John 3:9 - Exposition

Nicodemus answered and said to him , How can these things come to pass? He takes the position now of a learner, and does not by his query repudiate regeneration as absolutely impossible, but he asks the questions "why" and "how." He may reveal his continued ignorance of the subject matter, but he is willing to be taught. The idea we form of our Lord's reply is regulated by the strict meaning we assign to the question—( πῶς ;) "how?" (cf. Romans 2:19 , Romans 2:29 , and note on Romans 2:12 ).