Postil on the Gospel of John: On Rebirth (1550 ['1547']) - Page 21

Do not ^r wonder that I have told you: you must be born from ^s above.

s From above: that is, from God; in a spiritual, hidden, and heavenly manner, occurring inwardly within the soul and heart.

Example.

t The wind cannot be stopped by anyone; it blows and acts freely. So it is also with the spirit.

The ^t wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound well, but you do not know from ^u where it comes, and where it ^x goes; so is everyone who is born of the spirit.

u The birth from the spirit happens inwardly, in a secret and hidden way, in the mind, heart, and soul of a person when they are changed, set their mind toward God, and are filled with heavenly grace. original Latin: "Ipse enim invisibiliter, agente spiritu incipit esse quod non erat" For he himself begins invisibly, through the working of the spirit, to be what he was not.

Nicodemus answered and said to him: "How ^y can this happen?"

y Human reason and the cleverness of the flesh know nothing of the way of salvation, nor how it proceeds. Namely, that a physical, fleshly, visible human should be born from the invisible spirit and in the spirit.

Jesus answered and said to him: "Are you a ^z master in Israel and do ^a not know this?"

z Mastery of the letter original Latin: "Magisterium litteræ". One of the most prominent men. Christ speaks in a human manner, rebukes unbelief, and demands faith. a The puffed-up master of scripture must become a humble student and count his skill and natural gifts as nothing—as Paul says in Philippians 3 and 1 Corinthians 3—if he wishes to rightly recognize Christ and the mystery of the Kingdom of God.

r What happens through the spirit of God is not understandable to everyone (1 Corinthians 2) but only to those to whom the spirit reveals it (1 Corinthians 12). u original Latin: "i d est, Wa er ahnhebt" That is, where it begins. u He who is born from the spirit does not know it at first, until the spirit reveals it to him and powerfully proves itself within him, and also seals him. x Where it ends. y How? original Latin: "Quomodo?" The flesh wonders at the heavenly mystery, which can only be learned in his school through the mastery of the Holy Spirit. a That which you, above all, should know.

Do not r wonder that I have told you: you must be born from s above.

The t wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound well, but you do not know from u where it comes, and where it x goes; so is everyone who is born of the spirit.

Nicodemus answered and said to him: "How y can this happen?"

Jesus answered and said to him: "Are you a z master in Israel and do a not know this?"

Do not ^r wonder that I have told you: you must be born from ^s above.

The ^t wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound well, but you do not know from ^u where it comes, and where it ^x goes; so is everyone who is born of the spirit.

Nicodemus answered and said to him: "How ^y can this happen?"

Jesus answered and said to him: "Are you a ^z master in Israel and do ^a not know this?"