NICODEMUS nĭk’ ə de’ məs (Νικόδημος, G3773, victor over the people), a Pharisee and later a disciple of Jesus (John 19:38-42). Although the name was common among the Jews of the 1st cent., this is the only man in the NT to bear it (3:1). A Nicodemus ben Gorion, who was a brother to the historian Josephus, a very wealthy member of the Sanhedrin in the 1st cent. has been identified by some with this man in the NT who came to Jesus by night. Nicodemus ben Gorion later lost his wealth and position so that some have attributed this reversal of circumstance to his having become a Christian. The identification is unlikely.

Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews which meant that he was a member of the court of seventy elders, known as the Sanhedrin, which was the highest religious body among the Jews. He also was described as “the” (article present in Gr.) teacher of Israel. This did not mean that he was a teacher superior to all other teachers, but simply that he was the well-known and acknowledged teacher who even had a place in the Sanhedrin. It could be expected of such a man that he knew the OT well indeed. As a teacher “of Israel” it was pointed out that he had a special responsibility for the religious instruction of the people of God. The fact that Nicodemus was a Pharisee was related directly to the conversation which Jesus had with him, for such a conversation would have been impossible with a Sadducee or a Herodian. Nicodemus was of interest to the author of the fourth gospel because he afforded an opportunity to set out Jesus’ teaching. Only the first part of the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus is set in dialogue (3:2-10). What else may have been said by Nicodemus was set aside by John because the subject introduced through him upon which Jesus commented was the allimportant consideration.

As a Pharisee, Nicodemus’ entire religious hope rested upon his lineage, a physical descent from Abraham. The Pharisees were noted for their claim to be Abraham’s seed. It was this heir of Pharisaic teaching concerning the importance of racial heritage in religion that was introduced to Jesus’ teaching concerning the necessity of a new birth. Nicodemus is represented as having misunderstood the teaching about being born again. This came from the fact that the word “again” in Gr. was capable of other meanings, esp. important in the instance was the meaning “from above,” therefore “from God.” The lesson taught through the encounter with Nicodemus was the necessity of spiritual generation for the man who possessed God’s life, as against the teaching of the Pharisees who emphasized natural generation through Abraham.

Many have observed a progression in Nicodemus’ relationship to Jesus. He began with Jesus in “the night” which has suggested to most of the interpreters that he was hesitant and afraid to be seen with Jesus, coming as he did in secrecy out of regard for his reputation and to protect himself. At a later time Nicodemus defended, even if hesitantly, Jesus before the Sanhedrin, insisting “Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?” (7:51). This brought the taunting reply, “Are you from Galilee too? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee” (7:52). At the time of Jesus’ burial he came out into the open and brought spices with which to anoint the body and assisted in the burial (19:39-42). Nothing else is known of him from Scripture.