Being Born Again

JOHN 3
on being born again

John 3, NET Version

1 Now a certain man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council, 2 came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.”  3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb and be born a second time, can he?”  5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit.  7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it will, and you hear the sound it makes, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus replied, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you don’t understand these things? 11 I tell you the solemn truth, we speak about what we know and testify about what we have seen, but you people do not accept our testimony. 12 If I have told you people about earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven – the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”  16 For this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through him.  18 The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.  19 Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil.  20 For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed.  21 But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God.

 

Question 1: Is being born again a valid interpretation of John 3, or more importantly a valid new testament teaching?   Lets take a look at the phrase, "born from above."  The transliterated Greek phrase in John 3:3 and 3:7 is, gennao anothen.  Gennao has to do with birth and anothen can mean again, from above, from the beginning, etc. When translating from one language to another there are usually several ways to translate a phrase or a word.  A great learning tool in bible study is to look up the original language words and see how they were translated in other verses.  This helps you learn more about the nuances of the original phrase.  We will do that now.  Let’s start with the word gennao.  Usually it simply refers to childbirth.  It is found in the genealogies of Jesus in Matthew and Luke for example.  However, in John we see for the first time the concept of humans being born of God.  John 3:6 contrasts the two ways of being born, being born of flesh and being born of God.  In Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he uses it to describe how the recipients were born of God through the gospel message that he delivered to them.  He gennaoed them, gave birth to them, through the gospel (1 Cor 4:15).  Paul says to Philemon (Phil 1:10) that he also, spiritually, fathered Onesimus.  His letter to the Galatians also makes reference to the difference of being born to the flesh and being born God(Gal 4:29).  In Galatians Paul refers to the child of Hagar as being born to the flesh, and says that we are all born into this state, but that some of us become children of God, and thereby become children of the promise, ie Children of Sarah.   John says in his first epistle, 1 John 5:1 that whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is one of those who is born of God.  

Now let us consider anothen.   In addition to being several ways to translate anothen, there were also several words that the speaker/writer could have used in the original greek in place of anothen.  For example, the following greek words can mean above;  ano, pro, and hyper.  Those words can, but do not always get translated as above, they can also mean; many, more, high, up, before, most, further, greater, with, from and beside.  Getting back to anothen.  This word usually is translated as, from above, but is also translated as anew, again, from the beginning, etc.   Matthew (Matt 27:51) and Mark (Mark 15:38) both describe how the veil in the Jewish temple was torn from top to bottom when Jesus cried out as he gave his life on the cross.  This comes from the word anothen.  That concept is also what is in mind in John 19:23 when Jesus’  coat is described as being woven without seams, from top to bottom.  Anothen is also found in Luke 1:3 and Acts 26:5 to mean from the beginning or the whole story.  Most often though it simply means from above.  This is certainly the meaning in John 3:31, where Jesus contrasts his being born from above verses being born of the earth.  When Jesus was standing in front of Pilate and told him in John 19:11 that Pilate’s authority over Jesus was given him from above, this was anothen.  James talks about perfect gifts and wisdom being from above in James 1:17, 3:15, and 3:17.  The previous examples are all fairly cut and dried as to the meaning of anothen.  

However, we have left out several citations of the word anothen.  Namely, John 3:3, 3:7, and Galatians 4:9.  Let’s first look at John 3:3 and 3:7.  Here we see the confusion of the two main concepts carried in this word.  From above and again.  Some might choose to say that we are born again, from above.  Some might say we must be born from above.  Some might say we must be born again.  Now, does the phrase born again make any sense?  Let’s see.  We left out Galatians 4:9.  What does it say?  Oddly enough, the greek word anothen in Gal 4:9 is paired with the word palin.  Side by side, there are two words in Gal 4:9 that can individually mean again, and together can only  mean again.  The context is talking about  people who know God, or more importantly are known by God who want to return to a life under the Law, being constrained by the law of the Old Testament.  Paul is warning us not to return again (palin anothen) to the weak and worthless forces.  Do not be enslaved again to religious observance of seasons, days, etc.  In this case, it is impossible for anothen to mean from above, because Paul is specifically discussing slavery to things from below.  In this case we must allow for anothen to mean again.

Most, if not all, early bible used the term born again in John3.  Even the latin vulgate from the 4th century through most of the 20th century said in John 3:3 that you must be renatus, or reborn.  

