John 1:13

Born. See on eh. 3:3-8.

Not of Blood. That is, not by physical birth.

Will of the flesh. Perhaps sexual desire.

Man. Gr. drier, “a male,” probably here a reference to the desire for posterity.

Of God. Human motives and human planning play no part in the birth of which John speaks. It resembles physical birth only in the sense that both mark the beginning of new life (see on John 3:3-8; Rom. 6:3-5). It is not accomplished through human initiative and action, but is altogether a new creation, wholly dependent upon the will and action of God Himself. He it is who works in us “both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). John does not exclude the free choice of man with respect to conversion (see on v. 12), nor does he deny the need for human cooperation with divine agencies. He simply affirms that the initiative and the power are God’s.