I'm reading John's gospel very, very slowly. I print out just one chapter, in a big font size from the King James version, because I like the weightiness of the words, and keep it - don't laugh - by the loo.
(One of my uncles insisted that the downstairs loo in his house should be wide enough to he could read The Times newspaper, back when it was a broadsheet, in comfort.)
So, anyway, I just read the same few verses, several times a day, until I think I've understood them reasonably well.
After a month I have just embarked upon chapter three;
There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
The 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.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Jesus 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.
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Nicodemus answered and said unto him, How can these things be?
In just a few verses we have a whole scene; Nicodemus arriving after dark - had he been busy all day, and this was the first chance he'd got? - or was he skulking through the shadows hoping no-one would see him visiting Jesus?
He comes seeking answers, and all he gets is riddles. Was he puzzled by Jesus's response? Or irritated?
Am I puzzled? Or am I irritated?
The first mention of the Spirit is, famously, right at the beginning of Genesis. Ruach Elohim. The Spirit, or Breath, of God hovering over the waters.
As someone who lives 'an oxygenated life', and spend every day adjusting oxygen flow rates according to whether I'm sitting, reading, playing the piano, wrestling with my Tax Return, cooking, washing up, walking, standing, getting dressed, etc, I am very interested in breath, and the Breath of God, the one as a living, breathing example of the other.
I'm going to need to spend a bit more time on these verses to try and get my head around them. I think reading other translations of this passage will help.
The more you ponder the words, the more you question them. They seem to be at odds with those who believe resurrection will be of the body entire, not just the spirit.
ReplyDeleteI don't honestly think this body I'm now in will be at all desirable at the resurrection. And which of the many stages of my life would be the best to spend eternity in? The whole idea of resurrection of the body doesn't make any sense to me! But, what ever happens, I have to trust it will be the very very, very best.
DeleteI just read it in my Douai version, amen instead of verily, but I find it equally baffling that the kingdom of God is reserved for the baptized. Maybe I need to hear more.
ReplyDeleteDoes one have to be made wet to be baptised? Paul also talks of the baptism of the spirit; will that also require water? I suspect the church one attends will have its own teaching to some extent. Baptism with water is associated in my mind with cleansing (of sin), so water makes sense. But the spirit? Well. I dunno.
DeleteI've read the passage again, it's amazing what one misses. 'Except a man be born of water and the spirit'. Well there it is. I guess here's where baptism of infants or adults stems from.
DeleteI love your idea of printing out one chapter at a time and really pondering it. Obviously I ponder but that method gives a different focus.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a good way ovvf slowing me down, giving space to the words.
DeleteI'm reading in Matthew these days but my second bookmark is in the gospel of John. I always find myself there and I just read that part of chapter 3 yesterday. I love my Good News translation and the Life Application Bible.
ReplyDeleteI liked reading your thoughts on that passage.
I started with 'The Message' version, but found it too 'skittish' - an odd choice of word to describe it, I know. So back to KJV, which I know is flawed and impenetrable. I do turn to GNB or RSV for help with some of the gnarlier bits
DeleteI love the beauty of the old King James Bible, and I've heard that it's one of the more reliable translations as every section was translated and independently checked by a huge body of scholars.
ReplyDeleteI had this discussion with my late mother. She said that she didn't need to be born again as she was always a Christian. I've heard people talk about the 'born again' part as being baptised - born again into the family of Christ. My uneducated feeling is that being born again is when a person consciously choses to follow Christ, taking a step into a new life.
Thank you for sharing this. I've been listening to prayers on the Church of England's website, but I think that I need to add some active Bible reading. Your posts, along with Angela's, do wonders for my faith.
I think I've read that since KJV was made, other and earlier copies of scripture have been found which have influenced scholars and translators. I'm not sure if the Dead Sea Scrolls aren't part of this.
DeleteTwo apps you might like to try are Prayasyougo, and Lectio, both free. I was recommended both by people I trust, and used them for a while (not at the same time!). I'm inclined to chop and change though!
I'm glad that Ang and I are useful to you.