Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
What does John 3:5 mean?
Nicodemus was afraid, or ashamed to be seen with Christ, therefore came in the night. When religion is out of fashion, there are many Nicodemites.
Key themes
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Keep this verse inside John 3:5-6 and alongside a few nearby related passages.
Commentary on John 3:5
Be born of water - By "water," here, is evidently signified "baptism." Thus the word is used in Ephesians 5:26 ; Titus 3:5 . Baptism was practiced by the Jews in receiving a Gentile as a proselyte. It was practiced by John among the Jews; and Jesus here says that it is an ordinance of his religion, and the sign and seal of the renewing influences of his Spirit. So he said Mark 16:16 , "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved.
Key words
- the Holy Spirit
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the Holy Spirit.
- the Holy Spirit
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the Holy Spirit.
Context in John 3
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John 3 belongs to the early movement of the book, especially the section often described as prologue and book of signs. John presents Jesus in contemplative, symbolic, and theological richness as the Word, Lamb, Light, Bread, Shepherd, Resurrection, Way, Vine, and Son. Read this chapter with the wider themes of incarnation, life, and light in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.
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