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'''Nicodemus''' was, according to Christian tradition, a wealthy sympathizer of [[:Category:Jesus of Nazareth (subject)|Jesus of Nazareth]] at Jerusalem.
'''Nicodemus''' was, according to Christian tradition, sympathizer of [[:Category:Jesus of Nazareth (subject)|Jesus of Nazareth]] at Jerusalem.
 
==History==
Nicodemus appears three times in the Gospel of John, where he is introduced as "a Pharisee... a leader of the Jews... a teacher of Israel." First, he visits Jesus one night to listen to his teachings (John 3:1-21). Then he defends Jesus when some high priest and Pharisees wanted to arrest him, by reminding them of the rights that the Law gives to the accused. Finally, he is the one who assists Joseph of Arimathea in preparing the corpse of Jesus for burial, after the crucufixion.  


==Nicodemus in ancient sources==
==Nicodemus in ancient sources==
Nicodemus is mentioned only in Christian sources, namely, the Gospel of John
Nicodemus is mentioned only in the Gospel of John.


====The disciple of Jesus====
====Gospel of Jesus====
Nicodemus appears appears three times in the Gospel of John: (a) the first is when he visits Jesus one night to listen to his teachings (John 3:1-21); (b) the second is when he states the law concerning the arrest of Jesus during the Feast of Tabernacles (John 7:45-51); and (c) the last follows the crucifixion, when he assists Joseph of Arimathea in preparing the corpse of Jesus for burial (John 19:39-42).


John.3.1 - Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.
John 3:1-21 -- Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." 3 Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." 4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God."
John.3.4 - Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?
John.3.9 - Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?


John 7:50 - Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them...
John 7:43-51 -- [43] There was a division in the crowd because of [Jesus]. [44] Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. [45] Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why did you not arrest him?" [46] The police answered, "Never has anyone spoken like this!" [47] Then the Pharisees replied, "Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? [48] Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? [49] But this crowd, which does not know the law--they are accursed." [50] Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, [51] "Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?" [52] They replied, "Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee."


John 19:39 - Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.
John 19:39-42 -- [38] ...Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. [39] Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. [40] They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. [41] Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. [42] And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.  


====Later Christian traditions====
====Later Christian traditions====


==Nicodemus in Scholarship==
==Nicodemus in Scholarship==
 
The lack of evidence makes it impossible any assessment of the historicity of the character.
==Nicodemus in Fiction==
==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.  
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.  

Revision as of 16:03, 24 June 2010

Nicodemus was, according to Christian tradition, sympathizer of Jesus of Nazareth at Jerusalem.

History

Nicodemus appears three times in the Gospel of John, where he is introduced as "a Pharisee... a leader of the Jews... a teacher of Israel." First, he visits Jesus one night to listen to his teachings (John 3:1-21). Then he defends Jesus when some high priest and Pharisees wanted to arrest him, by reminding them of the rights that the Law gives to the accused. Finally, he is the one who assists Joseph of Arimathea in preparing the corpse of Jesus for burial, after the crucufixion.

Nicodemus in ancient sources

Nicodemus is mentioned only in the Gospel of John.

Gospel of Jesus

John 3:1-21 -- Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." 3 Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." 4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11 "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12 If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17 "Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19 And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20 For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21 But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God."

John 7:43-51 -- [43] There was a division in the crowd because of [Jesus]. [44] Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. [45] Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, "Why did you not arrest him?" [46] The police answered, "Never has anyone spoken like this!" [47] Then the Pharisees replied, "Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? [48] Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? [49] But this crowd, which does not know the law--they are accursed." [50] Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, [51] "Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?" [52] They replied, "Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee."

John 19:39-42 -- [38] ...Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. [39] Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. [40] They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. [41] Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. [42] And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Later Christian traditions

Nicodemus in Scholarship

The lack of evidence makes it impossible any assessment of the historicity of the character.

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.

Related categories

External links