John 3:3

Jesus answered He answers his thoughts before they are expressed. See on John 2:25, and on John 1:51.

born again The word translated -again" may mean either -from the beginning," or -from above." By itself it cannot exactly mean -again." S. John uses the same word John 3:31; John 19:11; John 19:23. In all three places, (see especially John 19:11), it means -from above," which is perhaps to be preferred here: -from the beginning" would make no sense. To be -born from above" recalls being -born of God" in John 1:13, (comp. 1Jn 3:9; 1 John 4:7; 1Jn 5:1; 1 John 5:4; 1 John 5:18). Of course being -born from above" is necessarily being -born again;" but -again" comes not so much from the Greek word, as from the context. Comp. - verily I say unto you, except ye be converted and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven," Matthew 18:3.

There is a probable reference to this passage (3 5) in Justin Martyr, Apol.I. lxi. If so, we have evidence that this Gospel was known before a.d. 150. See on John 1:23 and John 9:1.

he cannot see i.e. so as to partake of it. Comp. to -see corruption," Psalms 16:10; to -see evil," Psalms 90:15; to -see death," John 8:51; Luke 2:26.

the kingdom of God This phrase, so frequent in the Synoptists, occurs only here and John 3:5 in S. John. We may conclude that it was the very phrase used.