Looking at other new testament texts, we will see that the new birth/born again is valid.  2 Corinthians 5:17 says that we who are in Christ are new creatures.  Ephesians 2:5 and Colossians 2:13 both say that we who were once dead in our sins, are now alive in Christ.  Peter, in his first epistle, uses the word anagennao, meaning that we are born again (or anew or afresh), in 1 Peter 1:3 and 1 Peter 1:23.  Titus 3:5 says that we have been regenerated, which means re-gened, ie become a new creation.  James 1:18 tells us that we have been born of God via the Word of Truth.  1 Corinthians 15:45 describes Jesus, the Last Adam, as a quickening spirit, ie one who brings others to this new life in himself. 

Finally, I would like to propose that Nicodemus was not confused about the meaning of the word anothen, but the way a person becomes born again or born from above.  It was the process that he did not understand.  It was the process that Jesus cleared up, rather than dispelling the confusion about the birth from above rather than again.  

 

Answer 1:  Yes.  Without a doubt being born again is a valid new testament concept.  You, must be born again!

 

 

Question 2:  Are you born again, by being baptized?

To help answer this question we will start by looking back at the greek word for know/known in Gal 4:9.  This concept is critical to knowing what it means to be a Christian.  The word is genosko.  It is all over the bible.  The Old Testament begins with the story of Adam and Eve.  Obviously, the OT was written in Hebrew, and we don’t even know what  to call the first language that Adam and Eve spoke.  Adam is said to have known Eve, and she conceived, in Genesis 4:1.  In Matthew 1:25 we are told that Joseph did not know Mary until after she gave birth to Jesus.  This word, does not always, but most powerfully means an intimacy that is so special that it is used to describe the intimacy between a husband and wife that produces offspring.  You can see the obvious relation between gennao and genosko.  The act of genosko, knowing, produces something.  I submit to you that knowing, really knowing Jesus as the Christ and believing, really believing, and trusting in him is what converts a person from being born only from below to being also being born from above.  Technically, it happens when God knows/genosko us, but the symptoms are that we come to know and believe God in a special intimate way.  Furthermore, that person can rightly and scripturally, be called born again.  In 1 Peter 1:3 and 1 Peter 1:23 we see that we are born again from the living and abiding word of God not from water.  1 Peter 1:22 tells us that our souls have been purified by obeying the truth.  How do you obey the truth?  By embracing it and believing it.  Going back to Galatians in Gal 3:2 we are told that we received the Spirit of God by believing what we heard, ie the truth of the Gospel.    Let’s look at John 3:18 The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

 

In John 3 we see many ways that Jesus stated our need for new birth: 

3:3 born again (or anew or from above)
3:5 born of water and spirit
3:6 born of the Spirit
3:7 born again (or anew or from above)
3:8 born of the Spirit
 

In John 3 we see how that happens, or at least what happens from within us:

john 3:14 Just as Moses lifted the snake (Number 21) in the wilderness, so would Jesus be lifted up (on the cross) so that whoever believes in him will have eternal life
john 3:16 everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life
john 3:18 anyone who believes in Him is not condemned
john 3:36 the one who believes in the Son has eternal life

Numbers 21:5-9 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness, for there is no bread or water, and we detest this worthless food.” So the Lord sent poisonous snakes among the people, and they bit the people; many people of Israel died. Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord that he would take away the snakes from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. The Lord said to Moses, “Make a poisonous snake and set it on a pole. When anyone who is bitten looks at it, he will live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it on a pole, so that if a snake had bitten someone, when he looked at the bronze snake he lived. John 3:14-15 Jesus said: Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.”
 

Those who would say that John 3 is telling us that we are born from above by being baptized are clearly missing the mark.  They have generally skipped over verses in the immediate context of John 3, and forced a view upon scripture that is unreasonable.  They say that because in surrounding areas of John we see baptism, and in John 3 he mentions being born of "water and the Spirit" then this water must be baptism.  How can you skip verses that clearly state faith/belief is the key and instead grab somethings else?  You can and must do that in order to force your beliefs upon scripture.  It is a dangerous game that people play. 

 

Answer 2: Are we born again by being baptized?  No, clearly John 3 does not indicate that we are born again via water baptism, but by having faith in Him.

