Tuesday, February 12, 2008
John 3:1-21 Nicodemus and New Birth
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews; 2 this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born, can he?” 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. 6 “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 “The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?” 10 Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things? 11 “Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony. 12 “If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? 13 “No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man. 14 “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. 16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 “He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”
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3 comments:
Why does Jesus say "Truly, Truly" several times throughout these versus? Is he really tring to emphasize his point?
Versus 16-17 are truly, truly powerful. We think they serve as the basic essentials of christianity.
You are right using "Truly, Truly" does emphasize what he is saying. I looked at the scripture in different translations on biblos.
In my search, the word Apologist was used. I have heard this word many times, Apologist, but never really applied it to my understanding of the Bible.
Here is the definitions of an Apologist:
Any of the Christian writers, primarily in the 2nd century, who attempted to provide a defense of Christianity against Greco-Roman culture.(Worshipped of Zeus, Athena,etc...)
Many of their writings were addressed to Roman emperors and were submitted to government secretaries in order to defend Christian beliefs and practices. The Apologists tried to prove the antiquity of Christianity as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy, and they argued that the worshipers of the mythological gods were truly godless. They also insisted on the philosophical nature of their faith and its high ethical standards. Greek Apologists include Justin Martyr and Clement of Alexandria. Latin Apologists of the 2nd century include Tertullian. See also apologetics.
Nicodemus came to Jesus at night. Being a leader in the Sanhedrin and a Pharisee, maybe he didn't want others to see him talking with Jesus, but he was compelled to come to him. This encounter must have been an important one for John to include it in his writings. Unlike others who believed in Jesus for the miracles he performed, Jesus knew the heart of Nicodemus to be deeply interested in knowing more than the miracles but Jesus true identity, the Messiah. Jesus is clear, Nicodemus can not see the kingdom of God without a Spiritual re-birth. Today, many know who God says He is and even pray without having a born again birth of the Spirit and entering into a personal relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. The words truly truly were in some translations written as verily, verily to indicate that there is a misunderstanding to overcome by the hearer and a new thought to teach. This is the case of Nicodemus who knows the Old Testament prophecies but is just learning about the new relationship of God and man through Jesus. Nicodemus is one of us, seeking and then born again! Praise God!
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