9 verses · KJV · every verse read aloud
Early Christian writers taught that being born again was real new birth, tied to water, the Spirit, repentance, and a changed life. Justin Martyr, Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, Cyprian, Tertullian, Origen, and others link it to John 3 and to baptism or the washing of regeneration. The teaching is broad across the 2nd and 3rd centuries, though some writers stress the spiritual meaning more than the rite itself. Bible passages most often used were John 3:3-7, John 1:13, Titus 3:5, and 1 Peter 1:23. A few snippets are only loose word matches or refer to other kinds of birth, so they do not carry the main claim.
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Core John 3:3 text
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about John 3:3
Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
John 3:5 directly links new birth with water and Spirit
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about John 3:5
That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 3:6 is central to the new birth teaching
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about John 3:6
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
Directly supports the same Johannine teaching with John 3:7.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about John 3:7
Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Supports the idea of divine birth, not human descent
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about John 1:13
He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about John 3:31
Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
Scripture passage attached to the early Christian evidence page.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about John 3:4
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Core scriptural passage for regeneration through imperishable seed.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about 1 Peter 1:23
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Useful related passage for becoming a new creature in Christ.
Also in NKJV · ESV What the early church said about 2 Corinthians 5:17
Exact words from our library of the early church writers. Each one opens at the place it was written.
“Being born again, not of corruptible seed. The soul, then, which is produced along with the body is corruptible, as some think.”
“For Christ also said, “Except ye be born again, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Now, that it is impossible for those who have once been born to enter into their mothers’ wombs, is manifest to all.”
“3. And to these things you perchance, who art bringing in some novelty, may immediately and impatiently reply, as you are wont, that the Lord said in the Gospel: Unless a man be born again of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.”
“The new man, born again and restored to his God by His grace, says Father, in the first place because he has now begun to be a son.”
“Plato also said something similar. He gave thanks to nature, first because he was born a human being rather than a speechless animal; next, because he was a man rather than a woman; then, because he was a Greek rather than a barbarian; and finally, because he was an Athenian and was born in the time of Socrates. It is…”
“But so that there may be no doubt in your mind about why we call Him Jesus Christ, who was born of God before the world and was born of man three hundred years ago, I will briefly explain the reason to you. The same person is the Son of God and the son of man. For He was born twice. First, He was born of God, in the s…”
More on what the early Christians believed about being born again →
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