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What the Fathers say
Eastern Fathers
John Chrysostom
Nicodemus saith, "Rabbi, we know that Thou art a Teacher come from God, for no man can do the miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him." He thought he had said something great when he had spoken thus of Christ. What then saith Christ? To show that he had not yet set foot even on the threshold of right knowledge, nor stood in the porch, but was yet wandering somewhere without the palace, both he and whoever else should say the like, and that he had not so much as glanced towards true knowledge when he held such an opinion of …
Cyril of Alexandria
More ready is Nicodemus to believe, but overcome by no good fear, and not despising the opinion of men, he refuses boldness, and is divided in opinion into two, and halts in purpose, feeble upon both his knee joints, as it is written, forced by the convictions of his conscience to the duty of believing by reason of the exceedingness of the miracles, but esteeming the loss of rulership over his own nation a thing not to be borne, for he was a ruler of the Jews. …
Theophylact of Ohrid
Still clinging to Jewish weakness, he comes to Jesus "at night" out of fear of the Jews (John 19:38–39); he calls Him Teacher, as a mere man, for such was his understanding of Him, which is why he adds that no one can perform such miracles unless God is with him. Do you see, he comes to Jesus as to a prophet and a man beloved by God. What then does the Lord do? He does not rebuke him in a stern manner, does not say, why do you come at night to a Teacher sent from God, why do you lack boldness? …
Western Saints
Thomas Aquinas
Then he describes him as to the time, saying, he came to Jesus at night. In regard to this, it might be noted that in Scripture the quality of the time is mentioned as to certain persons in order to indicate their knowledge or the condition of their actions. Here an obscure time is mentioned, at night. …
Bonaventure
He came to Jesus by night. He came by night so that he might be instructed and taught more quietly, because that is a quiet hour; whence in the Psalm: "At midnight I arose to give thanks to you." He is described by his aptitude for learning, when it says: And he said to him, namely to Jesus: "Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher." For he was apt to be taught, because he had come to be taught, and he believed Christ to be a perfect teacher, and he wished to be his disciple, and on account of this he called him …
Haymo of Halberstadt
Or, well may it be said that he came in the night, enveloped, as he was, in the darkness of ignorance, and not yet come to the light, i. e. the belief that our Lord was very God. Night in the language of Holy Writ is put for ignorance. And said unto him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a teacher come from God. The Hebrew Rabbi, has the meaning of Magister in Latin. He calls him, we see, a Master, but not God: he does not hint at that; he believes Him to be sent from God, but does not see that He is God.
Translation