Category:Nicodemus (subject)

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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 ancient sources

All references to Nicodemus are in the Gospel of John.

• Nicodemus (sources) -- survey of ancient sources

Nicodemus in literature & the arts

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.

• See Nicodemus (arts) -- survey of fictional works

Nicodemus in scholarship

• See Nicodemus (research) -- survey of scholarly works

Related categories

• Jesus of Nazareth
• Joseph of Arimathea

External links

• Wikipedia

• Jewish Encyclopedia / Catholic Encyclopedia]