170 Karl Olav Sandnes Birth plays a key role in both passages. The occurrence of gennavw in John’s Gospel is concentrated in chaps. 3 and 9. Some exceptions affirm this impression (1,13; 8,41), and the other three instances are not relevant here (45). Within John 3,3-8 gennavw appears 8 times and in chap. 9 five times. This invites some comments. According to chap. 3 Nicodemus was unable to understand that Jesus spoke not of physical birth but birth from above. A similar movement is assumed in chap. 9 as well. In all occurrences of gennavw in this chapter the reference is to physical birth, but 9,34 is different. The Pharisees say to the man born blind: “You were born entirely in sins, and you are trying to teach us”. This refers to his refusal to accept their judgement on Jesus (46). They saw nothing but savrx in him. Of course, the irony here is blatant. The accusation implies that more than a physical birth is at stake in this controversy. The contrasting of fleshly and spiritual birth seems to lie behind John 9 (47). From a narrative perspective it can easily be inferred not only that the man born blind gained spiritual sight, but also that he was born a[nwqen, since the story is designed to convince the reader that the judgement uttered by the Pharisees in v. 34 is an absolute misunder- standing. Actually, things look exactly the opposite from the perspect- ive of the narrator. This depends, of course, on the reader’s ability to combine chap. 3 and 9; but the narrative in chap. 9 is certainly paving the way for this to happen. 4. Bringing the findings together The dialogue between Jesus and Nicodemus is not an isolated incident in John’s story. This narrative, and 3,3-8 in particular defines what is necessary to understand Jesus, his ministry and faith in him adequately. The dialogue is fundamental to the question of “knowing”, a concern permeating the entire Gospel. Since men have no capacity to know heavenly things, a transformation is required. This transforma- tion is understood in terms of the contrast between flesh and Spirit, earthly and heavenly, and is, therefore, expressed in the principle that “like can only be known by like”. The required transformation is (45) This verb occurs twice in John 16,2, a proverbial analogy where emphasis is on joy not birth, while 18,37 speaks of Jesus himself. (46) The accusation is polemically formed, while Jesus in chap. 3 simply speaks of the inability of men to comprehend what is from above. (47) Suggested also by BROWN, Spirit, 121.