SPSA Church Giving (opens in a new tab)

Questions & Answers

Baptism

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › The Sacraments › Baptism

The question

"The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit" (John 3:8). What does this verse mean exactly?

The answer

In John 3:8, our Lord explains to Nicodemus the importance of baptism. The reference to the "wind" is a translation issue. In Greek, "wind" means "spirit". Through this passage, we come to understand the role and presence of the third person of the Holy Trinity Who is most essential in the sacrament of baptism. Our Lord advises Nicodemus not to be surprised at being asked to be born from above; for baptism is indeed a rebirth. Those who obtain it subsequently become spiritual; because they are born of the Holy Spirit Who alone dwells in this Holy Mystery. The laws governing the wind motion are but partially discovered. However, the risings, fallings, and daily frequent direction changes of those gentle breezes, as referred to in the verse, will probably ever remain a mystery to us. So will the operation of the Holy Spirit in the Mystery of Baptism, in which we are born again, remain undisclosed and obscure to us.

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 1346 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.