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A prominentJew of the time ofChrist, mentioned only in theFourth Gospel. The name is of Greek origin, but at that epoch such names were occasionally borrowed by theJews, and according toJosephus (Ant. of theJews, XIV, iii, 2) Nicodemus was the name of one of the ambassadors sent by Aristobulus to Pompey. AHebrew form of the name (Naqdimon) is found in theTalmud. Nicodemus was aPharisee, and in his capacity of sanhedrist, (John 7:50) was a leader of theJews.Christ, in the interview when Nicodemus came to him by night, calls him a master inIsrael. Judging fromJohn 19:39, Nicodemus must have been a man of means, and it is probable that he wielded a certain influence in the Sanhedrim. Some writers conjecture from his question: "How can a man be born when he is old?", that he was already advanced in years, but the words are too general to warrant such a conclusion. He appears in this interview as a learned and intelligent believer, but timid and not easily initiated into themysteries of the newfaith. He next appears (John 7:50-51) in the Sanhedrim offering a word in defence of the accusedGalilean; and we may infer from this passage that he embraced thetruth as soon as it was fully made known to him. He is mentioned finally inJohn 19:39, where he is shown co-operating withJoseph of Arimathea in the embalming and burial ofJesus. His name occurs later in some of theapocryphal writings, e.g. in the so-called"Acta Pilati", a heterogeneous document which in the sixteen century was published under the title"Evangelium Nicodemi" (Gospel of Nicodemus). The time of his death is unknown. The RomanMartyrology commemorates the finding of hisrelics, together with those of Sts. Stephen,Gamaliel, and Abibo, on 3 August.
Conybeare,Studia Biblica, IV (Oxford, 1896), 59-132; Le Camus,La vie de N.-S. Jesus-Christ (Paris, 1883), I, 251 sqq.; II, 24 sqq., 577 sqq., tr. Hickey (3 vols., New York, 1906-08).
APA citation.Driscoll, J.F.(1911).Nicodemus. InThe Catholic Encyclopedia.New York: Robert Appleton Company.http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11066b.htm
MLA citation.Driscoll, James F."Nicodemus."The Catholic Encyclopedia.Vol. 11.New York: Robert Appleton Company,1911.<http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/11066b.htm>.
Transcription.This article was transcribed for New Advent by Lawrence Progel.
Ecclesiastical approbation.Nihil Obstat. February 1, 1911. Remy Lafort, S.T.D., Censor.Imprimatur. +John Cardinal Farley, Archbishop of New York.
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