John 3

3 Jesus answered and said to him,*He does not waste time with the compliment, although it was true enough, but goes directly to a serious theological question. "Most assuredly I say to you, unless someone is begotten from Above,*The basic meaning of the Greek word here, ανωθεν, is ‘from up/above’. A lot of people who say that they have been ‘born again’ have never been begotten from Above. ‘Begotten’ refers to the cause; ‘born’ refers to the result—I take it that the Lord is talking about the cause. he is not able to see*Is ‘see’ just a synonym for ‘enter’ in verse 5 below, or is a difference intended? the kingdom of God." 4 Nicodemus says to Him: "How can a man be begotten, being old? He can’t enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?" 5 Jesus answered: "Most assuredly I say to you, unless someone is begotten by water*Why ‘water’? Some have understood this to refer to water baptism, but it seems more likely to me that it refers to the Word (see Ephesians 5:26, John 15:3, John 17:17). As it says in Romans 10:17, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." and Spirit he is not able to enter the kingdom of God.