which were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
1:13 which are not begotten of blood, nor of the will of the flesh (human nature), nor of the will of man (humanly, he who begets), but of God. — This language excludes every aspect of the natural process of having children. Under the law of Moses the Jews became children of God by generation, that is, by physical birth, and they believed that in the same way (because they were children of Abraham) they would be children of God in the messianic kingdom (Matt 3:8-10; Joh 8:31-44), but John emphasizes that our relationship with God has nothing to do with the physical, but is realized through the gospel of Christ (3:1-5). All physical birth is done by human will, but we cannot become children of God by our own will (by our own means or strength). Very many people would accept to be children of God if they could do it according to their own will.
Source: Commentary on the New Testament by Partain
they are not spawned. Joh 3:3, Joh 3:5; Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:3, 1Pe 1:23; 1Pe 2:2; 1Jn 3:9; 1Jn 4:7; 1 John 5:1, 1Jn 5:4, 1Jn 5:18.
of blood. Joh 8:33-41; Matt 3:9; Romans 9:7-9.
nor of the will of the flesh. Gen 25:22, Gen 25:28; Gen 27:4, Gen 27:33; Romans 9:10-16.
nor of male will. Ps 110:3; Romans 9:1-5; Romans 10:1-3; 1Co 3:6; Phil 2:13; Jas 1:18.
but of God. Joh 3:6-8; Tit 3:5; 1Jn 2:28, 1Jn 2:29.
Source: The Treasury of Biblical Knowledge
begotten … of God: This new spiritual birth is not of blood, that is, by physical or parental generation. Neither is the new birth of will of flesh, that is, by personal effort. Neither is the birth male will, that is, something achieved by human effort. The new birth is the work of God alone. It is a gift that is received (Joh 4:10, Joh 4:14), not a reward achieved by individual effort. The new birth is based on a relationship with Christ, not in a position staff. However, this relationship proceeds from Christ’s position as mediator. Christ is life (Joh 1:4; Joh 14:6). Those who trust in Him are born of God, which means they receive spiritual life.
Source: New Illustrated Caribbean Bible Commentary
THEY ARE NOT GENERATED… OF THE WILL OF THE FLESH. God had no obligation to offer man salvation through Christ’s death, but rather he did so out of his own love and compassion. Salvation comes at the initiative of God.
Source: Full Life Study Bible
of God. The divine side of salvation: ultimately it does not depend on the will of a man that salvation occurs, but on the will of God (cp. Joh 3:6-8; Tit 3:5; 1Jn 2:29).
Source: MacArthur Study Bible
1:13 who were begotten not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh (human nature), nor of the will of man (humanly, he who begets), but of God. — This language excludes every aspect of the natural process of having children. Under the law of Moses the Jews became children of God by generation, that is, by physical birth, and they believed that in the same way (because they were children of Abraham) they would be children of God in the messianic kingdom (Mat 3 :8-10; Joh 8:31-44), but John emphasizes that our relationship with God has nothing to do with the physical, but is realized through the gospel of Christ (3:1-5). All physical birth is done by human will, but we cannot become children of God by our own will (by our own means or strength). Very many people would accept to be children of God if they could do it according to their own will.
Source: Reeves-Partain Notes
Try to clarify v. Joh 1:12. To be a son of God you have to keep believing (imperfect tense, which gives an idea of continuity) and for this you have to be begotten by God himself. It is necessary to preserve the order of the three elements by which people do not become sons and daughters of God: not blood, nor by the will of the flesh, not by the will of man. That is, “not by natural generation” (BI), “nor by human desires” (DHH), “not by way of human generation” (BA).
It is quite possible that it is simply translated simply by saying: “These are not born of human parents, but God himself becomes their Father.” If it were translated literally, it can cause confusion in some cultures, especially with the terms “blood”, “flesh” and “male will”, and it can be understood that legitimate and normal sexual desires are bad in themselves.
On the other hand, if it were translated: “These have not become children of God by natural means” it would produce some confusion. It is best to keep the contrast between the human or physical birth and the spiritual or divine birth: “These are not born as children of human parents but God makes them to be his children spiritually speaking.” God is the only cause of spiritual birth or begetting. You are a child of God in a supernatural and non-natural way, and God is the only one who can do it.
Source: Commentary for Exegesis and Translation
GRADES
(1) Lit., “bloods.”
CROSS-REFERENCES
z 26 Joh 3:3; Jas 1:18; 1Pe 1:23; 1Jn 3:9
Source: New World Translation
of blood. That is, consanguinity or natural relationship.
the will of the flesh. It refers to the biological need to procreate.
man’s will. The expression is almost synonymous with the will of the flesh. Here the mental, rather than physical, desire to procreate children is emphasized. These three descriptions of natural procreation serve to clearly distinguish it from spiritual birth. The importance of making a complete distinction is evident in the conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus in ch. 3.
of God. Although all people, particularly Jews, are proud of their ancestors (cf. 8:33), John emphasizes the relationship with God that takes place by divine initiative.
Source: The Bible of the Americas
13 (1) Lit., from.
13 (two) Blood (lit., blood) here refers to physical life; will of flesh it denotes the will of fallen man after becoming flesh; Y male will it refers to the will of man created by God.
Source: New Testament Commentary Recovery Version
The new birth is supernatural and therefore completely different from the natural birth. It is not of blood (lit., bloods), ie, it contains no human elements; nor does it fall within the scope of human accomplishments (it is not of the will of the flesh, nor of man).
Source: Ryrie Annotated Study Bible
they were begotten… Gr. egennéthesan (aorist passive); blood… Contrary to Ac 17:26.
Source: Textual Bible IV Edition
T27 Αἱμάτων is a literal plural referring to one’s ancestors, husband and wife (this is just an idiomatic plural -R408).
Source: Grammar Help for the Study of the Greek New Testament
Or, they were not spawned
lit., of blood
Source: The Bible of the Americas
they were born gr. egennethesan (aorist passive).
1.13 bloods. opposite g Ac 17:26.