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Born Again/From Above
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Posted on December 22, 2004 at 05:33:00 AM by Samuel
Adapting from the NET Bible footnote of John 3:3 - this word has a double meaning, either "again" or "above". This is a favorite technique of the author of the Fourth Gospel, and it is lost in almost all translations at this point. John uses the word 5 times, in 3:3, 7; 3:31; 19:11 and 23. In the latter 3 cases the context makes clear that it means “from above.” Here (3:3, 7) it could mean either, but the primary meaning intended by Jesus is “from above.” Nicodemus apparently understood it the other way, which explains his reply, “How can a man be born when he is old? He can’t enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” The author uses the technique of the “misunderstood question” often to bring out a particularly important point: Jesus says something which is misunderstood by the disciples or (as here) someone else, which then gives Jesus the opportunity to explain more fully and in more detail what he really meant.
Agent 001
Replies:
- Re(1): Born Again/From Above - By Eric December 22, 2004 at 07:35:28 AM
- Re(2): Born Again/From Above - By karen December 22, 2004 at 06:58:48 PM