Dictionary of Bible Themes  »  5000 Humanity  »  5650 Human relationships  »  5655 birth

The beginning or origin of life, in which a living creature comes into the world. Scripture draws a distinction between physical and spiritual birth, insisting that a person must be not only physically but also spiritually born in order to have life to the full.

Physical birth

God creates all life

Job 10:8-12; Psalm 71:6; Psalm 139:13

Human beings are sinful from the moment of birth

Psalm 51:5 See also Job 15:14; Job 25:4; Psalm 58:3; John 3:6; John 9:34; Romans 5:12,17-19

The necessity of spiritual birth

Being born again

John 3:3

Being born of the Spirit

John 3:5-8 See also Psalm 87:4-6; Matthew 18:3; John 1:12-13; 1 Peter 1:3; Peter 2:2

The agents of the new birth: word and Spirit

1 Peter 1:23 See also Luke 10:21; John 3:5,7-8; Titus 3:5; James 1:18

The fruit of the new birth: holiness and love

1 John 3:9; John 4:7 See also Matthew 18:4; 1 John 2:29; John 5:3-4,18

Spiritual birth and the nation of Israel

Deuteronomy 32:18 See also Numbers 11:12 Moses implies that God himself gave birth to the people.

Birth seen as entry into a condition or status

Ethnic identity from birth

Exodus 12:48; Ezekiel 16:3; Acts 17:26; Acts 22:27-28; Galatians 2:15; Galatians 4:4; Ephesians 2:11; Philippians 3:4-5

Physical or mental disability from birth

John 9:1; Acts 3:2; Acts 14:8

See also

2515  Christ, birth of
5199  womb
5231  birthday
5652  babies
5657  birthright
5663  childbirth
5688  firstborn
5733  pregnancy
5739  twins
6023  sin, universality
6728  regeneration
7334  circumcision