Clue: Pharisee's overcome problem in penning laws (9)
Answer: NICODEMUS
Explanation: Definition: Pharisee
An envelope ('penning') of CODE ('laws') in NIMUS, a reversal ('overcome') of SUM ('problem') plus 'in'. A very apt surface, given the general view of the Pharisees in the Gospels, more than this particular one who appears in the Gospel of John.