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Tag: John

Propriety in Worship of the Church – 1 Corinthians 14
Paul wanted his churches to exhibit a modesty and propriety recognized by the surrounding culture, especially in worship.

(1 Corinthians 14)

THE BAKER ILLUSTRATED BIBLE COMMENTARY P.1303

An Overview of Paul’s Epistle

Most outlines of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians include what we are about to read next under a smaller heading of ‘spiritual gifts’ or ‘the gifts of tongues and prophesy’ as part of a larger section of the epistle — as a conclusion of the previous chapters.

Remember that like our letters to anyone it had no chapters.

Without returning to my original introduction to 1 Corinthians, I would like to point to these larger points of Paul’s letter here:
Introduction & reason for writing to the Corinthians

Response to their questions [chaps. 7-16]

Recommendation of others & closing
One of the central cultural issues of propriety and order the Apostle has addressed in response to several Corinthian questions is that of the role of women.

Within the Apostle’s response to the Corinthian elders some of these issues include:

* Immorality in the Church (5:1–6:20)
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These issues applied to men certainly affect all women. 
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- But actually, I wrote you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister and is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or verbally abusive, a drunkard or a swindler. Do not even eat with such a person.
  - 1 Cor 5:2
- Flee sexual immorality! Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the person who is sexually immoral sins against his own body.
  - 1 Cor 6:18
Marriage in the Church (7:1–40)
- 3 A husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband.
- 10 To the married I give this command — not I, but the Lord — a wife is not to leave her husband.
Liberty in the Church (8:1–11:1)
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This section ends with Paul's personal example: 
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Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

AND — (as introduction to our current larger section of his epistle) — the Apostle continues by encouraging those who have done so.

Worship in the Church (11:2–14:40)

Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions just as I delivered them to you.

3 But I want you to know that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of the woman, and God is the head of Christ.

– 1 Corinthians 11:2-3 CSB

Intro to Apostolic instructions about Head Coverings
- Roles of Men and Women in the Church (11:2–16)
- The Lord’s Supper (11:17–34)
- Spiritual Gifts (12:1–14:40)
The Context of Worship – A.D. 55 or 2025 CE

As you can see, the Apostle has introduced this smaller section of his letter about spiritual gifts in the context of worship

AND that he has already addressed some of the roles of men and of women who worship the Lord Jesus Christ as the Apostle has ‘delivered‘ ‘the traditions’ to them.

What is propriety?
- for a first century Corinthian
- or (for example) a 21st c. Cincinnatian
This photo next to the BAKER commentary for 1 Corinthians 14 got my attention to focus back on
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the propriety and modesty of a classic Corinthian woman. 
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Propriety – conformity in socially acceptable conduct and speech, appropriateness, fear of offending against conventional rules of behavior especially between the sexes.

source

In light of this, consider propriety from the earlier BAKER quote.

At Corinth he [Paul] was particularly concerned about women’s reputation. For women modest draped clothing with a head covering was common. (see 1 Corinthians 11:2-16),

as seen here in a sculpture from 300 BC (Tanagra, Greece)

ibid.

Here is more background on the culture of Corinth named for a goddess descended from the Greek Titans [also pictured on our cover to this post].

In Greek mythology, Tethys was Consort of Oceanus, father of the river gods and goddesses including a Greek goddess who founded Corinth named Ephyra.

The Greeks and Romans honored many gods and goddesses of culture and worshipped these with some order and propriety, while worship of others included temple prostitutes, so much debauchery and excess witnessed in festive celebrations.

(Sound familiar, 21st c. christian?)

Yet the modesty of a proper woman is important to the Corinthians, both men and women, thus the Apostle’s insistence on the propriety of head-coverings in worship of the church.

What’s allowed in proprietary worship of God?

1 Corinthians 14:

Concerning Prophesy and Tongues

Pursue love and desire spiritual gifts, and especially that you may prophesy.

.. The person who prophesies is greater than the person who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets so that the church may be built up.

.. — since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, seek to excel in building up the church.

13Therefore the person who speaks in a tongue should pray that he can interpret.

