I will show that John 1:12-13 have structural significance to the whole Gospel. We can also relate it to the center of John 17's chiasm, which states that sanctification in action means "going to the Father" by negating the earthly, worldly, and unrighteous fathers. In a separate section, I will elaborate on how 1:13b, according to some scholars, implies Jesus' virgin birth, which is analogous to every Christian rebirth. Indeed, many of the narratives in John can be interpreted with the delineation between the Father and the fathers.Here is a more detailed explanation of the points I made:
- John 1:12-13 are significant because they introduce the two main themes of the Gospel: the coming of the Son of God and the need for people to be born again.
- The center of John 17's chiasm is the statement "sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth." This statement shows that sanctification, or becoming holy, is achieved through obedience to God's word.
- Some scholars believe that John 1:13b implies Jesus' virgin birth. This is because the phrase "born of the Spirit" is often used in the Bible to refer to the miraculous conception of Jesus.
- The delineation between the Father and the fathers is a recurring theme in John's Gospel. This theme shows that Jesus is the true source of life and salvation, and that those who follow him will be born again into a new life.