THE NEW BIRTH by C. S.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 10, 1876

THE NEW BIRTH.

By C. S.

Bro. Smith: Please inform us when the saints are born of God. If born at the time of conversion, when are they begotten of God? And if born at that time, please explain John 3:8, and how we shall understand such scriptures as Rev. 1:5; Col. 1:18; Rom. 8:29; Heb. 1:6; 8:23; Isa. 66:8, compared with Rom. 8:11? and in this case, are they born of God twice? Please answer through the REVIEW. STEPHEN PIERCE.

The same word, gennao, is rendered, in the New Testament, born and begotten. Lexicographers define it as follows: “Spoken of men, to beget, to generate; of women, to bring forth, bear, give birth to.” We are begotten of God; we are born of the Spirit. We are begotten at conversion; we are born at the resurrection. The expression “born of God” seems not to be, in the light of the foregoing definition, a correct expression. It should be “begotten of God.” Neither is the expression “first begotten of the dead,” in accordance with the definition given. It should be, firstborn of the dead.

The word rendered “firstborn” is prototokos. It occurs nine times in the following passages: Matt. 1:25; Luke 2:7; Rom. 8:29; Col. 1:15, 18; Heb. 1:6; 11:28; 12:23; Rev. 1:5. It should be rendered invariably firstborn, and is so rendered, as the reader will see by looking out the passages, in every instance but Heb. 1:6, and Rev. 1:5. The word is never defined to mean firstbegotten but firstborn simply.

Bearing in mind this distinction, these scriptures seem to be in harmony with themselves and with the view herein suggested. C. S.