Who’s in charge?
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Using several references from Paul's letters to the Corinthians in "DIVINE PROVIDENCE," STEPHEN CHARNOCK [pub. AD 1680, updated 2022] provides us with a helpful overview of the Apostle's thinking: 
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The edification of the church is the great end that we are commanded to work toward:
Stephen Charnock – DIVINE PROVIDENCE, p.146

Since you are eager for manifestations of the Spirit, strive to excel in building up the church.”

1 Cor, 14:13 – ibid.
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Then, under the heading 'The Gifts and Common Grace of Bad Men and Women' Charnock addresses Paul's order of propriety mentioned in this and other epistles. 
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God is the giver of gifts, Christ is the governor of those gifts, and all is for your sake.

ibid.

I find this particularly helpful.

Think of it:

God the Father (or because of their Oneness in substance, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) — who created ALL things —

charges CHRIST (Jesus, the Person of the Son of Man and Son of God) — THE CORNERSTONE of the Church — as its governor —

with perfect distribution of the gifts to the church — gifts that GOD has given to the church for the LORD’s divine purpose for the sake of those chosen before creation to worship him .
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Now think of Jesus' parable of the wheat and the tares for this next one: 
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There are some husks that come up among men and women, and God uses them to shelter the church in common works, and he [GOD] restrains these men and women through the knowledge of Christ.

God gives gifts to them out of love for his church, not out of love for them.

DIVINE PROVIDENCE, P.147

Get a grip on this: it’s not about YOU — God’s love is about HIS CHURCH.

REMEMBER, what the Apostle has just written?
- IF I [do any of so many things]
- BUT have NOT [agape {love}]
- I am nothing
- and I gain nothing.
To have and to hold Christian Love

Dearly beloved,

Do you take this bond of your church to have and to hold..?

OR is our desire to try out relationships of LOVE —

to try out church es

— NOT having or holding any commitment to Christ Jesus and His body the Church?

What then, brothers?
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We realize that this is not a politically correct question in this common era (and some English translations soften it), but Paul uses the Greek word ἀδελφός - adelphos - a masculine noun for brethren. 
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What then, brothers? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation.

Let all things be done for building up.

1 Corinthians 14:26 ESV

The Apostle, under Christ, under God addresses the men of the church — not the women saints of Corinth — as was proper in Corinthian culture.

The Apostle has addressed:
- quarreling among you, my brothers. (1:11)
- But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. (3:1)
- But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of.. [a long list of sins] (5:11)
Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

1 Corinthians 14:20 ESV

Order and Propriety

Each of you (brothers).. (not the sisters.. and not ONLY the pastor in charge under Christ).

What then is it, brothers? When you may come together, each has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation.

Let all things be done for edification.

1 Corinthians 14:26 Berean Literal Bible – [more study]
- Tongues?
  - two or three at most
  - in turn &
  - must have interpretation
- Prophets?
  - two or three
  - others weigh in on what is said
  - IF a personal revelation is made to one present, the man receiving it must remain silent.
  - all may profit by learn and be encouraged by (this kind of) prophesy
  - prophets are subordinate [hypotassōto] to each other
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Now do not be offended by Paul's next orderly instruction for worship — for it uses the same Greek word [hypotassō] — for the Corinthian women of propriety and modesty expected in worship. 
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For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

As in all the churches of the saints, the women should keep silent in the churches.

For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission , as the Law also says.

1 Corinthians 14:33-34 ESV

Note that the Apostle — who has been addressing order and propriety in worship throughout his epistle to the saints of Corinth — also speaks to ALL the CHURCHES [ekklēsia] of the SAINTS [hagios].

ARE YOU, beloved 21st century worshipers of the Lord Jesus Christ, not also His saints?

and we have believed,
and have come to know, that you are the Holy One [hagios] of God.”
Gospel of John 6:69 ESV – Simon Peter to the Lord Jesus
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Yes, the women of Corinth and of your 21st century church could be of the Holy Ones - saints - of God; so don't be offended by what the Apostle Paul next instructs the saints by the Spirit - even if God formed you as a woman. 
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If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.

1 Corinthians 14:35 ESV

Paul then proceeds to instruct ‘the brothers’ in those issues the apostle has already addressed, prophesies and spiritual gifts (essentially reiterating ‘listen to me about these things).

And the Apostle Paul’s conclusion to this large section of his letter to the Corinthian saints

— who are of course free from the Law (as servants of God, Christ and each other) —

But let all things be done properly and with order.

