{"id":127,"date":"2012-05-14T21:38:31","date_gmt":"2012-05-14T15:38:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/intelligent-torvalds.74-208-171-134.plesk.page\/?p=127"},"modified":"2026-04-13T09:17:57","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T14:17:57","slug":"a-monotonous-cycle-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/?p=127","title":{"rendered":"A Monotonous Cycle, Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/a>I have considered a passage in the Bible that seemed at first glance like a laundry list of Solomon\u2019s wealth and power<\/a>.\u00a0 I added more biblical background and found the same passage a fulfillment of God\u2019s promise to Solomon. \u00a0Then I read more and the laundry list became an indictment of Solomon\u2019s reign as king.\u00a0 I studied deeper to see if I could be persuaded that Solomon\u2019s wealth could be both a fulfillment of God\u2019s promise and a direct violation of his requirements for Israel\u2019s kings.\u00a0 <\/a>But the mere quantity of biblical passages I bring to bear on a particular passage isn\u2019t the only thing that can alter my interpretation.\u00a0 <\/a>The state\u2014of mind, I\u2019ll say, to begin this discussion\u2014of the interpreter also plays a role (John 3:1-3 NET).<\/p>\n

Now a certain man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council, came to Jesus1<\/sup><\/a> <\/em>at night and said to him, \u201cRabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. \u00a0For no one could perform the miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.\u201d\u00a0 Jesus2<\/sup><\/a> <\/em>replied, \u201cI tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above (\u1f04\u03bd\u03c9\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd<\/a>)<\/em>, he cannot see (\u1f30\u03b4\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd<\/a>, a form of\u00a0\u03b5\u1f34\u03b4\u03c9<\/a>) <\/em>the kingdom of God [Table<\/a>]<\/em>.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

<\/a>When I was a philosophical and legalistic young man fighting my way back from atheism, Jesus\u2019 response seemed different than it does today.\u00a0 The Bible I read at that time translated \u1f04\u03bd\u03c9\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd again<\/em> rather than from above<\/em>, and it never even occurred to me to consider any literal meaning for he cannot see the kingdom of God<\/em>.\u00a0 I was absolutely convinced<\/a> that Jesus told Nicodemus he must be born again or he would burn in hell for all eternity.\u00a0 Then I had to imagine all manner of evil acts and intentions and impute them to Nicodemus to justify Jesus\u2019 unconscionable rudeness to him.\u00a0 Later, my Bible still read born again<\/em> but born from above<\/em> was a possible translation according to a footnote.\u00a0 It still didn\u2019t occur to me to consider a more literal interpretation of he cannot see the kingdom of God<\/em>. \u00a0Today, my Bible reads born from above<\/em> and a footnote alerts me that the Greek word translated above<\/em> can also mean again<\/em>.\u00a0 It even points out two other usages of the same word in the same chapter where the meaning is clearly from above<\/em>.3<\/sup><\/a><\/p>\n

When John the Baptizer\u2019s followers were concerned that more people were beginning to follow Jesus than John, the Baptizer replied: The one who comes from above<\/em> (\u1f04\u03bd\u03c9\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd<\/a>) is superior<\/em> (\u1f10\u03c0\u03ac\u03bd\u03c9<\/a>) to all.\u00a0 The one who is from the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things.\u00a0 The one who comes from heaven is superior<\/em> (\u1f10\u03c0\u03ac\u03bd\u03c9<\/a>) to all<\/em>.4<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 Perhaps the one who comes again <\/em>is also superior to all, but the comparison of earthly and heavenly things here clearly favors above<\/em> as the more appropriate translation.<\/p>\n

<\/a>So if Jesus and Nicodemus had their conversation in Greek, their miscommunication is perfectly understandable.\u00a0 Nicodemus assumed \u1f04\u03bd\u03c9\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd<\/a> meant again<\/em>, and asked, How can a man be<\/em> born when he is old?<\/em>5<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 And Jesus, who intended born from above<\/em>, spoke of being born of water and the spirit:6<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the <\/em>Spirit<\/a> is spirit.\u00a0 Do not be amazed that I said to you, \u2018You must all be born from above.\u2019<\/em>7<\/sup><\/a>\u00a0 If Jesus and Nicodemus didn\u2019t have this conversation in Greek, their miscommunication was a literary invention of the author John (the Apostle, not the Baptizer).\u00a0 The first time I ever considered a literal meaning for he cannot see the kingdom of God<\/em> was also the first time I asked:\u00a0\u201cWhy would the author of the Gospel of John invent this miscommunication?\u201d<\/p>\n

How often do people witness the same circumstances, situations or events? one sees fate, another luck, or chance, good breeding, superior skill, greater knowledge, while the other sees the hand of God.\u00a0 To be born again, born from above, born of the spirit\u2014the Apostle Paul used the analogy of Jesus\u2019 crucifixion, burial and resurrection\u2014all describe the transformation that begins in someone who believes that Jesus is the Christ or Messiah sent by God. \u00a0Apart from that transformation, though the kingdom of God may be all around, one cannot see it.\u00a0 Jesus didn\u2019t threaten Nicodemus with eternal damnation, but made a simple statement of fact.\u00a0 Nicodemus was not entirely blind to spiritual interpretations.\u00a0 He saw Jesus\u2019 miraculous signs as the hand of God, rather than magic tricks or outright lies.\u00a0 But he did not yet see Jesus as anything more than a teacher sent from God.<\/p>\n

