19) the sufficiently near equivalent for the striking Johannean phrase [Greek: ex hudatos kai pneumatos] which is omitted entirely by Justin.
The most probable view of the case seems to be that both the Clementines and Justin are quoting from memory.

Both have in their memory the passage of St.John, but both have also distinctly before them (so much the more distinctly as it is the Gospel which they habitually used) the parallel passage in Matt.xviii.

3-- where _all the last three_ out of the four common variations are found, besides, along with the Clementines, the omission of the second [Greek: amaen],--'Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven' ([Greek: on mae eiseathaete eis taen basileian ton ouranon]).

It is out of the question that this _only_ should have been present to the mind of the writers; and, in view of the repetition of Nicodemus' misunderstanding by Justin and of the baptism by water and Spirit in the Clementine Homilies, it seems equally difficult to exclude the reference to St.John.It is in fact a Johannean saying in a Matthaean framework.
There is the more reason to accept this solution, that neither Justin nor the Clementines can in any case represent the original form of the passages quoted.

If Justin's version were correct, whence did the Clementines get the [Greek: hudati zonti k.t.l.]?
if the Clementine, then whence did Justin get the misconception of Nicodemus?
But the Clementine version is in any case too eccentric to stand.
The last passage is the one that is usually considered to be decisive as to the use of the fourth Gospel.
_Hom_.xix.