Did you know that Nicodemus is only mentioned in the gospel of John (John 3:1-21, 7:45-52, 19:39-42) and not in the other three gospels? Nicodemus is also mentioned in the Talmud (Taanit 19b-20a).

One of the reasons that it is important to read all four gospels is that each of them has unique information about the Good News. In this particular instance, John 3:1-21 gives us unique information about being born again; John 7:45-52 has unique information about the Pharisees and their discussions about Jesus; John 19:39-42 has unique information about the crucifixion. The Gospel of John portrays the Good News from the perspective of an eyewitness. The Gospels indicate that John was the only apostle present at the crucifixion. The Gospel of John is the only gospel that indicates that a second person, Nicodemus, helped Joseph of Arimathea with the Body of Christ.

Both traditionalists and modernists agree that the Gospel of John was the last of the four gospels to be written. The first three gospels to be written only provide information about Joseph of Arimathea burying the body of Christ. Thus, it would seem that information about the involvement of a second person could only have been believed if it came from a source that was considered authoritative. A known eyewitness would have been considered an authoritative source.

J. Clontz – Editor of The Comprehensive New Testament