Suddenly whether Jesus and Nicodemus spoke Greek or whether John invented their miscommunication for emphasis and example seemed unimportant to me.\u00a0 The faith one has affects one\u2019s interpretation of the meaning of scripture as it does the meaning of life in general.\u00a0 And this exchange between Jesus and Nicodemus highlighted that fact.\u00a0 When an atheist reads the Bible is it entirely surprising if he finds no god there?\u00a0 I might ask why an atheist would bother reading the Bible in the first place.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Addendum<\/strong>: October 29, 2018
\nTables comparing John 3:2<\/a> and 3:5<\/a> in the NET and KJV follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/a>John 3:2 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

John 3:2 (KJV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

came to Jesus at night and said to him, \u201cRabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. \u00a0For no one could perform the miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.\u201d<\/td>\nThe same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

NET Parallel Greek<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Stephanus Textus Receptus<\/a><\/td>\n\n

Byzantine Majority Text<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u03bf\u1f57\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u1f26\u03bb\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u1f78\u03c2 \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1f78\u03bd<\/a> \u03bd\u03c5\u03ba\u03c4\u1f78\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03b5\u1f36\u03c0\u03b5\u03bd \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1ff7\u00b7 \u03c1\u03b1\u03b2\u03b2\u03af, \u03bf\u1f34\u03b4\u03b1\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u1f45\u03c4\u03b9 \u1f00\u03c0\u1f78 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6 \u1f10\u03bb\u03ae\u03bb\u03c5\u03b8\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b4\u03ac\u03c3\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2\u00b7 \u03bf\u1f50\u03b4\u03b5\u1f76\u03c2 \u03b3\u1f70\u03c1 \u03b4\u03cd\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c4\u03b1\u1fe6\u03c4\u03b1 \u03c4\u1f70 \u03c3\u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u1fd6\u03b1 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd \u1f03 \u03c3\u1f7a \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b5\u1fd6\u03c2, \u1f10\u1f70\u03bd \u03bc\u1f74 \u1f96 \u1f41 \u03b8\u03b5\u1f78\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4\u1fbf \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6<\/td>\n\u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b7\u03bb\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03c4\u03bf\u03bd<\/a> \u03b9\u03b7\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd<\/a> <\/strong>\u03bd\u03c5\u03ba\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03b9\u03c0\u03b5\u03bd \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03c9 \u03c1\u03b1\u03b2\u03b2\u03b9 \u03bf\u03b9\u03b4\u03b1\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u03bf\u03c4\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c0\u03bf \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b5\u03bb\u03b7\u03bb\u03c5\u03b8\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b4\u03b1\u03c3\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bf\u03c5\u03b4\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b3\u03b1\u03c1 \u03c4\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03b1 \u03c4\u03b1 \u03c3\u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1 \u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd \u03b1 \u03c3\u03c5 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b5\u03b1\u03bd \u03bc\u03b7 \u03b7 \u03bf \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5<\/td>\n\u03bf\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b7\u03bb\u03b8\u03b5\u03bd \u03c0\u03c1\u03bf\u03c2 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03bd \u03bd\u03c5\u03ba\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03b9\u03c0\u03b5\u03bd \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03c9 \u03c1\u03b1\u03b2\u03b2\u03b9 \u03bf\u03b9\u03b4\u03b1\u03bc\u03b5\u03bd \u03bf\u03c4\u03b9 \u03b1\u03c0\u03bf \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b5\u03bb\u03b7\u03bb\u03c5\u03b8\u03b1\u03c2 \u03b4\u03b9\u03b4\u03b1\u03c3\u03ba\u03b1\u03bb\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bf\u03c5\u03b4\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b3\u03b1\u03c1 \u03c4\u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03b1 \u03c4\u03b1 \u03c3\u03b7\u03bc\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1 \u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd \u03b1 \u03c3\u03c5 \u03c0\u03bf\u03b9\u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b5\u03b1\u03bd \u03bc\u03b7 \u03b7 \u03bf \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bc\u03b5\u03c4 \u03b1\u03c5\u03c4\u03bf\u03c5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

<\/a>John 3:5 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

John 3:5 (KJV)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Jesus answered, \u201cI tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.<\/td>\nJesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n
\n

