John 3:6 (WEB)
That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Catechism · 2
The Sacrament of Confirmation
“On several occasions Christ promised this outpouring of the Spirit,” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Lk 12:12; Jn 3:5-8; 7:37-39; 16:7-15; Acts 1:8.
"I Believe in the Holy Spirit"
“He also alludes to the Spirit in speaking to Nicodemus,” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Jn 3:5-8.
Fathers and councils · 37
Augustine of Hippo
“Above all, however, that testimony is employed by the upholders of this opinion, where it is thus written, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit;” “for God is a Spirit.”” — editor's note: John iii. 6
Read the whole comment“For He cannot be said not to be in His own power, of whom it is said, “The Spirit bloweth where it listeth;” and the apostle says, as I have already mentioned above, “All these things worketh that selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as He will.”” — editor's note: John iii. 6
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Gregory of Nyssa
“But we, having learnt from the holy voice of Christ that “except a man be born again of water and of the Spirit he shall not enter into the kingdom of God” and that “He that eateth My flesh and drinketh My blood, shall live for ever,” are persuaded that the mystery of godliness is ratified by the confession of…” — editor's note: Cf. S. John iii. 3 and 6.
Read the whole comment“Those, then, in whom arises firm and unshaken faith in the Gospel, pass from being flesh to become spirit, as the Lord says, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”” — editor's note: S. John iii. 6
Read the whole comment- Gregory of Nyssa, On Virginity On Virginity.13On Virginity
“We hear our Lord saying to Nicodemus, “That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”” — editor's note: S. John iii. 6
Read the whole comment “…begotten of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost—for thus does the Gospel speak of the Spirit, that “that which is born of Spirit is spirit,” and it is “in Christ” that Paul begets, and the Father is the “Father of all;” here, then, I beg, let the mind of the hearer be sober in its choice, lest it…” — editor's note: S. John iii. 6
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Tertullian
“Learn then, together with Nicodemus, that “that which is born in the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.”” — editor's note: John iii. 6.
Read the whole comment“And (we have a proof of the same conclusion in the fact) that the Lord Himself sententiously and distinctly pronounced, “that which is born of the flesh is flesh,” even because it is born of the flesh.” — editor's note: John iii. 6.
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Hippolytus of Rome
“Rest satisfied with the word spoken by Christ, viz., “That which is born of the Spirit is spirit,” just as, speaking by the prophet of the generation of the Word, He shows the fact that He is begotten, but reserves the question of the manner and means, to reveal it only in the time determined by Himself.” — editor's note: John iii. 6.
Read the whole comment““That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the spirit is spirit.”” — editor's note: John iii. 6.
Read the whole comment“This is, says (the Docetic), what the Saviour affirms: “Except a man be born of water and spirit, he will not enter into the kingdom of heaven, because that which is born of the flesh is flesh.”” — editor's note: John iii. 5, 6.
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John Chrysostom
“John iii. 6” — the author cites it
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Basil the Great
““That which is conceived in her,” says the angel, “is of the Holy Ghost,” and the Lord says “that which is born of the spirit is spirit.”” — editor's note: John iii. 6.
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Ambrose of Milan
“And the Lord says: “That which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.”” — editor's note: S. John iii. 6.
Read the whole comment“Nor does the Scripture in this place alone bear witness to the θεότης, that is, the Godhead of the Holy Spirit; but also the Lord Himself said in the Gospel: “The Spirit is God.”” — editor's note: S. John iii. 6. See below § 63, n. 4.
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John Cassian
“You say “a mere man,” according to that which He Himself said: “That which is born of the flesh, is flesh.”” — editor's note: S. John iii. 6.
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Hilary of Poitiers
“They are angry because He says, That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is Spirit.” — editor's note: St. John iii. 6.
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Clement of Alexandria
“Mysterium ergo hoc ad Christum et Ecclesiam ducit Apostolus: quemadmodum “quod ex carne generatur, caro est; ita quod ex spiritu, spiritus,” non solum in pariendo, sed etiam in discendo.” — editor's note: John iii. 6.
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Cyprian of Carthage
“For that which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”” — editor's note: John iii. 5, 6.
Read the whole comment“For that which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”” — editor's note: John iii. 5, 6.
