Nicodemus John chapter 3

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I would like to analyze the third chapter of John as regards Nicodemus who clearly repeated Jesus’ words and was therefore his disciple or mathetas

I found that part very interesting particularly as regards a new birth and the spirit.
 
I don’t heed too much that Nicodemus went by night.

His words “teacher” and “we know that as a teacher you are from God because nobody can do the things you do unless God be with you” assert that Nicodemus is a disciple and Jesus a teacher from God, no mean teacher, because he has given proofs of his charge by doing marvellous things.
 
It was not that a group of Pharisees or chiefs of jews
were interested in Jesus who was at his beginning.

All those those with God and eager to know knew, as they know today.
 
Jesus replied to a question very important then and now which is “how can I see=understand from a distance the kingdom of heaven?”. To see equals to understand from the outside that is superficially.
 
I think you might be assuming too much. Nicodemus recognized that God was with Jesus of Nazareth - but this does not make him a disciple. It implies recognition if not acceptance. Only the abandoning of self, the taking up of one’s cross, and - only then - following Jesus makes us disciples.
 
Discipulus is the Latin translation of the Greek mathetas and in Latin means a small -little-very beginner (latin=pullus) and discere (latin=to learn)
 
The mathetas or discipulus had but to learn by memory and repeat the exact words of the teacher which is exactly what Nicodemus did
 
He recognized that God was with Jesus and moreover that Jesus was a “teacher (no mean job) from God (no mean sender)”
 
speculator said:
I don’t heed too much that Nicodemus went by night.
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Why?
His words “teacher” and “we know that as a teacher you are from God because nobody can do the things you do unless God be with you” assert that Nicodemus is a disciple and Jesus a teacher from God, no mean teacher, because he has given proofs of his charge by doing marvellous things.
Click to expand...
So far so good. But why do you reject the idea that Nicodemus came by night? You simply decide what you want to believe and what you don’t want to believe, arbitrarily?
 
Nicodemus, like Joseph of Arimathea, has many legends in regards to what he did after the Resurrection, if he had converted, became a missionary etc. In fact, there is even an apocryphal gospel called The Gospel of Nicodemus. The fact is we just don’t know all to much about him though besides these legendary stories which can at best be taken as questionable , at worst complete fabrications.
 
“I don’t heed too much that Nicodemus came to Jesus by night”
Forgive my English but I express no doubt about his night visit.
 
The words between Nicodemus and Jesus witness that Nicodemus is a disciple and Jesus his teacher.
 
A certain scripture says : “if you remain in my words you are really my disciples and you will learn…”
.
 
If Nicodemus repeats the words of Jesus with questions and Jesus replies and explains to Nicodemus and so on then Nicodemus is a Greek mathetas that is Latin discipulus that is English disciple.
 
The episode of Nicodemus is closed in itself and regards those “good” pharisees like Nicodemus who needed much change in spirit to be saved.

At the beginning of chapter 3 they recognize Jesus as a great teacher from God. But that was not enough. They had much more to change in spirit and water.
 
@speculator, you’ve opened up a lot of threads here saying you want to “analyze/study” a chapter of the Bible, but seem to be basically promoting your own views as the truth, which are at times at variance with Catholicism. You do realize this is a Catholic forum right? With rules about this forum not being used to promote agendas?

Are you here to discuss or preach? Because your threads seem like the latter more than the former.
 
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