SPECIAL TOPIC: BORN AGAIN

The same root is used in Jesus' discussion with Nicodemus in John 3:3,7,8 (gennaō) and in 1 Pet. 1:23. It speaks of a decisive act. The NT also uses other imagery to describe our salvation:

  1. "quickened" (cf. Col. 2:13; Eph. 2:4-5)
  2.  "new creation" (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17; Gal. 6:15)
  3.  "partaker of Divine Nature," (cf. 2 Pet. 1:4)
  4.  Paul is fond of the familial imagery "adoption" (cf. Rom. 8:23; Gal. 4:5; Eph. 1:5), while John and Peter are fond of the familial imagery "new birth"

Being "born again" or "born from above" is a biblical emphasis on the need for a totally new start (cf. Ezek. 36:26-27), a totally new family (cf. John 1:12-13; Rom. 5:12-21). Christianity is not a reformation or a new morality; it is a new relationship with God. This new relationship is made possible because of

  1.  the Father's mercy and grace (cf. Exod. 34:6; Neh. 9:17)
  2.  the Son's sacrificial death (cf. 2 Cor. 5:21) and resurrection from the dead (cf. 1 Corinthians 15)
  3.  the work of the Spirit (cf. John 3:6; 6:44,65; 1 Pet. 1:2)

This divine will and action gives believers a new life, a living hope, and a sure inheritance.

I have included my exegetical note from John 3:16 "born again."

John 3:3
NASB, NKJV, TEV, REB, Peshitta  "born again"
NRSV, NJB  "born from above"

This is AORIST PASSIVE SUBJUNCTIVE. The word (anōthen) can mean

  1. "physically born a second time"
  2. "born from the beginning" (cf. Acts 26:4)
  3. "born from above," which fits this context (cf. John 3:7,31; 19:11)

This is probably another example of John's use of terms that have two meanings (double entendre), both of which are true (cf. Bauer, Arndt, Gengrich and Danker's A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament, p. 77). As is obvious from John 3:4, Nicodemus understood it as option # 1. John and Peter (cf. 1 Pet. 1:23) use this familial metaphor for salvation as Paul uses the term "adoption." The focus is on the Father's acts in begetting (cf. John 1:13). Salvation is a gift and act of God (cf. John 1:12-13; Rom. 3:21-24; 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9).

The footnote to George Lamsa's translation of the Peshitta says, "'Born again' in northern Aramaic, means to change one's thoughts and habits. Nicodemus spoke southern Aramaic and hence, did not understand Jesus."

SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN

SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL'S GOD (OT)

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