06-06-2013, 05:43 AM
I would say that looking at the Aramaic word there, 'from the start' or 'from the beginning', or even 'from the first', which carries the meaning of being born 'over again' i.e. re-born, as Shamasha Paul points out, is the most literal way to go...and maybe a short footnote for the reason of the choice would help explain the rendering, as it's not a usual translation, though it's the more accurate one.
Born from 'above', seems to be more interpretive, meaning a 'spiritual' birth, which is true...it is such, but it's just not said that way in the text, though it means it. One possible translation is 'born from the top', which may be where 'from above' comes from....We do need to be re-born spiritually, not physically, as Nic was thinkin...Born of The Water and The Spirit. The Church has always taught that this is speaking of being Baptized of The Water and The Holy Spirit.
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Born from 'above', seems to be more interpretive, meaning a 'spiritual' birth, which is true...it is such, but it's just not said that way in the text, though it means it. One possible translation is 'born from the top', which may be where 'from above' comes from....We do need to be re-born spiritually, not physically, as Nic was thinkin...Born of The Water and The Spirit. The Church has always taught that this is speaking of being Baptized of The Water and The Holy Spirit.
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