This, Except a man be born of
water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God; that is
to say: just as the natural birth the womb is the place where the babe
that is to be born is formed; but the Divine Power, according to the primeval
order forms him there, thus also here; the waters represent the womb, and the
Spirit [is] in the place of the Lord and Creator; for behold! Baptism is also
said to be a sign of death and resurrection; and because of this it is called
also the new Birth; that just as he who rises again after having died,
is supposed to be created anew; thus also he who is born in Baptism, like him
who has previously died in the water, and thus rises from thence by the power
of the Spirit, is said also to be born again. And it is asked, if
Justice rewards according to works, and there are those who have pleased God by
good actions; are they deprived of the Kingdom, because they were not born
of water and of the Spirit? and we say that this word everyone who has
not been born again has many meanings; but if there is no kingdom to any
one who has not been born, therefore there is one to every one who has been
born; and how is it that many are called, but few chosen? or this, that the
Kingdom of Heaven is like unto a net that is cast; and they chose the good
[fishes] for vessels, and threw the bad ones away? Therefore the word is not a
definition; for behold! many have triumphed in sufferings and slaughters
without having received baptism; even the Thief was not baptized and he
received the Kingdom. But the word is spoken thus, first, because of him to
whom the word was [addressed]; but afterwards because of the grace of the
Spirit, the Perfecter of the Kingdom, who admits together whose who are
baptized into the family according to the Mystery of Adoption, but is a stranger
to the unbaptized; again, as if to frighten those who, without great necessity,
despite spiritual birth. (The Commentaries of Isho'dad of Merv, 3 vols.
[trans. Margaret Dunlop Gibson; Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1911],
1:225-26)
