To the first century Jew, “born again” was a term used for certain rites of passage in a man’s life. In Rabbinic Judaism, at least five different events were so labeled:
A Gentile converting to Judaism. When a convert comes up from the mikvah (ritual bath), they are described as a “new creature,” similar to a newborn infant.1Upon being crowned as king.2Ritual bathing (ablution/tevillah).Being married.3Being ordained as a rabbi.Becoming the head of a rabbinic academy (yeshiva).
In the 14th century, one more Jewish “rite of passage” became seen as a “new birth”: a Jewish boy’s Bar Mitzvah at age 13 (or a girl’s Bat Mitzvah at age 12).
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Author: Philip P. Kapusta
Keywords: Proselyte, Nicodemus, You must be born again, Born again, Born anew, Born of spirit, Born from above, Little children, Like children, Like a child, Childlike, New birth, New creation, New creature
Bible reference(s): Ezekiel 36:25-27, Matthew 18:3, Mark 10:15, Luke 18:17, John 3:3-10
Source: Philip P. Kapusta (compiled).
Page indexed by: inWORD Bible Software.