position, and certainly a famous religious teacher. See the IDth verse.
2. — [The same came...hy night] The fact here recorded appeals tc me to show that Nicodemus was influenced by the fear of man, and was afraid or ashamed to visit Jesus by day. — The view maintained by some, that we ought not to blame him for coming by night, because it was the quietest time for conversation, and the time when an interview was least liable to be interrupted, or because tlie Jewish teachers were in the habit of receiving inquir ers by night, appears to me undeserving of attention. 1 arr confirmed in this opmion by the fact, that on the only otbei occasions where Nicodemus is mentioned, he is specially described as the man who " came to Jesus by night." This repeated expression appears to me to im.ply blame. (John vii. 50 • xix. 39.)
How any one can waste time, as some famous commentators do, in speculating how the conversation between Christ and Nicodemus was reported, is to my mind perfectly astonishing. To hint, as one has done, that Jesus must have told St. John about the conversation afterwards, or that St. John must have been present, appears to me to strike a blow at the very root of inspiration. Both here and elsewhere, frequently, St. John describes things which he only knew by the direct ins[)iration of " the Holy Ghost.
[Rabbi.] This expression was a name of dignity among the Hebrews, signifying Doctor or Master. Cruden says that the name came originally from the Chaldees, and that it was not used bef Te the time of captivity, except in describing the officers of the kings of Assyria and Babylon. Thus we find the names of Rab-saris and Rab-shakeh. (2 Kings xviii. 17.) The use of the word here by Nicodemus, was intended to mark his respect for our Lord.
[We know.] Different reasons have been assigned for Nicode- mus' use of the plural number in this place. Whom did he mean when he said " we ?" Some say that he meant himself and many of his brethren among the Pharisees. — Some say that he meant himself and the secret believers of all classes mentioned at the end of the last chapter. — Some say, as Lightfoot, that he meant no one in particular, but use ] the plural lor the singular, according to an idiom common in all languages. ' He only meant, "It is commonly known." — I venture the suggestion, that Nico- demus probably used the plural number intentionally, on account of its vagueness, and avoided the singular number from motives of caution, that he might not commit himself too much. Even at the present day people will talk of "we" in religion, long before they will talk of " I." — Weak faith strives to be hid in a crowd.