1 Corinthians 14:40 BLB
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And since Paul's epistle (like any letter) lacks chapters, what does the Apostle NEXT remind the Corinthians -- the saints of Christ's Church? 

About THE RESURRECTION. 
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Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel
May 8, 2025
From Palm Sunday to Pentecost
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No, your not looking at the wrong picture. 
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NEXT – Pentecost 2025 of the Common Era
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Doesn't Holy Week from Palm Sunday to EASTER look about the same every year? 
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I wrote a SERIES for Lent last year too — which of course culminated with Easter Sunday.

King for a Common Era Holy Week – 1
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Check it out (from Easter, 2024) if you'd like. 
SON-MAN RISEN! 
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And my LATEST POSTS in 2025 CE reflect an OLD TESTEMENT approach to LENT, also concluding with a look at Resurrection Sunday.

Our focus for EASTER 2025 CE has been from the Gospel of John (just before your familiar memorized verse).

Gospel of John 3:14 ESV

Lifted up + Earthly things you do not believe

But what did JESUS do next?

IF you have READ my 2025 CE EASTER post (above), then you may realize that the GOSPEL — in John’s case — has been preached for a number of years.

~ A.D. 85 – the Gospel of APOSTLE JOHN

Do the math and you will easily see that since Christ rose from death sometime around AD 30-33 according to most historical estimates, then EASTER had been celebrated by saints of The Way for OVER 50 YEARS by the time the Apostle recorded:
- his Gospel,
- three epistles to the Church and
- the Revelation of Jesus Christ to John!
  - – with specific mention of the witness of saints of seven churches as examples to us.
To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs,

appearing to them over a period of forty days

and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.

Acts of the Apostles 1:3 NASB95

φανερόω – JESUS Manifested

After this, Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples by the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way:

.. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Gospel of John 21:1 ,14 CSB

The Apostle Peter writes:

He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was revealed in these last times for you.

1 Peter 1:20 CSB

And last of all — as to the untimely birth — he appeared also to me, writes the Apostle Paul.

1 Corinthians 15:8 YLT
- JESUS’ historical crucifixion on a Roman cross is an undisputable fact.
- Christ’s resurrection after three days — in His recognizable resurrection body, with the wounds of the Cross –– and in the very Spirit of the same JESUS of Nazareth — the Son of Man known personally to hundreds of disciples and thousands of first century witnesses — is true and verifiable fact REJECTED by those who also deny the One Living God of all creation and all of its created.
“For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,

..but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

Gospel of John 17a,18b CSB

“Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.

Gospel of John 3:14-15 CSB

Lifted up + Earthly things you do not believe

Father, Son and Pentecost

John closes his proclamation and witness of Apostolic Good News:

This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his {Jesus’] testimony is true. And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which, if every one of them were written down, I suppose not even the world itself could contain the [scrolls] that would be written.

Gospel of John 21:24-25 CSB

JESUS also said,

“..The one who has seen me has seen the Father.

AND as you know from our 2025 Easter post, the Lord challenged Nicodemus:

“God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in Spirit and in truth.”

Now through the testimony of both Peter and John recorded by Luke in Acts of the Apostles we will glance at the Trinity and introduction of the Spirit on Pentecost ~AD 33.

40 days, and then Pentecost

And while they were gathered together, He commanded them: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift the Father promised, which you have heard Me discuss. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.

.. they watched as He was taken up, and a cloud hid Him from their sight.

[Two angels instructed the Eleven]

..” This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen Him go into heaven.”

Excerpt from ACTS of the Apostles 1 BSB
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Are you who do not believe intimidated by that? 

Perhaps you should believe in the Lord Christ Jesus, who will return finally for the Judgment. 
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The Holy Spirit at Pentecost –
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The following from Bible Hub Book Summary of ACTS 2: 

Please consider its Gospel application in your own brief mortal life. - RH 
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Acts 2 is a powerful chapter that introduces the Holy Spirit’s dynamic presence in the lives of believers and demonstrates the transformation it brings. The followers of Jesus move from being a fearful, waiting group to a bold, active community witnessing for Christ. The chapter underscores the compelling power of the Gospel message and the magnetic draw of a loving, unified, and Spirit-led community. This chapter serves as a timeless model for the Church, inspiring us to be led by the Spirit, devoted to God’s Word, committed to fellowship, and actively involved in meeting the needs of those around us.

