Commentaries:
People's Commentary (NT)
John 3:8
The wind bloweth where it listeth, etc. Most commentators have held
that this means: "As the wind moves mysteriously, so does the Spirit,
and it breathes upon whom it will, effecting the inward change called
the birth of the Spirit arbitrarily". This view I believe due to a
wrong translation, sanctioned, not by Greek, but by current theology.
Let it be noted that: (1) Exactly the same Greek term "pneuma" is
rendered "wind" and "Spirit" in this verse. It is a violation of all
law that the same word should experience so radical a change of meaning
in the same sentence. (2) That the word "pneuma" is not translated
"wind" elsewhere, although it occurs scores of times in the New
Testament, but is always rendered "Spirit". (3) Another word in the
Greek, "anemos", is usually used to represent "wind". (4) The erroneous
idea creates a confusion of figures. It makes Christ to say: "The wind
bloweth where it listeth; so is (not the Spirit, but) every one born of
the Spirit". It affirms of him who is born just what is affirmed of the
wind, a thing the Savior never did. These facts are sufficient to show
that the rendering "wind" is wrong. All we have to do is to translate
"pneuma" here, as is done in the latter part of the verse and elsewhere
in the New Testament. The verse then reads: "The Spirit ("pneuma")
breathes where it pleases and thou hearest the voice thereof, but canst
not tell whence it comes nor whither it goes. So (by hearing its voice)
is every one born of the Spirit" ("pneuma"). The meaning is: The Spirit
breathes where it wills and you recognize its manifestation by its
voice; by the words spoken by men of God as the Holy Spirit gives them
utterance. You cannot tell whence the Spirit comes to whither it goes,
but you can hear its voice when it does come. "So", by hearing the
voice of the Spirit is every one born of the Spirit. He who receives by
faith the communications of the Spirit is born of the Spirit. The birth
of the Spirit is not the same thing as the gift of the Spirit. To those
who are born of the Spirit is given. "'Because' ye are sons, God hath
sent the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father"
(Galatians 4:6). Hence, in harmony with the above view, Peter says,
"Being born again, not by corruptible seed, but incorruptible, through
the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever" (1 Peter 1:23).
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Matthew 4:12
John 1:13
John 3:8
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