Interpretation John 3:3
Interpretation Question: What is the meaning and significance of Jesus’ statement to Nicodemus that, “Unless someone is born again, he is not able to see the kingdom of God” (3:3)?
Preliminary Definition: From the above question, two phrases burn inside me: “(Born Again” and “To See)”
Born Means: country, land, homeborn, nation, bay tree אֶזְרָח ‘ezrach H249
Again Means: Backward from the lexicon H322 ‘achoranniyth and אֲחֹרַנִּית
According to the Blue Letter Bible, the phrase: “To See” means: horaó: to see, perceive, attend to
Original Word: ὁράω
Definition: to see, perceive, attend to
Usage: I see, look upon, experience, perceive, discern, beware.
PD/1:
From these basic definitions I can infer that the phrase: “Born Again” means to return from the state of being and start again. For one to be born again is a focal point of this scripture: John 3:3
PD/2:
The word to “see” occurs 597 times in 566 verses in the KJV. Unfortunately, due to the time constraints of this project the author simply does not have enough time to investigate 100% of these scriptures. According to the Strong’s Concordance the word see, which means: to see with the eyes: τινα ὁρᾶν, ἑωρακέναι, is found in a list of scriptures to numerous to list on this page, but Luke 16:23; John 20:18; and 1 Corinthians 9:1, describes the meaning to see or visit. On the other hand, to see also means by the spirit in the following verses: Isaiah 6:10; Jeremiah 5:21; John 9:39-41.
Literary Context:
LCE1: Jesus’s statement is in response to 3:2; where, Nicodemus comes to Jesus and confirms that he is the teacher, but questions how can he do all these signs. The phrase to be “born” AND “again” occurs 10 times in 5 verses in the KJV. Using the Strong’s Concordance the following scriptures are relevant: Jhn 3:3, Jhn 3:7, 1 Pe 1:23, Gen 29:34, and Jdg 13:8
The first instance of of our phrase is in; John 3:3, which states, “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Here, Jesus clarifies that a individual could not even see the kingdom of God unless they are “born again.” Eveidently, the one asking the question, Nicodemus doesn’t fully understand Jesus’s expression, because in the very next line he questions {in verse 4} about re-entering a mother’s womb. According to the context Nicodemus is requesting that Jesus further explains His statement.
Additionally, Jhn 3:7 states,“Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.” Here, Jesus asks the people not to marvel at this idea. He then repeats that one must be born again. Consdering the evidence in verse 6, Jesus explains that flesh is flesh and spirit is spirt? So what is flesh and what is spirit?
Next key Word: The word “flesh” occurs 420 times in 369 verses in the KJV. This author does not simply have time to cover this topic thoroughly. Using the Blue Letter Bible flesh is:
בָּשָׂר
basar
flesh, body, fatfleshed, leanfleshed, kin, leanfleshed, mankind, myself, nakedness, skin
According to Gen 7:16, “And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.” Therefore, flesh is male and female/all humans.
Next Key Word: Spirit
According to the Blue letter Bible a Sprit is
נְשָׁמָה
nĕshamah
breath, blast, spirit, inspiration, souls
Due to vast nature of the word spirit this author can not examine every instance, because this project has time restraints. According the Strong’s Concordance, “spirit” occurs 505 times in 456 verses in the KJV.
Because Jesus wanted us to know the definition of born again, in Gen 1:2 He states, “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” From this evidence we can infer that every human also has a spirit.
Last Key Verse: 1Pe 1:23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” This scripture attest to the being born again of the Spirit; which is, noted in John 3:6
These last two scriptures do not give the same meanings and the previously ones discussed! The main reason is that the words do not come in the same order pattern; therefore, because of time restraints I will only make note of them here. The two passages are as followings: “Gen 29:34 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons: therefore was his name called Levi.”
Jdg 13:8 “Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.”
LCI1:
From the evidence listed and studied above the meaning of born again is best explained by Jesus himself. In John 3:6 Jesus explains the flesh of man in nature and the Spirit is of God; therefore to be born again means reborn is done through the Spirit. It is impossible for the flesh to be born again the second time; which was explained by Nikodemus in verse 4.
LCE2: The phrase, “to see” describes a place in which our eyes will allow us to behold. For example, Luke 16:23 states, “In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.” According to the context in this scripture the word to see is being used as a verb. The beggar goes to Paradise and the Rich man goes to Hades. The rich man’s actual eyes were open. He had the ability to look up and see the bagger in the arms of Abraham.
According to John 20:18 we can infer the meaning of “to See” is described as what they actually saw in the tomb. -the grave clothing, but no body.
As for 1 Corinthians 9:1, “Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our LORD? Are you not the result of my work in the LORD?” is evidently speaking through a more spiritual eye. God is a spirit therefore no physical eyes could of beheld him.
Jeremiah 5:21 Hear this, you foolish and senseless people, who have eyes but do not see, who have ears but do not hear: This scripture is speaking spiritual eyes to understand the mysteries of God. Not physical eyes to see great things.
LCI 2:
The Bible often uses the idea of seeing spiritually (figuratively), to represent enlightenment. (Isaiah 6:10; Jeremiah 5:21; John 9:39-41) In this sense, a person can see God now with “the eyes of [his] heart” by having faith so as to know Him and appreciate His qualities. But for our purposes the phrase: “to see” refers to what our eyes can and will actually (physically) see. For example, the rich man in Hades (Luke 16:23), the disciples seeing the physical clothing of Jesus. (John 20:18), and John 3:3 physically seeing the kingdom of God and being present.
Interpretation of Others:
Notes on the Bible by Albert Barnes [1834]. Text Courtesy of Internet Sacred Texts Archive. Explains that Nicodemus does not understand and questions Jesus, but he proves this in an example of the wind. Stating that we know there is a wind, but we do not understand the operations of it. Being born of he spirit is different from being of the flesh.
Clarke, Adam. “Commentary on John 3:4”. “The Adam Clarke Commentary”. https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/acc/john-3.html. 1832. States, “As this new birth implies the renewing of the whole soul in righteousness and true holiness,” On the other hand, His commentary discusses baptism as washing sins away and relates this to also a new birth.
Wesley, John. “Commentary on John 3:3”. “John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible”. https:https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/wen/john-3.html. 1765. He states that being born again is the key to receiving everlasting joy, peace, and grace.
Interpretation of Commentaries/this authors interpretation:
According to the commentaries being born again is a spiritual matter. One has to have the Holy Spirit and receive Jesus Christ to obtain heaven. Therefore, this author’s interpretation stands. The Bible often uses the idea of born again as be a spiritual act that allows enlightenment to come. (Isaiah 6:10; Jeremiah 5:21; John 9:39-41) In this sense, a person will only see God with “the eyes of [his] heart” by having faith so as to know him, but for our purposes the phrase: “to see” refers to what our eyes can and will actually (physically) see with this life is over (at our second death and for the Christian only).
