We’re all familiar with the phrase ‘You must be born again’ but know this, the Hebrew doesn’t say that, neither does the Greek (I’ve done my homework, you check it for yourself).
The correct translation of this sentence would be ‘you must be born from above’ which changes the nature of the conversation. Let’s have some fun and read this section like it’s a scene from one of Shakespeare’s plays.
Enter: Yeshua, a Jewish Rabbi
Enter: Nichodemus, a Pharisee with a Greek name? Nicho – Nike – Victory Demus - Demography – people, victory over the people.
John 3
1 There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Yeshua by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
3 Yeshua answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one 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? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”
Yeshua clarifies…
5 Yeshua answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”
10 Yeshua answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?
***
Nicodemus enters and says: “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”
Flattery you know.
Yeshua ignores his opening comment and states: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Which confuses Nick who replies: “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” [no]
Yeshua clarifies: “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Born from above, Spirit and born of water, flesh. See: Genesis 1: 27 for spirit see your parents for flesh.
And now to my favorite line in this section!
“Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things?
Now that’s a Shakespearean level insult if I’ve ever seen one, flip that sentence and it becomes You don’t know these things, ergo you’re not a master of anything let alone Israel!
Now imagine an entire religion based on a misprint and you’ve got…
Evangelical Christianity
>Now imagine an entire religion based on a misprint and you’ve got…
>Evangelical Christianity
Um...checking my bible, yep it says born again or born from above, both being mentioned in the commentary, but born from above is the better translation.
And yes, this is a difference, but both are speaking of a rebirth of nature, from the old, unregenerate self to a new man with a new heart. Born from above speaks mostly to where the rebirth originates, and I have no problem with it at all, being of the Reformed flavor of Christianity, even tho’ an evangelical.
Now what part of this is earth shattering? Yes, being ‘born again’ is overused in some circles as a catch phrase, but in too many circles people claim Christianity yet have no changes in their lives.
Matthew 7:
15”Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.
16”You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?
17”So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.
18”A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.
19”Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
20”So then, you will know them by their fruits.
21”Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.
22”Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’
23”And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.’
That last bit better make anyone who has the love of God in their hearts tremble and shrink back. Those words are probably the most terrible ever uttered by man, and perhaps by God.