The Birth of Water and of the Spirit in John 3,5 as a Guarantor of Attainment of the Kingdom of God

Krystyna Kern

Uniwersytet Wrocławski
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3495-2697

Abstract

The article presents a new look at the subject of the birth of water and of the Spirit (John 3,5) which is necessary for attainment of the kingdom of God. It is a new birth for the Christian in his life. The explanation of the meaning of the birth of water and of the Spirit is difficult, because it is found only once in the Holy Bible (John 3,5). The pericope John 3,1-21 is compared with other texts of the Holy Scripture (especially with the Gospel of John, the Letter to the Galatians and the Book of Ezekiel). In the Gospel of John and the Letter to the Galatians it occurs an opposition between the flesh and the Spirit (John 3,6 and Gal 5,19-23). And also the meanings of works done in God (John 3,21) and of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5,22-23) can be the same. People who do the works of the flesh “shall not obtain (not inherit) the kingdom of God” (Gal 5,21). The text Gal 5,4-6 is very important, because it shows the importance of Christ and the Spirit in the Christian life. In the Book of Ezekiel God promises the sprinkling of clean water, a new heart, a new spirit and a gift of His Spirit (Ezek 36,25-27). Jesus Christ is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1,29) and “baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (John 1,33). In this work it is discussed the meanings of words “water” and “spirit” in the phrase “to born of water and the Spirit” (John 3,5).

Keywords:

birth of water and of the Spirit, Gospel of John, Letter to the Galatians, Book of Ezekiel, Jesus – Lamb of God, Holy Spirit, Nicodemus, John the Baptist