John 3:5 - Born of Water and Spirit - Misinterpreted

   One key to remember in interpreting any scripture is context.   This can refer to the context of the passages surrounding it as the most important aspect.  But also the context of who is in the discussion and how they would have understood it.  Because it was written to them first and so they would have to understand it.  But also the context of the rest of scripture.  Basically does other sections of scriptures similar to this help to explain what it means? 

   Notice at this point there is nothing about our context and how it applies to us.  That's because placing ourselves and our context in the picture first is a cause for misinterpretation real quick.  Similar to people reading the news and then reading Revelations and trying to say that it's talking about this or that.  The problem is while things may look similar the rest of the passages would be true too and probably not even talking about those things.  You have to look at what it first meant to the hearers and readers it was written to first and understand it in that light.

  I chose this scripture for now because it was one I heard a pastor on the radio use.  Of course he used a shortened version of it:
       5. Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit.
  The pastor went on to talk about this meant you have to be baptized and believe to be saved.  My heart sank as I've seen this before on several occasions.   But he forgot an important part, context.  So let's add some more of the text and see what is being said.
      ^5.  Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. ⁶ Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. ⁷ You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You  must be born again.’ 
The text now makes it clear Jesus is talking about birth.  First the original birth, being born of water.  Then being born again of spirit.   Especially in light of making the comparison of flesh giving birth to flesh, and spirit giving birth to spirit.  Making a contrast.  There is nothing in this context at all that is talking about baptism at all.  

  If that isn't enough the rest of the context shows that what is required is that belief, or trust in Jesus is all that is required.  
¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

 1 John 5 uses similar language to speak of Jesus as coming by water and by blood. 

  So why do people get mixed up?  Lots of reasons.  Some are looking to find fault with the scripture. So instead of trying to actually make sense of what is being said they just look for anything they don't understand.   Another reason is I blame the churches for not doing their duty and teaching proper skills to interpret scripture.  Most books are written so close to our time frame and culture in history we understand pretty well.  But the Bible, while written for us it was written to people initially living many thousands of years ago in some cases, in a totally different culture and country.  So You have to understand that first.   Other reasons people are looking for something that already justifies what they believe already.   That is personal bias.  While we all have personal biases, that's a given.  We must understand what those biases are and attempt to set them aside and ask what does this scripture say outside of what I believe?   If our purpose is to find truth then it follows that the truth is there regardless of whether we believe it or not.  That and if the truth conflicts with what we believe we may have to change what we believe.  That is the hardest part.  Accepting the truth and then conforming to that truth and accepting it.    Another reason is people read one quick scripture without reading at least the chapter together.  Then quickly trying to say what it means without careful examination.   There are many other reasons I'm sure.  

 So why is scripture hard to understand in some cases and sometimes easy?   Well think of it this way.  Are you ready to understand all that is written in it?  Is there things you can understand?   Of course.  As you apply what you do understand then as you work through the things you don't become clearer.   Most people have spent their whole lives reading the Bible and even the best can say the more they learn the more they realize how little they do know.   The Bible is truly living and active.  As Mark Twain said "It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand."

 One book I highly recommend is "How To Read The Bible For All It's Worth" by Gordon D. Fee.  It's a small book not much bigger than your hand and very easy to read and understand.  It talks about these issues of context and all and on a level that most can understand.   Believe me it will go a long ways toward keeping you from going off on wild tangents and crazy interpretations as many do.