water

[Pamelasv]

In readings in the new testament I have believed that water is the Word of God. As somewhere it says 'having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word.' In John 2:5, it says, 'Jesus answered, "Truly truly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God."

My question is, since in the beginning of John it says, 'In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God." Well, God is the Word, how can you be born of both the water and the Spirit." Hope I don't sound like I'm slitting hairs, but was wondering if Jesus is actually talking about two separate things here. Just like at the end of this gospel Jesus is pierced with water coming out of His side. What is that supposed to represent, or signify exactly?

[Zemke]

Water is more associated with the Holy Spirit as is oil. 

 

What you have in John is the temporal vs, the eternal. Nicodemus is thinking physical and temporal while Jesus is speaking spiritual and eternal. 

A few chapters later ch 6 Jesus is speaking of Himself as the Bread of Life, the word made flesh is food. Once again in that passage Jesus is speaking spiritually and the people thinking physical. Jesus is all about thinking from a heavenly perspective, it's one of the reasons we all have struggles understanding His teachings. 

 

"How can I climb back into my mothers womb?"

 

We must be careful to not make doctrine from types but allow types to illuminate doctrine. It's easy for us to force meaning into a passage when the passage itself renders the understanding. In this case water is referring to natural, physical birth. 

[Littlelambseativy]

That is lterally " if one is born from above...." By the Holy Spirit" remember Jesus is the Word ..He is the Word that God spoke everything into being. Jesus. Jesus, the Word does the Father's will.

[Zemke]

When we start interpreting scripture through type we can come up with many ideas and we do. It is called gnosticism and what happens many times is the baby gets thrown out with the bath water and further understanding through types is nullified. 

 

The transubstantiation bread and wine becoming flesh and blood is a good example of wrong application and understanding of typology.

 

The old testament is ripe with understanding types.

 

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet"

"And a light unto my path"

Psalm 119:105

 

The virgins had lamps, parable matth 25-25 the lamp represents the Word. 

The Word of God interprets the Word of God. Any interpretation or idea of understanding must be represented by the whole.

 

I've heard it explained like this.

 

Take a loaf of bread and slice it anywhere you like and it will be the same, one end or the other or in the middle. 

[Marilyn C]

In readings in the new testament I have believed that water is the Word of God. As somewhere it says 'having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word.' In John 2:5, it says, 'Jesus answered, "Truly truly I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God."

My question is, since in the beginning of John it says, 'In the beginning was the Word, and the word was with God, and the Word was God." Well, God is the Word, how can you be born of both the water and the Spirit." Hope I don't sound like I'm slitting hairs, but was wondering if Jesus is actually talking about two separate things here. Just like at the end of this gospel Jesus is pierced with water coming out of His side. What is that supposed to represent, or signify exactly?

Hi Pamelasv,

 

Here are some scriptures that may help you -

 

`Jesus answered & said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But that water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.` (John. 4: 13 & 14)

 

`On the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood & cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me & drink. He who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." But this he spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.` (John 7: 38 & 39)

 

The word `water,` means just water we drink, or how we are born (water of womb) or God`s word, or the Holy Spirit. it all depends upon the context.

 

Marilyn.

[Roy Varghese]

Praise the Lord,

 

Water is not the word of God.  One person can take water baptism on the same day when he heard of Jesus Christ. (Acts 10:48).  It means 'water baptism' is just a beginning of Christian life. So in this contest,' Water' means purification.