Commentaries:
People's Commentary (NT)
John 3:5
Except a man be born of water and [of] the Spirit, etc. Jesus does
not reply directly to the question of Nicodemus, but proceeds to give
more explicit statement concerning the new birth. One must be born of
water and of the Spirit. Whatever this may mean, it will be admitted by
all (1) that no one is a member of the kingdom of God until he is born
again; (2) that the Savior declares the impossibility of one entering
who is not born of water and of the Spirit. All agree that the birth of
the Spirit refers to the inward, or spiritual change that takes place,
and all candid authorities agree that "born of water" refers to
baptism. So Alford, Wesley, Abbot, Whitby, Olshausen, Tholuck, Prof.
Wm. Milligan, the Episcopal Prayer Book, the Westminister Confession,
the M. E. Discipline, and M. E. Doctrinal Tracts, and also the writers
of the early Church all declare. Alford says:
``All attempts to get rid of this have sprung from doctrinal
prejudices.'
Abbott says:
``We are to understand Christ as he expected his auditor to
understand him. John the Baptist baptized both Jew and
Gentile as a sign of purification by repentance from past
sins. Nicodemus would then have certainly understood by the
expression, "born of water", a reference to this rite of
baptism.'
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Matthew 4:12
John 1:13
John 3:5
John 3:7
Acts 8:15-16
Romans 8:14
Ephesians 4:24
Colossians 3:10
Titus 3:5
1 Peter 1:23
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