4“How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”
5Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spiritb gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘Youc must be born again.’ 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” (John 3:3)
Thoughts: Jesus speaks of the radical transformation of the heart. It is like being a zombie and then being made alive. It is like just existing- to living with meaning and a purpose.
The word "anothen" in Greek is the word that is translated different ways. The two most common ways are born "again" (King James, NIV, ESV, NAS) or born "from above" (ISV, CEV). The American Standard version says "born anew." The Literal Translation says, "generated from above."
So what is the big difference? It is subtle. Born again is like a transformation- doing it all over again. Here anothen emphasizes time but also doing it again.
"From above" is a common translation too- and it emphasizes position. John 3:31- speaks of the one who comes "from above." James 1:17 says "every good and perfect gift is from above. (See also James 3:15,17, Mt. 27:51, Mk. 15:38).
Truth is, being born again comes from heaven- from God. A person can be focused only on the stuff of earth or they can be focused on God. This emphasizes that the Christian faith comes not from ourselves but from the grace and love of God.
However, being born again is also a very good translation. Nicodemus did not understand Jesus' words because it seemed radical to him- like being born again not just born from above. Some (Ehrman) have said that Jesus spoke Aramaic and the Aramaic does not allow "again"- but this is not true. The word "derish" in Aramaic allows both meanings- again/anew and from above.
For many, the Christian life is just a slow evolution of thought. It makes sense. It is a call to live not by our instincts like animals but a call to live from above. But such a way of life differentiates the Christian from others. It is a holy way of life. The word "holiness" emphasizes "otherness"- being separated from the mundane and usual. The Greek word "anothen" here emphasizes both senses. The Christian life indeed is a radical transformation that comes from above.
Jesus also says we must be born or water and born of the Spirit. This emphasizes the need for cleansing (symbolized by baptism) and the need to have God's Spirit inside of us. Again it is like a zombie being filled with a soul and real life. We can be functionally alive like an animal but having faith in God (not just intellectual belief- but trust) makes us alive to Him. Calvin speaks of it like being blind to the Word and then the Spirit giving us spectacles to see it. The world opens up with beauty, understanding, meaning, wholeness and peace.
The word "anothen" in Greek is the word that is translated different ways. The two most common ways are born "again" (King James, NIV, ESV, NAS) or born "from above" (ISV, CEV). The American Standard version says "born anew." The Literal Translation says, "generated from above."
So what is the big difference? It is subtle. Born again is like a transformation- doing it all over again. Here anothen emphasizes time but also doing it again.
"From above" is a common translation too- and it emphasizes position. John 3:31- speaks of the one who comes "from above." James 1:17 says "every good and perfect gift is from above. (See also James 3:15,17, Mt. 27:51, Mk. 15:38).
Truth is, being born again comes from heaven- from God. A person can be focused only on the stuff of earth or they can be focused on God. This emphasizes that the Christian faith comes not from ourselves but from the grace and love of God.
However, being born again is also a very good translation. Nicodemus did not understand Jesus' words because it seemed radical to him- like being born again not just born from above. Some (Ehrman) have said that Jesus spoke Aramaic and the Aramaic does not allow "again"- but this is not true. The word "derish" in Aramaic allows both meanings- again/anew and from above.
For many, the Christian life is just a slow evolution of thought. It makes sense. It is a call to live not by our instincts like animals but a call to live from above. But such a way of life differentiates the Christian from others. It is a holy way of life. The word "holiness" emphasizes "otherness"- being separated from the mundane and usual. The Greek word "anothen" here emphasizes both senses. The Christian life indeed is a radical transformation that comes from above.
Jesus also says we must be born or water and born of the Spirit. This emphasizes the need for cleansing (symbolized by baptism) and the need to have God's Spirit inside of us. Again it is like a zombie being filled with a soul and real life. We can be functionally alive like an animal but having faith in God (not just intellectual belief- but trust) makes us alive to Him. Calvin speaks of it like being blind to the Word and then the Spirit giving us spectacles to see it. The world opens up with beauty, understanding, meaning, wholeness and peace.
Prayer: Lord, keep me from being focused only on this world. Help me to be radically transformed by your Spirit.
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