Difference between revisions of "Nicodemus"
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*ANCIENT SOURCES: see [[Nicodemus (sources)]] | |||
*SCHOLARLY AND FICTIONAL WORKS: see [[:Category:Nicodemus (subject)]] | |||
'''Nicodemus''' was, according to Christian tradition, a sympathizer of [[Jesus of Nazareth]] at Jerusalem. | |||
==Overview== | |||
Nicodemus appears only in the Gospel of John, where he is introduced as "a Pharisee... a leader of the Jews... a teacher of Israel." He is present in three episodes: | |||
*First, he visited Jesus one night to listen to his teachings (John 3:1-21); see [[Meeting with Nicodemus]]. | |||
*Then he defended Jesus when some high priests and Pharisees wanted to arrest him, by reminding them of the rights that the Law gives to the accused. | |||
*Finally, he was the one who assisted [[Joseph of Arimathea]] in preparing the corpse of Jesus for burial, after the crucifixion; see [[Burial of Jesus]]. | |||
==Nicodemus in Scholarship== | |||
While it is not impossible that there was a Pharisee who interviewed Jesus privately and who was persuaded by that conversation to become a follower of his, the lack of evidence makes difficult any assessment of the historicity of the character. Susan Hylan writes: | |||
''Some interpreters understand Nicodemus as a historical figure who lived either during the lifetime of Jesus or in the author’s community. Most scholars reject this approach, seeing Nicodemus as a representative figure who exhibits characteristics of certain people who come into contact with Jesus. Exactly which characteristics Nicodemus represents is disputed''. (''New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible'', s.v. 'Nicodemus'). | |||
==Nicodemus in Fiction== | |||
Nicodemus figures prominently in the Christian iconography of the Deposition in which he and [[:Category:Joseph of Arimathea (subject)|Joseph of Arimathea]] are shown removing the dead [[:Category:Jesus of Nazareth (subject)|Jesus of Nazareth]] from the cross, often with the aid of a ladder. | |||
The meeting between Jesus and Nicodemus is less often depicted in traditional iconography. In modern movies on Jesus of Nazareth, the episode offers the opportunity for a cameo by renowned actors, such as Joseph Schildkraut in [[The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965 Stevens), film]], or Laurence Olivier in [[Jesus of Nazareth (1977 Zeffirelli), film]]. | |||
==Related categories== | |||
*[[Jesus of Nazareth]] | |||
*[[Joseph of Arimathea]] | |||
==External links== | |||
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicodemus Wikipedia] | |||
*[http://jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=272&letter=N Jewish Encyclopedia] / [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11066b.htm Catholic Encyclopedia]] | |||
[[Category:Index]] | |||
[[Category:People]] | |||
Revision as of 12:03, 13 October 2011
- ANCIENT SOURCES: see Nicodemus (sources)
- SCHOLARLY AND FICTIONAL WORKS: see Category:Nicodemus (subject)
Nicodemus was, according to Christian tradition, a sympathizer of Jesus of Nazareth at Jerusalem.
Overview
Nicodemus appears only in the Gospel of John, where he is introduced as "a Pharisee... a leader of the Jews... a teacher of Israel." He is present in three episodes:
- First, he visited Jesus one night to listen to his teachings (John 3:1-21); see Meeting with Nicodemus.
- Then he defended Jesus when some high priests and Pharisees wanted to arrest him, by reminding them of the rights that the Law gives to the accused.
- Finally, he was the one who assisted Joseph of Arimathea in preparing the corpse of Jesus for burial, after the crucifixion; see Burial of Jesus.
Nicodemus in Scholarship
While it is not impossible that there was a Pharisee who interviewed Jesus privately and who was persuaded by that conversation to become a follower of his, the lack of evidence makes difficult any assessment of the historicity of the character. Susan Hylan writes:
Some interpreters understand Nicodemus as a historical figure who lived either during the lifetime of Jesus or in the author’s community. Most scholars reject this approach, seeing Nicodemus as a representative figure who exhibits characteristics of certain people who come into contact with Jesus. Exactly which characteristics Nicodemus represents is disputed. (New Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, s.v. 'Nicodemus').
Nicodemus in Fiction
Nicodemus figures prominently in the Christian iconography of the Deposition in which he and Joseph of Arimathea are shown removing the dead Jesus of Nazareth from the cross, often with the aid of a ladder.
The meeting between Jesus and Nicodemus is less often depicted in traditional iconography. In modern movies on Jesus of Nazareth, the episode offers the opportunity for a cameo by renowned actors, such as Joseph Schildkraut in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965 Stevens), film, or Laurence Olivier in Jesus of Nazareth (1977 Zeffirelli), film.