Texts in Conversation
Rabbinic tradition in tractate Yevamot describes a convert as a newborn, using birth as a metaphor for personal transformation. In John, Jesus describes being “born from above” with similar language of a second birth that begins a new identity.
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John 3:3
New Testament
1 Now a certain man, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, who was a member of the Jewish ruling council, 2 came to Jesus at night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs that you do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb and be born a second time, can he?” 5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must all be born from above.’
Date: 90-110 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Yevamot 48b
Babylonian Talmud
Rabbinic
§ It is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Ḥananya, son of Rabban Gamliel, says: For what reason are converts at the present time tormented and hardships come upon them? It is because when they were gentiles they did not observe the seven Noahide mitzvot. Rabbi Yosei says: They would not be punished for their deeds prior to their conversion because a convert who just converted is like a child just born in that he retains no connection to his past life. Rather, for what reason are they tormented? It is because they are not as well-versed in the intricacies of the mitzvot as a born Jew, and consequently they often inadvertently transgress mitzvot. Abba Ḥanan says in the name of Rabbi Elazar: It is because they observe mitzvot not out of love of God, but only out of fear of the punishments for failing to observe them.
Date: 450-550 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... Greek gennethe anothen is sometimes rendered "born again" and sometimes "born from above"; my rendering reflects my conclusion that both aspects are relevant; also see 1 Peter 1:3-4. While the widespread currency since the 1970's of the expression "born-again Christian" originates here, the concept itself is Jewish, as demonstrated by this example from the Talmud: 'Shim'on Ben-Lakish said, "...a proselyte is like a newborn infant'"(Yevamot 62a); likewise Rabbi Yosi (Yevamot 48b). The idea resembles that of the 'new creation' (2C 5:17), which too is found in rabbinic literature (e.g., in Genesis Rabbah 39:11) ..."
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
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