John 3:16

== Biblical context ==
[[File:William Brassey Hole Nicodemus.jpg|thumb|[[Jesus]] (left) and [[Nicodemus]] at night, depicted by [[William Hole (artist)|William Hole]]]]
The third chapter of the [[Gospel of John]]{{sfnm|1a1=Brown|1y=2003|1p=301|2a1=Bruner|2y=2012|2pp=160–161|3a1=Morris|3y=1971|3p=208}} begins with the conversation between [[Nicodemus#In John's Gospel|Nicodemus]], a [[Pharisees|Pharisee]],{{sfnm|1a1=Brown|1y=1966|1pp=128–129|2a1=Bruner|2y=2012|2p=173|3a1=Morris|3y=1971|3p=209}} and [[Jesus]], a Jewish [[itinerant preacher]].{{sfnm|1a1=Harris|1y=2015|1pp=2–3|2a1=Sklba|2a2=Juknialis|2y=2016|2pp=38–40}} Nicodemus is never mentioned in the [[synoptic Gospels]], and this is one of four times John mentions him:{{sfn|Avent|2010|p=1305}}<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Mixed Signals: Nicodemus in the Fourth Gospel |date=Winter 1989 |journal=[[Journal of Biblical Literature]] |doi=10.2307/3267184 |last=Bassler |first=Jouette M. |pages=635–646 |volume=108 |issue=4 |jstor=3267184 }}</ref> the others are [[John 2|2]]:23–25, where he appeared but was unmentioned; [[John 7|7]]:50; and [[John 19|19]]:39.{{sfnm|1a1=Brown|1y=1966|1p=135|2a1=Lewis|2y=2005|2p=20|3a1=Michaels|3y=1995|3p=55}} The meeting, likely in [[Jerusalem]], is part of the [[passion of Jesus]].{{sfnm|1a1=Brown|1y=1966|1p=114|2a1=Köstenberger|2y=2020|2p=381}} Unlike [[Gospel of Matthew|Matthew]], [[Gospel of Mark|Mark]], and [[Gospel of Luke|Luke]], the Gospel of John is the only one to mention [[Life of Jesus in the New Testament|Jesus' life]] not in chronological order.{{sfnm|1a1=Harris|1y=2015|1p=1|2a1=Perkins|2y=1990|2p=942|3a1=Ralph|3y=2003|3p=240}}

Nicodemus was a member of the Pharisees,{{sfnm|1a1=Bruce|1y=1983|1p=81|2a1=Butler|2y=1961|2p=92}} a Jewish religious movement in [[Second Temple Judaism]]. It was known for its strict adherence to the ''[[halakha]]'' (Jewish law),{{sfnm|1a1=Borthwick|1y=2020|1pp=11–12|2a1=Okure|2y=1998|2pp=1465–1466}} and for its highly oppositional attitudes of the [[ministry of Jesus]].{{sfnm|1a1=Brown|1y=1966|1pp=xliii, lxxi|2a1=Bruner|2y=2012|2p=68|3a1=Harris|3y=2015|3pp=2–3|4a1=Köstenberger|4y=2020|4pp=380, 406}} To avoid trouble with other Pharisees,{{sfn|Lucado|2007|p=4}} Nicodemus came to Jesus at night;{{sfnm|1a1=Brown|1y=1966|1p=137|2a1=Brown|2y=1988|2p=32|3a1=Brown|3y=2003|3p=174|4a1=Okure|4y=1998|4p=1466}} it is the only time a Pharisee is presented positively in the presence of Jesus.{{sfn|Kruse|2004|p=104}} Later, Nicodemus became a follower of Jesus.{{sfn|Vawter|1968|p=429}}

Nicodemus said he knew Jesus was "a teacher who came from [[God in Christianity|God]]".{{sfnm|1a1=Butler|1y=1961|1pp=92–93|2a1=Bruner|2y=2012|2p=167|3a1=Harris|3y=2015|3p=4|4a1=Okure|4y=1998|4p=1466}} He then added: "For no-one could perform the miraculous signs he was doing if God were not with him."{{sfnm|1a1=Kruse|1y=2004|1p=105|2a1=Michaels|2y=1995|2p=55}} They then discussed the need to be [[born again]] before being able to see the [[Kingdom of God]]{{sfnm|1a1=Bruner|1y=2012|1pp=30, 91|2a1=DeRuvo|2y=2009|2pp=87–88|3a1=Köstenberger|3y=2020|3pp=381–382|4a1=Sklba|4a2=Juknialis|4y=2016|4p=38}} and where the spirit goes after the death of the body.{{sfn|Kruse|2004|p=106}} Jesus then spoke about [[Salvation (Christianity)|salvation]] and of the [[Damnation#Christianity|damnation]] that those who do not believe in him will face.{{sfn|Harris|2015|pp=4–6}} He also criticised Nicodemus for his lack in the understanding of theology.{{sfnm|1a1=Brown|1y=1988|1pp=32–33|2a1=Okure|2y=1998|2p=1465}}