I’ve written about John 3:16 before. It is in the context of a night-time visit from Nicodemus, a leader in the Sanhedrin. We could spend weeks on the early verses of John 3, but today I’m struck by a play on words that Jesus and John make use of in Greek that isn’t immediately obvious in English.
The Greek word translated Spirit in John 3:5 is πνεῦμα (pneuma). In other places, the same word is translated “wind” or “breath.” Jesus uses that in John 3:8, and you can see the translators struggle with what he means at which point. Compare these two:
“God’s Spirit blows wherever it wishes. You hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. It’s the same with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8, CEB)
Then
The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit. (John 3:8, NIV)
He almost literally says, “Pneuma pneumas wherever it pleases.” (Greek grammar renders it technically differently, for those scholars reading this.) It could be “Spirit breathes” or “God’s breath spirits” or any number of combinations.
In church this coming Sunday, we will focus on what is implied in the term “born again.” We will point out that birth happens to us. It’s not something we do. In that context, what a powerful metaphor-within-a-metaphor it is to recognize this common fact: we do not act; we are acted upon.
May God breathe on you this week!
Share this with someone who needs encouragement.