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To: verga; WVKayaker
Conclusion: The only reasonable definition of the word "Anthon" is "From above/ from the source or beginning", There is a perfectly good word for "again" but, neither Nicodemus, nor Jesus use that word, instead Nicodemus uses Deuteron. Nicodemus apparent confusion results from Jesus' use of the word "Born" not "From above" Anothon

To which Robertson's WORD PICTURES IN THE NEW TESTAMENT concurs:

John 3:3; Except a man be born anew (ean mē tis gennēthēi anōthen). Another condition of the third class, undetermined but with prospect of determination. First aorist passive subjunctive of gennaō. Anōthen. Originally “from above” (Mar_15:38), then “from heaven” (Joh_3:31), then “from the first” (Luk_1:3), and then “again” (palin anōthen, Gal_4:9). Which is the meaning here? The puzzle of Nicodemus shows (deuteron, Joh_3:4) that he took it as “again,” a second birth from the womb. The Vulgate translates it by renatus fuerit denuo.

But the misapprehension of Nicodemus does not prove the meaning of Jesus. In the other passages in John (Joh_3:31; Joh_19:11, Joh_19:23) the meaning is “from above” (desuper) and usually so in the Synoptics. It is a second birth, to be sure, regeneration, but a birth from above by the Spirit.

The KJV also translates anōthen as "above" in Jn. 3:31 (2), 19:11, James 1:17; 3:15,17, while the Challoner Douay-Rheims also has "born again" in Jn. 3:3,7)

For while this birth from above, it is a second birth, spiritual vs. physical, and thus it is that of being born again, and which event occurs in the conversion of faith in the Word of the gospel,

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again anagennaō=to beget] unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead," (1 Peter 1:3)

"Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him." (1 John 5:1)

How "above" versus "again" makes a theological difference to you vs. WVKayaker was not stated.

284 posted on 07/27/2014 6:17:59 AM PDT by daniel1212 (Come to the Lord Jesus as a contrite damned+destitute sinner, trust Him to save you, then live 4 Him)
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To: daniel1212; WVKayaker; CynicalBear; metmom
How "above" versus "again" makes a theological difference to you vs. WVKayaker was not stated.

One is a correct translation, the other isn't.

324 posted on 07/27/2014 12:14:04 PM PDT by verga (Conservative, leaning libertarian)
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