Being old (ger(936e) (936e)). Nicodemus was probably familiar with
the notion of re-birth for proselytes to Judaism for the
Gentiles, but not with the idea that a Jew had to be reborn. But
"this stupid misunderstanding" (Bernard) of the meaning of Jesus
is precisely what John represents Nicodemus as making. How "old"
Nicodemus was we do not know, but surely too old to be the young
ruler of  Lu 18:18  as Bacon holds. The blunder of Nicodemus is
emphasized by the second question with the m(885c) expecting the
negative answer. The use of deuteron adds to the grotesqueness
of his blunder. The learned Pharisee is as jejune in spiritual
insight as the veriest tyro. This is not an unheard of
phenomenon.