Hmmmm context,context,context,How about TRANSLATION,TRANSLATION,
TRANSLATION and context.
Please remember the translators had their own prejudices when it came to theiri translating the Word of GOD.
Some had financial prejudices,others personal,and others legality.
Let us see about translating the Word of GOD in John 3:1-7 concentrating on verses 3 & 7.
This is from Youngs translation.
John 3:1 And there was a man of the Pharisees, Nicodemus his name, a ruler of the Jews,
John 3:2 this one came unto him by night, and said to him, `Rabbi, we have known that from God thou hast come--a teacher, for no one these signs is able to do that thou dost, if God may not be with him.'
John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, `Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born from above, he is not able to see the reign of God;'
John 3:4 Nicodemus saith unto him, `How is a man able to be born, being old? is he able into the womb of his mother a second time to enter, and to be born?'
John 3:5 Jesus answered, `Verily, verily, I say to thee, If any one may not be born of water, and the Spirit, he is not able to enter into the reign of God;
John 3:6 that which hath been born of the flesh is flesh, and that which hath been born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:7 `Thou mayest not wonder that I said to thee, It behoveth you to be born from above;
Being 'Born from above' is the better and more accurate translation.
Also the ' KINGSHIP ' of GOD would be a better and more accurate translation instead of 'kingdom'.
This Scripture is about the KINGSHIP of GOD not the kingdom,one is about the person of GOD Almighty,the other is about real estate.
To be born of water is physical.
A woman is about to give birth to her baby,the water breaks and the baby takes a ride down the water slide.
A man in a white coat takes the baby and startles the infant by slapping the babies bum.
Is this not being born of water.
The second birth constitutes the origin of the birth,that being from ABOVE.
This second birth has noting to do with FLESH and BLOOD, but rather with the TRIUNE GODHEAD.
ALL of the GODHEAD are involved with the NEW BIRTH of a person.
REPENTING of ones UNBELIEF towards YESHUA will result from the New birth.