On the Day of Pentecost, the disciples are together when a sound like a violent wind fills the house, and they see what seems to be tongues of fire that separate and rest on each of them. Filled with the Holy Spirit, they start to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enables them. A diverse crowd gathers, bewildered because each person hears their native language spoken. Some are amazed and wonder what it means, while others mock the disciples, suggesting they are drunk.

https://biblehub.com/bsb/acts/2.htm

πεντηκοστή – Pentecost = “the fiftieth day”

WE love festivals, don’t we? Pentecost was another festival that brought the Jews to Jerusalem a little over a month after the Passover feast.
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more... 
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- ~ AD 33
When the day of Pentecost had arrived, they were all together in one place.

ACTS of the Apostles 2:1 CSB
- ~ AD 55
Paul writes to the Corinthians,

“But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost,
- ~ AD 57
For Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, because he was hurrying to be in Jerusalem, if possible, for the day of Pentecost.

Acts of the Apostles 20:16 CSB

Sailing Home on the Aegean

The CHURCHES and their saints in every place have become dear to the Apostles — including Paul.

But for those early years after the RESURRECTION of the Lord Jesus Christ +++ Pentecost continued to provide evidence and witness of the Trinity – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Twenty years after Christ’s ascension now — twenty years after the first signs of the Holy Spirit in Jerusalem on Pentecost — and during the remaining years of the mortal lives of the Apostles PENTECOST provided the saints of The Way a gospel witness of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ — who will come again in GLORY at the last Day.

What’s NEXT in our witness to the world in 2025 CE?
- Lord-willing, in MAY 2025 TalkofJESUS series from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians will continue.
  - (We will not continue in Paul’s second letter.)
Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians – Featured Series
- 2025 CE Summer TOPICAL SERIES to be announced
- August 2025 – some personal updates from Roger Harned, our author and moderator of TalkofJESUS.com
- AND, of course, more DOCTRINE for your discernment
  - & SCRIPTURE as written with secure links to our sources from better theologians than me.
Talk of JESUS . com

Comment on Scripture – Share the Gospel

(You who believe)
April 30, 2025
Lifted up + Earthly things you do not believe
“.. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Gospel of John 3:14 ESV

Looking back to when Jesus was lifted up
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The following is a fictional first-hand account of John and his Gospel witness of three A.D. first century men so familiar to Christians that we may have missed the impact of the events of Holy Week on the New Testimony of their saved lives. 
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~ A.D. 85 – the Gospel of APOSTLE JOHN

You’ve just read from the beginning of my Gospel just published. By now everyone I mentioned in this introduction to the Lord Jesus Christ is long gone along with many more followers of the Way and Apostles.

As you know I was the youngest of the twelve. It’s been fifty years now since His resurrection. And those who were not murdered for our faith after Jerusalem’s destruction [in A.D. 70] just fifteen years ago have been buried in Christ. Yet we know that these live with Him in eternal life.

These include my brother James — and Jesus’ brothers. And in Rome, Simon Peter, my early mentor and close friend, — and our beloved Apostle Paul.

But today I want to tell you about two men — important men, in fact even more important than Paul at that time — older men of great honor and faithful leaders of the Pharisees in the Sanhedrin. Trouble was that if they would have followed Jesus openly back when they tried to speak up in their official capacities,

Caiaphas (who controlled all of the political outcomes and income in Jerusalem at that time) would have had them banned from the Temple for life. And even though their age dictated that these Elders should prepare their graves for the near future, Caiaphas probably would have had them stoned to death.

A.D. 30 – Joseph of Arimathea

After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission.

So he came and took away his body.

John 19:38 ESV

Nicodemus

Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.

John 19:39 ESV
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Although you know this Gospel well from the day of Jesus' crucifixion and burial, from an earlier time we will witness what these secretive disciples of Jesus from the Sanhedrin encountered when they came to Him privately. 
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Recall that Jesus had just raised Lazarus from the grave and called him out while the Jews were weeping for him. The witness of Lazarus had been the buzz of all Jerusalem when their Christ rode into town just five days earlier.

Throughout these previous three years of Jesus’ teaching and miracles many of the Jews of every class had believed in Him — and even some Samarians, Romans and Syrians.

