Wermuth's GREEKBOOK

Aug 9, 2006

John 3:6: "Chip Off the Old Block"

It's a common phrase with generational longevity: "You're just a chip off the old block." Possible meanings: "You look just like your father," or "You laugh just like your dad." Notice the "chip off the old block" imagery found in John 3:6, where Jesus is detailing to Nicodemus the pre-requisites for true spirituality and entrance into "the Kingdom of God." In this "born again" passage Jesus reveals to Nicodemus that a spiritual transaction must occur. And he literally says, "That which has been begotten out of the flesh flesh it is, and that which has been begotten out of the Spirit Spirit it is." Observe the "chip off the old block" word repetitions and word order proximity. Unmistakably, the comparison and contrast is made from both sides: "flesh flesh" and "Spirit Spirit." Where in English we would normally find a verb in the middle of these two couplets (i.e., "…out of the flesh is flesh, and …out of the Spirit is Spirit"), this is the actual Greek word order:

τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τῆς σαρκός σάρξ ἐστιν, καὶ τὸ γεγεννημένον ἐκ τοῦ πνεύματος πνεύμά ἐστιν.

Of course, numerous are the theological implications of this one statement by Jesus. Other familiar passages of scripture resound through this one to Nicodemus, all touching on the basic idea of our depraved human nature and inability to change or save ourselves without Holy Spirit intervention and regeneration. Through Jesus' statement to Nicodemus, particularly through its word imagery, we are reminded of his words elsewhere that "…every good tree bears good fruit; but the bad tree bears bad fruit" (Matt. 7:17). The disciples asked Jesus, "Then who can be saved (i.e., How can one become a 'good tree')"? Jesus' reply demonstrates to us our neediness: "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" (Matt. 19:25,26). The question for Nicodemus and for us all: "Which block (tree) will we be a chip off of?"

Go to: "It's All Greek to YOU!" (Wermuth's Greek Blog)

Posted by Robert Wermuth at 20:34:39 | Article Path: Home: Greek Gleanings: John 3:6: "Chip Off the Old Block"