Jesus was addressing Nicodemus a Jew and a Pharisee as you all know. When it came to the salvation issue the primary thing Jesus addressed with them was the fact that they thought their salvation was tied up in being a son of Abraham or being a Jew. This is what Jesus is addressing in John chapter 3. He was setting Nicodemus straight on where their salvation really comes from and that is was not a birth right simply because they were the children of Abraham, in other words being a Jew. (John 8:33)
When we take a look at verse 5 of chapter 3 we need to also, at the same time, look at verse 6. Water is therefore a reference to the physical birth because or supposed birth right of the Jews. Jesus is telling Nicodemus that it is not true that all you have to do is be born a Jew. Jesus goes on to say that you must also be born from above.
In verse 6 Jesus reiterates this when he says "That which is born of the flesh is flesh;[born of water] and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."[born of the Spirit]
That is my position. Now as to whether or not some other position is what "most" scholars believe, well usually that means most scholars that "I" read. Such claims are an informal fallacy known as the bandwagon fallacy.
Thank you Rev. I wondered why people held it to be physical birth, and you explained your position well. Another point is that if Jesus was saying one must be born of water and one must be born of spirit then he could be contrasting that new birth with the physical.
I disagree with you for a few reasons.
First, I believe the explanation to be within the immediate context of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus. I do not understand how Nicodemus would connect being born of water with physical birth, or being born of Abraham. The connection of John 8:33 would be reverse (it cannot be made in terms of explaining the new birth to Nicodemus because it is a portion of later conversation). Even if it were connected, there is no evidence that a Jew would understand being “born of water” as physical birth.
Second, as Van points out the imagery of water is connected to salvation (not physical birth) in Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well. Van also notes the cleansing aspect in Ephesians 5:26.
Third, Jesus gives Nicodemus the information that he (being a religious leader of that time) would be looking for. The divide between Sadducees, Pharisees, and Essenes included a disagreement on how one fulfilled God’s requirements under the Old Covenant. They were looking at what they must do, essentially (although not technically) to be saved. If this is the context in which the conversation takes place, then Nicodemus’ replies make sense as legitimate replies (rather than sarcasm or a misunderstanding).
Fourth, I believe it is more likely that Jesus takes on a method He uses throughout Scripture - that is, He makes a statement and then expounds on that statement. If I am correct, then Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be “born again.” Nicodemus does not understand how this is possible, and Jesus clarifies by telling him he must be “born of water and Spirit.” This birth (water & Spirit) is another way of saying “born again,” but it is a way of saying it that Nicodemus would immediately understand.
Fifth, and I admit this is a weaker point, being “born of water and Spirit” as a single birth would correspond to the singular birth of being “born again.” If it is a physical and spiritual birth it would not.
Sixth, verse 8 alludes to (I believe) Ezekiel 37 when God has Ezekiel prophesy, saying “come from the four winds, O Breath, and breathe on these slain.” This vision is illustrating what Ezekiel had just said in the previous chapter - God will sprinkle clean water on them, and they will be clean; He will cleanse them from all their filthiness; He will put a new spirit within them; He will put His Spirit within them.
I believe that Jesus was pointing Nicodemus to a passage that he knew well, but had misunderstood all of his life. He was telling Nicodemus that nothing he did could merit a righteous standing with God or put him in the position of inheriting a blessing rather than a curse under the Old Covenant (through which he was trying to have a right standing). What had to happen was a rebirth...that is, God must cleans you of your unrighteousness and put a new spirit in you.
