Article October 30, 1937 Issue

Bible Notes

"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing" (John 6:63) — The word rendered "quickeneth" means literally "makes alive" or "brings to life" ; while that which is translated "profiteth" can also be rendered "helps, benefits, or is useful" (Souter: Greek Lexicon, p. 290). Goodspeed renders: "The Spirit is what gives life; the flesh is of no use at all;" and Moffatt: "What gives life is the Spirit: flesh is of no avail at all;" while Weymouth has: "It is the Spirit which gives life. The flesh confers no benefit whatever."

"Miracles" (John 3:2) — The Greek term "Semeia," which is here translated "miracles," means literally "signs"; and this is the translation which is preferred by Weymouth, Moffatt, the Twentieth Century New Testament, Goodspeed, and the Revised Version, and is found in other renderings also.

"Except a man be born again" (John 3:3) — The Greek word "anothen," employed both here and in verse 7, may be correctly rendered "again"; but an alternative and slightly more literal rendering is "from above" (cf. Abbott Smith: Greek Lexicon, p. 43) — hence the varied translations of the passage. The Revised Version has: "Except a man be born anew;" Weymouth (5th edition): "Unless a man is born anew;" and the Twentieth Century New Testament: "unless a man is reborn;" while Moffatt and the margin of the Revised Version have, "from above." Goodspeed combines both renderings, translating: "I tell you, no one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born over again from above."

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