Hi Julie. In fact, the wind in that verse is metaphorical, but it is also declarative in the Greek, which still means that {no man knows} {where the Holy Spirit} comes from. The metaphor attached denotes the wind, which is only what men could make of it, not what it was or where it came from. Hence, the unseen nature of it, and the manifestation of it. Peter, in Acts says; the Holy Spirit came as a sound of a mighty rushing wind and filled the house. In science, it is assumed that wind comes from the Sun which pushes air molecules around like bumper cars. That theory is not a given.
I suppose that would be akin to saying that since the Bible, in general is not literal, but metaphorical, that by extension, Jesus, the belief in Him may be metaphorical too, therefore, one cannot really be saved by anything so concrete as a metaphor. Let's go with that.
And Jesus explains the difference between earthly things and heavenly things. If the previous passage were merely a metaphor, He wouldn't have said what He did beginning in verse nine. Context, Julie, context. The proper reading of it would be— Since God sent the Holy Spirit, He also sends the wind. {and the whirlwind} Job. Jesus was mildly chastising and poking fun at Nicodemus , who was a learned man and knew the scriptures. —You must be born of the water{flesh} and {Spirit}{Holy} to receive eternal life. Some will translate water as baptism there but it ain't so. Nicodemus knew this.There was no baptism (strictly speaking) before John's baptism. I wonder who coined 'the winds of change'? Being born again profoundly means: Spirit born.
The only manifestations of the wind are sound, touch, and whatever the wind picks up and blows to create a picture of it. Otherwise, you can't see it. Just like faith.
People accuse Christians of blind faith. It is no such thing. (No, I'm not talking about Stevie Winwood) Faith comes by hearing, not seeing. It is not random, neither is the wind. It is directed. Divinely so.
Until Darwin, science and the scripture went hand in hand. You don't hear about it these days because it was over a hundred years ago.
The 'science' of global warming is still in its infancy. Progressives feed it, burp it, and promulgate its growth, counting on their authority and the populace's ignorance to make it come to fruition. Else, why would East Anglia lie?
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