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Catena Aurea on John
- John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Nicodemus coming to Jesus, as to a man, is startled on learning greater things than man could utter, things too lofty for him. His mind is darkened, and he does not stand firm, but reels like one on the point of…
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
The question put thus sounds as if a boy might enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born. But Nicodemus, we must remember, was an old man, and took his instance from himself; as if he said, I am an old…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Thou callest Him Rabbi, and sayest that He comes from God, and yet receivest not His sayings, but usest to thy master a word which brings in endless confusion; for that how, is the enquiry of a man who has no strong…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
It is the Spirit that speaketh, whereas he understandeth carnally; he knew of no birth save one, that from Adam and Eve; from God and the Church he knows of none. But do thou so understand the birth of the Spirit, as…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
While Nicodemus stumbles, dwelling upon our birth here, Christ reveals more clearly the manner of our spiritual birth; Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit,…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
As if He said, Thou understandest me to speak of a carnal birth; but a man must be born of water and of the Spirit, if he is to enter into the kingdom of God. If to obtain the temporal inheritance of his human…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
If any one asks how a man is born of water, I ask in return, how Adam was born from the ground. For as in the beginning though the element of earth was the subject-matter, the man was the work of the fashioner; so…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Because He does not say, Except a man be born again1 of water and of the Spirit, he shall not have salvation, or eternal life; but, he shall not enter into the kingdom of God; from this, some infer that children are…
Read the whole comment - Haymo of HalberstadtCatena Aurea on John
But Nicodemus being unable to take in so great and deep mysteries, our Lord helps him by the analogy of our carnal birth, saying, That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is…
Read the whole comment - John ChrysostomCatena Aurea on John
Do not look then for any material production, or think that the Spirit generates flesh; for even the Lord’s flesh is generated not by the Spirit only, but also by the flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
But who of us does not see, for example, that the south wind blows from south to north, another wind from the east, another from the west? And how then do we not know whence the wind cometh, and whither it goeth?
Read the whole comment - BedeCatena Aurea on John
It is the Holy Spirit therefore, Who bloweth where He listeth. It is in His own power to choose, whose heart to visit with His enlightening grace. And thou hearest the sound thereof. When one filled with the Holy…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
The Psalm soundeth, the Gospel soundeth, the Divine Word soundeth; it is the sound of the Spirit. This means that the Holy Spirit is invisibly present in the Word and Sacrament, to accomplish our birth.
Read the whole comment - Alcuin of YorkCatena Aurea on John
Therefore, Thou knowest not whence it cometh, or whither it goeth; for, although the Spirit should possess a person in thy presence at a particular time, it could not be seen how He entered into him, or how He went…
Read the whole comment - Haymo of HalberstadtCatena Aurea on John
Or, Thou canst not tell whence it cometh; i. e. thou knowest not how He brings believers to the faith; or whither it goeth, i. e. how He directs the faithful to their hope. And so is every one that is born of the…
Read the whole comment - Augustine of HippoCatena Aurea on John
Or thus: If thou art born of the Spirit, thou wilt be such, that he, who is not yet born of the Spirit, will not know whence thou comest, or whither thou goest. For it follows, So is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Read the whole comment - Theophylact of OhridCatena Aurea on John
This completely refutes Macedonius the impugner of the Spirit, who asserted that the Holy Ghost was a servant. The Holy Ghost, we find, works by His own power, where He will, and what He will.
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Cross-references · 31
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.
Cited together in On the Faith.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.
Cited together in On Virginity On Virginity.13.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.
Cited together in The Refutation of All Heresies VIII.3.
Cited together in On Virginity On Virginity.13.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.
Cited together in On the Faith.
Cited together in Against Eunomius XI.5.
Cited together in Against Eunomius XI.5.
Cited together in On Virginity On Virginity.13.
Cited together in On Virginity On Virginity.13.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews I.13.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews I.13.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews I.13.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews I.13.
Cited together in On the Holy Spirit III.10.
Cited together in Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews I.13.
Cited together in Against Eunomius XI.5.
Cited together in The Refutation of All Heresies VIII.3.
Cited together in The Refutation of All Heresies VIII.3.
Cited together in On the Flesh of Christ Chapter 18.
Cited together in On the Flesh of Christ Chapter 18.
Cited together in On Virginity On Virginity.13.
Cited together in On the Flesh of Christ Chapter 18 and 1 other place.