Nicodemus (a few months earlier)

Gospel of John 7 excerpts

Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand..

,, But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private.,

,, Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him.,

About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching.
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Do you suppose that Joseph or Nicodemus would have missed this important feast? Of course not! These members of the Sanhedrin would have been expected to be in the Temple courts. 
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Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, and they say nothing to him!

Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Christ?

Gospel of John 7:25-26 ESV

Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring him?” The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”

The Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?
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A rhetorical question, no doubt, attempting to show consensus of the learned Rabbis of the Sanhedrin. But, an unexpected internal dissention: 
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“Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?”

John 7:51 – Question of Nicodemus to the ruling council
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Their mocking response is not unexpected. 
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“Are you from Galilee too? Search and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.”

Gospel of John 3:
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Please focus on the real men present and not present in this all-too-familiar Gospel. These are: 
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- Νικόδημος – Nicodemus
- Jesus
- θεός – theos – God
- πνεῦμα – pneuma – the Spirit
- υἱός ἄνθρωπος – huios anthrōpos – Son of Man
- Moses
- πᾶς – pas – whoever, everyone or all
- ἄνθρωπος – anthrōpos – men
  - [a human being, whether male or female]
  - likely, Joseph of Arimathea and other officials to whom Nicodemus returns with his secret report of the Gospel.
- The Apostle John possibly or other Disciples present with Jesus.
Let’s recall that John records this in his Gospel more than 50 years after Jesus’ crucifixion.

Jesus’ witness to Nicodemus and others would have been months or even a year or two prior to Christ’s crucifixion also in Jerusalem..

~ in the year of our Lord 28 or A.D. 29

“Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him.”

Gospel of John 3: 2b ESV
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Nicodemus, an esteemed Pharisee, is the man who calls Jesus, 'Rabbi' or 'teacher.' 

Pharisee is Of Hebrew origin cf פָּרַשׁ (H6567), A sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. 
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Rabbi, also of Hebrew origin, is a proper way to address certain Masters:
1. my great one, my honourable sir
2. Rabbi, a title used by the Jews to address their teachers (and also honour them when not addressing them)
“Truly, truly [amēn, amēn ], I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Gospel of John 3 ESV
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Jesus response clearly addresses the Kingdom of God (since this leading Pharisee has confessed that He is from God), for Jesus had in the past referred to these as 'blind guides.' 

But Nicodemus becomes clearly confused by Jesus' illustration.  So his response is literal (with no clear picture of God's Kingdom).
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“How can a man be born when he is old?

Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?”

John 3:4 – Nicodemus (who is old) asking Jesus how to be ‘born again.’

“Truly, truly [amēn, amēn ], I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

John 3:5-8 ESV

Born again – lifted up from the womb

Did Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea now see what Jesus had meant, connecting the Resurrection with a man born again?

Let’s look at Jesus’ 3-part response in more detail:
- ‘unless one is born of water [hydōr] and the Spirit pneuma {implying the Holy Spirit of God}]’
  - (two pre-requisites to enter God’s Kingdom)
- Born of: flesh [sarx] is [eimi] flesh and born of Spirit is spirit [pneuma eimi pneuma]
  - The Master teaching what is born of what [v.6]
  - Now, seeing his reaction, Jesus will expound on this teaching for understanding of His esteemed student.
7 “Do not be amazed that I told you [singular in Gk.] that you [plural in Gk.] must be born again. – CSV

Other translations of v.8 may also help your understanding.

the Spirit [pneuma also translated as ‘wind’] where he willeth doth blow – YLT (Note the person and his will, not simply a chance of a natural wind. )

his voice [phone Gk.] thou dost hear – YLT

you do not know where it comes from and where it is going.

SO [οὕτω(ς) eimi] is

[pas ho gennaō] everyone who is born

[ek ho pneuma] of the Spirit]

How can a man be born in the Spirit?

How can these things be?

“Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?
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Our Lord and Master once more responds with compassion and an example from Scripture. 
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Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen,

but you[plural in the Gk, of the ruling Jews and not specifically Nicodemus] do not receive [accept, in some translations] our testimony.

Do you accept our witness [martyria]?

So this becomes the closing question of Jesus to Nicodemus.

If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.

Gospel of John 3:12 and 13 ESV

Who IS Jesus? The Son of Man, the Christ?

