“Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
Children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God — this verse clarifies that divine adoption transcends biological inheritance, choice, or human agency. The threefold negation (not of blood, not of the will of the flesh, not of the will of man) emphasizes that becoming God's child involves divine initiative and regeneration. The passive "born of God" (genneō ek tou Theou) stresses God's generative action, distinguishing it from natural procreation.
Church Fathers on John 1:13
When He said that the world knew Him not, he c referred to the times of the old dispensation, but what follows H has reference to the time of his preaching; He came to his own.
By his own, understand either the world, or Judea, which He had chosen for His inheritance.
But if none at all received, none will be saved. For no one will be saved, but he who received Christ at His coming; and therefore he adds, As many as received Him.
Read all 14 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
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