John 3:6
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Jesus isn't just saying that what's born naturally stays natural. He's drawing a stark contrast: "flesh" represents our entire inherited human nature, fully apart from God, while "spirit" represents the new, divine life given by the Holy Spirit. This highlights that the transformation Jesus offers isn't a minor adjustment, but a fundamental shift from one kind of existence to another.
Jesus is explaining to Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, that simply being part of God's chosen people or following religious laws isn't enough to enter God's kingdom. He emphasizes that true spiritual life requires a transformation, a "birth" that goes beyond our physical existence and worldly understanding. This verse highlights the fundamental distinction between human nature, bound by its earthly limitations, and a new spiritual reality imparted by God.
You're born, you live, you eventually pass away. But what does 'born of the flesh' really mean for our identity and our spiritual life?
Jesus starts by stating a fundamental truth: 'That which is born of the flesh is flesh.' This isn't just about biology; it's a declaration about the very nature of humanity apart from God's intervention.
The 'Flesh' Defined
Therefore, when something is 'born of the flesh,' it is inherently and inescapably of that nature. It doesn't have the capacity to please God or enter His kingdom on its own merits. It's like a plant: a tomato seed will always produce a tomato plant, never an apple tree.
If our natural birth leaves us as 'flesh,' how can we ever experience the 'spirit' that God desires?
The second half of the verse offers the astonishing contrast: 'and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.' This is the heart of Jesus' message to Nicodemus – the necessity of a divine impartation.
A New Kind of Life
Understand the original words
gennaō · Greek Verb
The process of bringing forth life; in a theological context, it refers to the beginning of existence or the origin of a person's nature. Being "born of" denotes the source or the generative power behind that life.
sarx · Greek Noun
In this context, it refers to the fallen, physical, and sinful human nature inherited from Adam, which is inherently incapable of pleasing God or entering His kingdom apart from divine intervention.
pneuma · Greek Noun
Refers to the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit, who is the divine agent of regeneration, life-giving power, and the transformation of the human heart.
This verse highlights the principle of inheritance, stating that Adam 'fathered a son in his own likeness, after his image,' directly supporting the idea that offspring resemble their parents. This resonates with John 3:6's 'born of the flesh is flesh,' illustrating how humanity passes down its inherent nature.
Romans 8:5-8Paul contrasts those who live according to the flesh with those who live according to the Spirit, mirroring John's distinction. This passage emphasizes that the mindset of the flesh is hostile to God, while the mindset of the Spirit is life and peace, reinforcing the core idea of John 3:6.
Galatians 5:16-17This passage describes the ongoing conflict between the desires of the flesh and the Spirit. It shows that these two 'natures' are in opposition, much like the two births described in John 3:6, where one is earthly and the other is divine.
1 Corinthians 15:47-49Paul draws a parallel between the first man, Adam (from the earth, and thus 'flesh'), and the last Adam, Christ (from heaven, and thus 'spiritual'). This echoes John 3:6's contrast between what comes from the earthly realm and what comes from the divine.
1 John 5:1ellicottJohn 3:6: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
(6) That which is born of the flesh is flesh. —The first step is to remind him of the law of likeness in natural generation. “Flesh,” as distinct from “spirit,” is human nature in so far as it is common with animal nature, consisting of the bodily frame and its animal life, feelings, and passions. “Flesh,” as opposed to “spirit,” is this nature as not under the guidance of the human spirit, whi…
vincentJohn 3:6: "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."
That which is born (τὸ γεγεννηένον)Strictly, that which hath been born, and consequently is now before us as born. The aorist tense (John 3:3, John 3:4, John 3:5, John 3:7), marks the fact of birth; the perfect (as here), the state of that which has been born (see on 1 John 5:18, where both tenses occur); the neuter, that which, states the principle in the abstract. Compare John 3:8, where th…
Jesus isn't just saying that what's born naturally stays natural. He's drawing a stark contrast: "flesh" represents our entire inherited human nature, fully apart from God, while "spirit" represents the new, divine life given by the Holy Spirit. This highlights that the transformation Jesus offers isn't a minor adjustment, but a fundamental shift from one kind of existence to another.
Jesus is explaining to Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, that simply being part of God's chosen people or following religious laws isn't enough to enter God's kingdom. He emphasizes that true spiritual life requires a transformation, a "birth" that goes beyond our physical existence and worldly understanding. This verse highlights the fundamental distinction between human nature, bound by its earthly limitations, and a new spiritual reality imparted by God.
Jesus is explaining to Nicodemus, a Jewish leader, that simply being part of God's chosen people or following religious laws isn't enough to enter God's kingdom. He emphasizes that true spiritual life requires a transformation, a "birth" that goes beyond our physical existence and worldly understanding. This verse highlights the fundamental distinction between human nature, bound by its earthly limitations, and a new spiritual reality imparted by God.
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This isn't about tweaking the old; it's about receiving a completely new, divine life that sets us apart and makes us children of God.
This verse states that 'everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God.' This connects the act of spiritual birth to faith in Christ, providing a foundational understanding of how one receives the 'spirit' mentioned in John 3:6.
"That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." — Jesus isn't just saying that what's born naturally stays natural. He's drawing a stark contrast: "flesh" represents our entire inherited human nature, fully apart from God, while "spirit" represents…