Nicodemus had met the Son of Man face to Face back then. And now the next thing Jesus said of Himself made more sense to Joseph, him and other believers familiar with the Books of Moses.

And the people spoke against God and against Moses, – Numbers 21

Then the LORD sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died.

And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, [repentance] for we have spoken against the LORD and against you. Pray to the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us.”

So Moses prayed for the people.

[And Jesus has interceded for all who repent and ask Him to intercede before God the Father. — Washed of sin — baptized – changed permanently by the Spirit]

And the LORD said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.”

Numbers 21:8 ESV

The Son of Man lifted up!

“even so must the Son of man be lifted up..

What must Nicodemus have thought?

And what must those faithful Jews have wondered — even those so bold as Joseph of Arimathea after Christ’s crucifixion – to see the Son of Man LIFTED UP on a ROMAN CROSS?

“.And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness,

so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Gospel of John 3:14-15 ESV

Yet can the grave hold the Son of Man?

The Road to Calvary

Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.

So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

Gospel of John 19:39-42 ESV

Picking up in John’s fictional re-telling of Jesus’ burial and also in his Gospel:

~ A.D. 85. John’s reflection on Jesus’ resurrection

On the third day of Jesus’ burial Mary of Magdala returned to the tomb just before dawn.

The stone had been rolled away, its seal broken and no Roman guards present anywhere!

She ran back to get Simon. I ran with them back to the garden tomb where I stooped to look in the cave and saw the linen cloths lying there. Then I turned to Peter as he went inside.

When I followed him I also saw the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head by itself, folded up in a place away from the stacked linen cloths,

Then I was certain that the Lord was no longer there.

fictional paraphrase from John 20

Mary remained behind as Simon and I ran back into town.

Then in the tomb she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain.

(Neither Simon nor I had seen them, but Mary shared this angelic conversation with us later.)

She then turned around and saw a man standing outside the tomb. He asked the same question of her as the two angels,

“Woman, why are you weeping?” Then the man inquired, ’tis zēteō,’ that is, “Whom are you seeking?”

Then she addressed him, kyrios (which generally means, Lord) — “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

But then, she reported the man’s reply she heard in a familiar voice:

“Μαρία” (Maria or Mary)

“Rabbouni (Rabbi) , she answered Jesus in Hebrew.

Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father” and sent her to us with some additional instructions.

fictional paraphrase of John 20:15-18

Peter and I somehow missed Him too, but our Lord was there in the flesh — alive and breathing!

Later that evening

We were still afraid that the Jews would come after us too, especially Peter. We had locked the doors of our upper room in Jerusalem.

שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם לְךָ

“Peace, Peace to you.”

It was the Lord Jesus greeting us as He stood suddenly with us in this locked room!

Then He showed them his hands and his side — a gash through each hand, open yet without blood — and a long upward rip into His right ribs, again without blood. Our risen Lord, who the Romans and Jews had lifted up nailed to a Cross — our friend and Master whom we had laid in a tomb — RAISED UP and in our very presence — in Person!

And then Jesus said again,

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”

Then the Lord breathed on the ten of us and said,

“Receive the Holy Spirit.

(I cannot explain the sudden warm breath which lit on my head and infused my flesh.) Then He continued,

“If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

Monday, a week later

Jesus appeared to us again, except this time Thomas had returned. Once again the doors were locked.

שָׁלוֹם לְךָ

“Peace be with you.”

““Put your finger here, and see my hands,” He said to Thomas. And after Thomas obeyed our Master Jesus also said, “Put out your hand, and place it in my side.

Do not disbelieve, but believe.”

(We were all amazed — still — and meek before Him as if God the Father was in our midst in the Son of Man who had suffered this injustice — for us — and for those of you who now believe.)

Later we would return to Galilee as the Lord commanded, home once –l but now just one more place where our risen Rabbi Jesus, the Christ of God would again teach us why He had been lifted up for our sake from the words of Scripture we had heard for years and yet did not fully understand because He had not yet anointed us with the Holy Spirit.

Christ IS Risen!

He taught us for fifty days more that we may proclaim the Gospel to those who believe.

Do you believe?

Jesus was lifted up on a cross in order that your sins may be forgiven

AND

that you might be born again — in water and in Spirit.

Celebrate His Resurrection +++ Have a blessed Easter.
April 20, 2025