From: John T Stevenson (johnstevenson@juno.com)
Date: Fri Mar 14 1997 - 12:26:48 EST
<<Someone suggested that water often signifies cleansing. Therefore being
born of water indicates repentence.
This seems a bit eisagetical to me...>>>
Only if the same use is not to be found earlier in either John's writings
or in the Older Testament.
I would suggest that a search for a correct interpretation be linked to
the water/Spirit promise of Ezekiel 36:25-27... "I will sprinkle clean
water on you, and you will be clean..."
<<<My present feeling is that the water signifies the amniotic fluid we
swim in when we were in our mother's womb. Therefore, being born of
water means to be born physically>>>
While this view has the advantage of contrasting the fleash versus the
spirit (verse 6), the problem with such a view is that it seems to have
no Biblical support.
I doubt that we are to understand the words of Jesus in a vacuum.
They are meant to be understood by one who is familiar with the
Scriptures (as was Nicodemus).
John Stevenson
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