John 1:12 (WEB)
But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name:
As quoted in the map (KJV)
John 1:12–13 (KJV)
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Key words
- τέκνα θεοῦtekna theou · Greek
- 'the sons of God' — literally 'children of God.'
- οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτωνouk ex haimatōn · Greek
- 'not of blood' (v. 13) — divine sonship does not come by physical descent.
- ἐκ θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησανek theou egennēthēsan · Greek
- 'born of God' — a spiritual birth.
Why it matters
Those who receive Christ become children of God, born not of blood but of God. Pitre uses this to show that our relationship to Mary is not a blood tie but a spiritual one: we become her children in the same way we become God's, through Jesus' passion. That is the sense in which she is Mother of the Church.