Comments on: Nicodemus and Balaam http://www.ynoti.com/2008/06/06/nicodemus-and-balaam/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=nicodemus-and-balaam Working out my Salvation with fear and trembling...and a blog! Thu, 02 Sep 2010 05:51:43 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Tom Albrecht http://www.ynoti.com/2008/06/06/nicodemus-and-balaam/comment-page-1/#comment-1526 Tom Albrecht Mon, 09 Jun 2008 16:22:35 +0000 http://www.ynoti.com/?p=270#comment-1526 With all due respect to the author, based on what we actually know from the Bible it's not at all clear when in time Nicodemus actually expressed faith in Christ. So it’s not entirely appropriate IMO to label Nicodemus as a secret believer prior to the events of John 19. The objection of Nicodemus in John 7:50 to the course of the proceedings could have been expressed by any just man, not necessarily a follower of Jesus Christ. We also have no specific record of Jesus having confronted Nicodemus to “follow Me” (to give up his position) at any point, as He did with His other disciples. In fact, from their first encounter it seems pretty clear that Nicodemus was not ready to follow Christ (cf. John 3:11:12). We just do not where he stood in his faith at that time. One of the most disconcerting things I find about preachers is how often they wish to go beyond the actual text of the Bible to try and make a point. It’s especially easy for preachers to weave involved tales based on rather simple stories from the gospels, and then draw their own moralizing examples from those involved tales. With all due respect to the author, based on what we actually know from the Bible it’s not at all clear when in time Nicodemus actually expressed faith in Christ. So it’s not entirely appropriate IMO to label Nicodemus as a secret believer prior to the events of John 19Open Link in New Window. The objection of Nicodemus in John 7:50Open Link in New Window to the course of the proceedings could have been expressed by any just man, not necessarily a follower of Jesus Christ. We also have no specific record of Jesus having confronted Nicodemus to “follow Me” (to give up his position) at any point, as He did with His other disciples. In fact, from their first encounter it seems pretty clear that Nicodemus was not ready to follow Christ (cf. John 3:11Open Link in New Window:12).

We just do not where he stood in his faith at that time.

One of the most disconcerting things I find about preachers is how often they wish to go beyond the actual text of the Bible to try and make a point. It’s especially easy for preachers to weave involved tales based on rather simple stories from the gospels, and then draw their own moralizing examples from those involved tales.

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