be born of the Spirit. No one is born of the Spirit if he is not humble, for humility itself makes us born of the Spirit since “the Lord is near to those who are of a broken heart.” [1] The man was puffed up with his mastery, and it appeared of some importance to him that he was a teacher of the Jews. Jesus pulled down his pride so that he might be born of the Spirit. TRACTATES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 12.6. [2]

[1] See Ps 51:17 (50:19 LXX, Vg).

[2] NPNF 1 7:83*.

AS A TEACHER OF ISRAEL, NICODEMUS SHOULD HAVE UNDERSTOOD JESUS

CHRYSOSTOM: Observe how Jesus never accuses Nicodemus of wickedness but only of simplicity and a lack of wisdom. But someone will say: What connection does this birth have with Jewish doctrines? What doesn’t it have in common with them? The first man that was made, the woman that was made out of his rib, the barren that bare, the miracles that were worked by means of water, for instance, Elisha’s bringing up the iron from the river, the passage of the Red Sea, the pool that the angel troubled and Naaman the Syrian’s purification in the Jordan—these were all types and figures of the spiritual birth and purification that would take place in the future. Many passages in the prophets too have a hidden reference to this birth, as for instance… “your youth is renewed like the eagle’s” [1] … and “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven.” [2] Isaac also was a type of this birth…. Referring to these passages, our Jesus says, “Are you a master in Israel, and you do not know these things?” HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 26.2. [3]

[1] Ps 103:5 (102:5 LXX).

[2] Ps 32:1 (31:1 LXX).

[3] NPNF 1 14:91-92**.

TYPES OF CLEANSING BAPTISM IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

EPHREM THE SYRIAN: Indeed, he [Nicodemus] should have known what came from the Law and the Prophets: the cleansing with hyssop, the waters for ceremonial sprinkling, the baptisms for cleansing, and all the rest. If these had not been signified as types before the coming of the Son, our Lord would have been accusing Nicodemus falsely because of them. But if they were hidden from him in his Scriptures, and he did not clearly identify them, he [our Lord] rightly put to flight his sleep, healed his infirmity by his gentle voice, and reminded him of the baptism of atonement that existed in Israel….

But this was done gently, because he [our Lord] saw that he [Nicodemus] was sick but close to healing. And since he did not understand what was previously written down in the Law, our Lord showed him the baptism of complete atonement for both body and soul. Truly, Nicodemus, did you not perceive that Jacob was born into the right of the firstborn without [the aid of] belly or womb, [1] or that Naaman was renewed apart from a womb when Elisha spoke to him? [2] … And likewise for Miriam. [3] Come now, was it not known that this was a sign of baptism given to the nations, for hyssop makes what was stained white? COMMENTARY ON TATIAN’S DIATESSARON 14.13. [4]

[1] See Gen 25:25.

[2] 2 Kings 5:14.

[3] See Num 12:9-15.

[4] CB709. 172-74.