John 1:13 TSK

Were

Jesus said to him, "Truly, truly, I tell you, a person cannot see the kingdom of God [i.e., enter it. See verse 5], unless he is born from above [Note: The words "from above" are also used in verse 31, but in this place they could also mean "again," or "anew" and refer to the source of a person's second birth].

It was God's purpose to bring us into being [spiritually] by the message of truth, so that we could become a kind of "firstfruits" of those He created. [Note: "Firstfruits" here suggests either that Christians are the best of all of God's creatures (Num. 18:12), or that they were the first to be converted, with many more to come].

God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, is to be praised for being so merciful as to have given us a new birth, which provides for us a hope of never ending life through the means of Jesus Christ's return from the dead.

[So], like newly born babies, you should desire the genuine, spiritual milk [i.e., God's word. See Heb. 5:12-13], so that by it you may grow toward [final] salvation,

No one who has been [spiritually] conceived [and eventually born] by God continues to live a sinful life, because God's seed [i.e., His word, See Luke 8:11] continues to live in his heart, so he cannot [continue a life of] sin, because he has been conceived by God.

Loved ones, we should have love for one another, because love comes from [the very nature of] God, and every person who [continually] loves [others] has been [spiritually] conceived by God [See 2:29; 3:9], and knows [he is in fellowship with] God.

Every person who believes that Jesus is the Christ [i.e., God's specially chosen one] has been [spiritually] conceived [and eventually born] by God. And everyone who [continually] loves God, who did the conceiving, also [must continually] love the person whom God has [spiritually] conceived.

Nor of the will of the

And that is not all, but Rebecca also conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac.

Nor of the will of man

I am telling [you] the truth in Christ [i.e., since I am a Christian]; I am not lying. My conscience, [confirmed] by the Holy Spirit, supports my statements [as true],

Brothers, my heart's desire and [fervent] request to God is for the salvation of my fellow-Jews. [See 9:3-4].

I [Paul] planted [i.e., preached God's word], Apollos watered [it], but God made it grow.

for it is God who is at work in you, both to motivate the desire and to carry out what pleases Him.

It was God's purpose to bring us into being [spiritually] by the message of truth, so that we could become a kind of "firstfruits" of those He created. [Note: "Firstfruits" here suggests either that Christians are the best of all of God's creatures (Num. 18:12), or that they were the first to be converted, with many more to come].

Of god

Whoever is born from human parents is a human being; and whoever is born from the Holy Spirit is a spiritual being.

He saved us, not because of any good deeds we ourselves had done, but because of His mercy. [He saved us] through the washing of new birth [Note: This refers to our immersion in water] and the renewing [work] of the Holy Spirit,

And now, little children [i.e., dear ones], continue to live in [fellowship with] Christ, so that when He appears, we may have boldness and not have [any reason] to be ashamed in front of Him at His [second] coming.

General references

For even Jesus' [half-] brothers did not believe in Him [i.e., at that time].

The person who belongs to God listens to the message from God. The reason you will not listen to it is because you do not belong to God."

So then, it does not depend on what a person wants or does, but on God, who shows pity [i.e., to whomever He wants].

For all of you are children of God through your faith in Christ Jesus [as God's only Son].

John 1:13

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

Were

Nor of the will of the

Nor of the will of man

Of god

General references

Bible References

Were

Nor of the will of the

Nor of the will of man

Of god

General references