If you want to consider why Jesus said that we must be born of water and the spirit, I may cover that later.  In the mean time you can think about Jesus calling attention to the fact that Nicodemus is a leader of the pharisees and the teacher of all Israel, and should therefore understand what it means to be born of the Spirit.  Then take a look at Ezekial 36.  In Ezekial, we get a prophecy of the new covenant that God is going to make.

 

In other places we see:

• Mark 16:15-18 believes and is baptized will be saved...does not believe will be condemned
  Luke 8:5-15 believe and be saved
  Luke 24:45 repentance and forgiveness of sins
  John 1:11-12 all who receive him by believing in His name
• John 1:12-13 Those who receive Jesus become the children of God, through the will of God, by believing in the work of Jesus.
• John 3:18 whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God
• John 5:30-47 do not have his (God’s) word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he sent (Jesus)...come to me that you may have life...receive me...believe...believe my words
• John 20:30-31 these things were written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ and have life in His son.
• Acts 2:16-41...everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved(from Joel)...they were cut to the heart...repent and be baptized...forgiveness of sins..receive the gift of the Holy Spirit..those who received his (God’s) word were baptized
• Acts 6:7 became obedient to the faith
• Acts 10:43-47 This is the story of Peter taking the gospel to Cornelious. At the end of his presentation he says that all the prophets testify to Jesus and that everyone who believes in Him will receive forgiveness of sins. While Peter was still speaking the Holy Spirit fell on the audience. They were baptized after that, because that what baptism is all about. Showing on the outside what has happened on the inside. You have been reborn, renewed, brought to life.
• Acts 11:12-18 baptized with the Holy Spirit...when we believed
• Acts 13:46-48 as many as were appointed unto eternal life believed
• Acts 15 conflict: “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved” ...cleansed their hearts by faith...
• Acts 16:30-33 Sirs, what must I do to be saved? Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved....he was baptized
• Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:2 through whom we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of God’s glory.
• Romans 10:1-13 confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved...heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved...believes in him will not be put to shame..everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved..
• Romans 10:14-15 Preach the gospel, so that people can hear the good news, so that they can believe, so that they can call upon Him
• 1 Cor 1:18-25 save those who believe
• 1 Cor 15:1-11 being saved, because we preached and you believed
• Galatians 2:16 justified by faith, believing in Christ
• Galatians 3:2 received the Spirit of Christ by hearing of faith
• Galatians 3:7-9 justified through faith
• Galatians 3:22 promise by faith in Jesus Christ given to those who believe
• Galatians 3:2; 6; 8; 14; 26 Rhetorical question is, did you receive the Spirit by works of the law, or by hearing with faith? Abraham’s faith in God was credited to him as righteousness. God has justified gentiles (that’s us) by faith. We receive the promised Spirit by faith. We are sons of God by faith.
• Ephesians 1: 1-13 When we heard the gospel and believed in Jesus, we were: sealed with the Holy Spirit, the down payment of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession. Furthermore, we were given every spiritual blessing, adoption, redemption, forgiveness, and inheritance, and salvation. 
• Ephesians 2:8 by grace you have been saved through faith...not your own doing; a gift of God
• 2 Thessalonians 2:10-11 those who are perishing because they refused to love the truth and so be saved...believe what is false in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth
• 1 Timothy 2:3-7 God our Savior, who desired all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth...Christ Jesus...a ransom for all...testimony given...of this I am a preacher and an apostle
• Titus 3:4-8 when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us...according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior (baptism in the Holy Spirit)
• Hebrews 4:3 for we who have believed enter that (God’s) rest
• 1 peter 1 Praise God for His mercy who has given us a NEW BIRTH, through the resurrection of Christ, unto an uncorrupted, imperishable, unfading, inheritance! You love and believe in him because you are receiving the goal of your faith, which is the salvation of your souls! You have been born again through the word of God, which is the gospel preached.
• 1 Peter 1:23-25 since you have been born again...through the word of God...through good news preached
• 1 Peter 1:3-4; 8; 23-25 Praise God for His mercy who has given us a NEW BIRTH, through the resurrection of Christ, unto an uncorrupted, imperishable, unfading, inheritance! You love and believe in him because you are receiving the goal of your faith, which is the salvation of your souls! You have been born again through the word of God, which is the gospel preached.