NET Parallel Greek<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

Stephanus Textus Receptus<\/a><\/td>\n\n

Byzantine Majority Text<\/a><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\u1f00\u03c0\u03b5\u03ba\u03c1\u03af\u03b8\u03b7\u00a0 \u1f38\u03b7\u03c3\u03bf\u1fe6\u03c2\u00b7 \u1f00\u03bc\u1f74\u03bd \u1f00\u03bc\u1f74\u03bd \u03bb\u03ad\u03b3\u03c9 \u03c3\u03bf\u03b9, \u1f10\u1f70\u03bd \u03bc\u03ae \u03c4\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bd\u03b7\u03b8\u1fc7 \u1f10\u03be \u1f55\u03b4\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u1f76 \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u03cd\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2, \u03bf\u1f50 \u03b4\u03cd\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u1f30\u03c3\u03b5\u03bb\u03b8\u03b5\u1fd6\u03bd \u03b5\u1f30\u03c2 \u03c4\u1f74\u03bd \u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u03af\u03b1\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u1fe6 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u1fe6<\/td>\n\u03b1\u03c0\u03b5\u03ba\u03c1\u03b9\u03b8\u03b7 \u03bf<\/a> <\/strong>\u03b9\u03b7\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03b1\u03bc\u03b7\u03bd \u03b1\u03bc\u03b7\u03bd \u03bb\u03b5\u03b3\u03c9 \u03c3\u03bf\u03b9 \u03b5\u03b1\u03bd \u03bc\u03b7 \u03c4\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bd\u03b7\u03b8\u03b7 \u03b5\u03be \u03c5\u03b4\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u03c5\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bf\u03c5 \u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03b9\u03c3\u03b5\u03bb\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd \u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03c5<\/td>\n\u03b1\u03c0\u03b5\u03ba\u03c1\u03b9\u03b8\u03b7 \u03b9\u03b7\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5\u03c2 \u03b1\u03bc\u03b7\u03bd \u03b1\u03bc\u03b7\u03bd \u03bb\u03b5\u03b3\u03c9 \u03c3\u03bf\u03b9 \u03b5\u03b1\u03bd \u03bc\u03b7 \u03c4\u03b9\u03c2 \u03b3\u03b5\u03bd\u03bd\u03b7\u03b8\u03b7 \u03b5\u03be \u03c5\u03b4\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03ba\u03b1\u03b9 \u03c0\u03bd\u03b5\u03c5\u03bc\u03b1\u03c4\u03bf\u03c2 \u03bf\u03c5 \u03b4\u03c5\u03bd\u03b1\u03c4\u03b1\u03b9 \u03b5\u03b9\u03c3\u03b5\u03bb\u03b8\u03b5\u03b9\u03bd \u03b5\u03b9\u03c2 \u03c4\u03b7\u03bd \u03b2\u03b1\u03c3\u03b9\u03bb\u03b5\u03b9\u03b1\u03bd \u03c4\u03bf\u03c5 \u03b8\u03b5\u03bf\u03c5<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\n
A Monotonous Cycle, Part 3<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to A Monotonous Cycle, Part 5<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 2<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 26<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to You Must Be Gentle, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Fear – Genesis, Part 7<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Son of God – John, Part 2<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Apostles and Prophets, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Forgiven or Passed Over? Part 2<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 9<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Hypocrisy<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Atonement, Part 2<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Ezra and Divorce<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 24<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Forgiven or Passed Over? Part 2<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Condemnation or Judgment? Part 11<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Condemnation or Judgment? Part 16<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 9<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Peter’s First Gospel Proclamation Revisited, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to A Monotonous Cycle Revisited – Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Romans, Part 91<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 2<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 14<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to A Monotonous Cycle Revisited, Part 3<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Fear – Deuteronomy, Part 15<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to The Book of Life, Part 2<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Nothing True, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Nothing True, Part 3<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Who Am I? Part 14<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Keep Yourselves from Idols, Part 1<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to 3 John, Part 2<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to 3 John, Part 7<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
Back to Balaam, Balak and the 24,000, Part 4<\/em><\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n

1<\/sup><\/a> The NET parallel Greek<\/a> text, NA28<\/sup><\/a> and Byzantine Majority Text<\/a> had \u03b1\u1f50\u03c4\u1f78\u03bd<\/a> here, where the Stephanus Textus Receptus<\/a> had \u03c4\u03bf\u03bd<\/a> \u03b9\u03b7\u03c3\u03bf\u03c5\u03bd<\/a> (KJV: Jesus<\/em>).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

2<\/sup><\/a> The Stephanus Textus Receptus<\/a> and Byzantine Majority Text<\/a> had the article \u03bf<\/a> preceding Jesus<\/em>.\u00a0 The NET parallel Greek<\/a> text and NA28<\/sup><\/a> did not.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

3<\/sup><\/a> John 3:7 and 31<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

4<\/sup><\/a> John 3:31 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

5<\/sup><\/a> John 3:4 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

6<\/sup><\/a> John 3:5 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

7<\/sup><\/a> John 3:6, 7 (NET)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I have considered a passage in the Bible that seemed at first glance like a laundry list of Solomon\u2019s wealth and power.\u00a0 I added more biblical background and found the same passage a fulfillment of God\u2019s promise to Solomon. \u00a0Then … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,5],"tags":[85,86,87,1509],"class_list":["post-127","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-a-monotonous-cycle","category-what-kind-of-carpenter-is-jesus","tag-john-31-3","tag-john-331","tag-john-34","tag-john-36-7"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=127"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":29510,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/127\/revisions\/29510"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=127"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=127"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/religiousmind.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=127"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}