{Now} (de). So often in John de is explanatory and
transitional, not adversative. Nicodemus is an instance of
Christ's knowledge of men ( 2:25 ) and of one to whom he did
trust himself unlike those in 2:24 . As a Pharisee "he belonged
to that party which with all its bigotry contained a salt of true
patriotism and could rear such cultured and high-toned men as
Gamaliel and Paul" (Marcus Dods). {Named Nicodemus} (Nikod(886d)os
onoma). Same construction as in 1:6 , "Nicodemus name to him."
So Re 6:8 . It is a Greek name and occurs in Josephus (_Ant_.
XIV. iii. 2) as the name of an ambassador from Aristobulus to
Pompey. Only in John in N.T. (here, 7:50 19:39 ). He was a
Pharisee, a member of the Sanhedrin, and wealthy. There is no
evidence that he was the young ruler of Lu 18:18 because of
arch(936e) (ruler) here.
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