He teacheth Nicodemus, that to come to the Kingdom of God, Baptism is necessary, as being our Regeneration. (10) Which point Nicodemus as then not understanding, (11) he showeth that they must believe him, and what good cause there is for them so to do. (23) After this he also baptized, and John likewise at the same time. (25) Whereupon a question being moved, whether Baptism is better, (27) John answereth it by saying, that he is so far inferior to Christ, as a mere man to God most high.
AND there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a prince of the Jews. 2This man came to Jesus by night, and said to him: Rabbi, we know that thou art come from God a Master; for no man can do these signs which thou doest, unless God be with him. 3Jesus answered, and said to him: Amen, Amen I say to thee, unless a man be born again, he can not see the Kingdom of God. 4Nicodemus said to him: How can a man be born, when he is old? can he enter into his mother’s womb again and be born? 5Jesus answered: Amen, Amen I say to thee, unless a man be • born again of water and the Spirit, he can not enter into the Kingdom of God. 6That which is born of the flesh, is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit, is spirit. 7Marvel not, that I said to thee, You must be born again. 8The Spirit breatheth where [a] he will; and thou hearest his voice, but thou knowest not whence he cometh and whither he goeth; so is every one that is born of the Spirit. 9Nicodemus answered, and said to him: How can these things be done? 10Jesus answered, and said to him: Thou art a Master in Israel, and art thou ignorant of these things? 11Amen, Amen I say to thee, that we speak that which we know, and that which we have seen we testify, and our testimony you receive not. 12If I have spoken to you earthly things, and you believe not; how if I shall speak to you heavenly things, will you believe? 13And no man hath ascended into Heaven, but he that descended from Heaven, the Son of man which is in Heaven. 14And as * Moyses exalted the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of man be exalted; 15that every one which believeth in him, perish not, but may have life everlasting. 16For so God loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son; that every one that believeth in him, perish not, but may have life everlasting. 17For God sent not his Son into the world, to judge the world, but that the world may be saved by him. 18He that believeth in him, is not judged. But he that doth not believe, • is already judged; because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. 19And this is the judgement: because the light is come into the world, and men have loved the darkness rather than the light: for their works were evil. 20For every one that doeth ill, hateth the light, and cometh not to the light, that his works may not be controlled. 21But he that doeth verity, cometh to the light, that his works may be made manifest, because they were done in God.
22After these things Jesus came and his Disciples into the country of Jewry: and there he abode with them, and baptized. 23And John also was baptizing in Aenon beside Salim; because there was much water there, and they came, and were baptized. 24For John was not yet cast into prison. 25And there rose a question of John’s Disciples with the Jews concerning purification. 26And they came to John, and said to him: Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond Jordan, to whom * thou didst give testimony, behold he baptizeth, and all come to him. 27John answered and said: A man can not receive any thing, unless it be given him from Heaven. 28Your selves do bear me witness, * that I said, I am not Christ; but that I am sent before him. 29He that hath the bride, is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom that standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth with joy for the voice of the bridegroom. This my joy therefore is filled. 30He must increase, and I diminish. 31 • He that cometh from above, is above all. He that is of the earth, of the earth he is, and of the earth he speaketh. He that cometh from Heaven, is above all. 32And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and his testimony no men receiveth. 33He that hath received his testimony, hath signed that God is true. 34For he whom God hath sent, speaketh the words of God. For God doth not give the spirit by measure. 35The Father loveth the Son: and he hath given all things in his hand. 36He that believeth in the Son, hath life everlasting: but he that is incredulous to the Son, shall not see life, but the wrath of God remaineth upon him.
Footnotes
- ↑ We follow rather St. Aug. and those ancient Fathers, which most commonly understand this place of the Holy Ghost, and not of the wind: although both senses be good.
ANNOTATIONS. CHAP. III.
↑ 5. Born again of water.) As no man can enter into this world not have his life and being in the same, except he be born of his carnal parents: no more can a man enter into the life and state of grace which is in Christ, or attain to life everlasting, unless he be born and baptized of water and the Holy Ghost. Whereby we see first, this Sacrament to be called our regeneration or second birth, in respect of our natural and carnal which was before. Secondly, that this Sacrament consisteth of an external element of water, and internal virtue of the Holy Spirit: wherein it excelleth John’s Baptism, which had the external element, but not the spiritual grace. Thirdly, that no man can enter into the Kingdom of God, not into the fellowship of Holy Church, without it. Whereby the * Pelagians, and Calvinists be condemned, that promise life everlasting to young children that die without Baptism, and all other that think only faith to serve, or the external element of water superfluous or not necessary: our Saviour’s words being plain and general. Though in this case, God which hath not bound his grace, in respect of his own freedom, to any Sacrament, may and doth accept them as baptized, which either are martyred before they could be baptized, or else depart this life with vow and desire to have that Sacrament, but by some remediless necessity could not obtain it. Lastly, it is proved that this Sacrament giveth grace ex opere operato, that is, of the work itself (which all Protestants deny) because it so breedeth our spiritual life in God, as our carnal birth giveth the life of the world.
↑ 18. Is judged already.) He that believeth in Christ with faith which worketh by charity (as the Apostle speaketh) shall not be condemned at the later day nor at the hour of his death: but the Infidel, be he Jew, Pagan, or Heretic, is already (if he die in his incredulity) by his own profession and sentence condemned, and shall not come to judgement either particular or general, to be discussed according to his works of mercy done or omitted. In which sense St. Paul saith that the obstinate Heretic is condemned by his own judgement, preventing in himself, of his own free will, the sentence both of Christ and of the Church.
↑ 31. He that cometh from above.) As though he should say: No marvel that men resort to Christ so fast and make less account of me. For, his baptism and his preaching and his Person are all from Heaven immediately. He bringeth all from the very bosom, mouth, and substance of God his Father. Whatsoever is in me, is but a little drop of his grace. His spirit and graces are above all measures or men’s gifts, even according to his Manhood: and all power temporal and spiritual, the Kingdom and the Priesthood, and all sovereignty in Heaven and earth are bestowed upon him as he is man also.
Margin Notes
- 1–15. The Ghospel upon Holy Rood day, or Invention of the holy Cross. May 3.
- 16–21. The Ghospel upon Monday in the Whitsun-week.
- annot. 5. Baptism in water necessary to salvation.
- annot. 5. Baptism in water in two cases otherwise supplied.
- annot. 18. Every infidel, and namely Heretic, are judged already.
- annot. 31. The excellence of Christ’s power and graces.
Margin References
- 14. Num. 21, 9.
- 26. Joh. 1, 19.
- 28. Joh. 1, 20.
- annot. 1. Aug. haeres. 88.
- annot. 18. Gal. 5, 6.
- annot. 18. Tit. 3, 11.
