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NASB | John 3:5 Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:5 Jesus answered, "I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. [Ezek 36:25-27] |
Bible Question: In the 3rd chapter of John, Jesus is talking to Nicodemus and he tells him that "accept a man be born of the water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" I am trying to understand this verse. I know in this verse Jesus is not talking about water baptism. ButI don't understand what the "water" in this verse is referring to. Can anyone help me with this? |
Bible Answer: Greetings Msootim! If 100 people answer this question, you will probably get 100 different answers! ;-) So, allow me to give my opinion on your question as well! :-) To me, the answer is found in v. 6. "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit." Jesus told Nicodemus in v. 3 that "... no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again". Literally, the word is 'born from above', not 'born again'. Nicodemus mistakenly thought that Jesus was refering to physical birth and asked, "How can a man be born when he is old?...Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!" Jesus then corrects Nicodemus by pointing out that the 'birth from above' is a spiritual birth, not physical. Thus, the contrast of v. 6 between physical birth and spiritual birth. So, v. 5 is simply saying that one must be born both 'physically' and 'spiritually'. I hope this helps! p.s. - I absolutely agree with you that baptism is not in view in this passage at all. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |