ISB ~ John 3 v5

born of water and the Spirit:The syntax of this verse in Greek suggests that Jesus is speaking, not of two separate births, one by water and another by the Spirit, but of a single birth through the working of water and Spirit together. Several observations suggest the verse refers to the Sacrament of Baptism. (1) A close link between water and Spirit is forged elsewhere in John’s writings (7:38-39; 1 Jn 5:8). This is most explicit in 1:33, where the Spirit descends upon Jesus at the very moment he is baptized in the waters of the Jordan. (2) Immediately following this episode Jesus and the disciples begin a baptismal ministry in Judea (3:22). (3) Other NT passages describe Baptism as a sacrament of salvation through the Spirit (Acts 2:38; 1 Cor 6:11; Tit 3:5; 1 Pet 3:21).

• The OT envisions Yahweh pouring out his Spirit from above in the messianic age (Is 32:15; Ezek 39:29; Joel 2:28-29). This was depicted as water being poured upon the Israelites to wash away their iniquities and renew their hearts (Is 44:3; Ezek 36:2526). These prophetic hopes should have prepared Nicodemus to understand the thrust of Jesus’ teaching (3:10).

• The Council of Trent declared in 1547 that Jn 3:5 refers to Baptism. It was said that “water” is no mere metaphor, but a visible sign of the Spirit’s invisible work in the sacrament (Sess. 7, can. 2) (CCC 694, 1215, 1257).