It appears from what Nang was saying that what is translated in John 3:3 as "born again" may be supposed to be translated "born from above" instead. The Greek word "anōthen" can be translated variously, according to the Strongs at
www.blueletterbible.org.
Don't know if this is helpful or not, but Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996). Vol. 1: Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament: Based on semantic domains, says:
41.53 γεννάω ἄνωθεν (
an idiom, literally ‘to be born again’); παλιγγενεσίαa, ας f: to experience a complete change in one’s way of life to what it should be, with the implication of return to a former state or relation—‘to be born again, to experience new birth, rebirth.’
γεννάω ἄνωθεν: ἐὰν μή τις γεννηθῇ ἄνωθεν ‘unless a person is born again’ Jn 3:3. It is also possible to understand ἄνωθεν in Jn 3:3 as meaning ‘from above’ or ‘from God’ (see 84.13), a literary parallel to the phrase ἐκ θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν in Jn 1:13. In Jn 3:3, however, Nicodemus understood ἄνωθεν as meaning ‘again’ (see 67.55) and γεννάω as ‘physical birth’ (see 23.52).
παλιγγενεσίαa: διὰ λουτροῦ παλιγγενεσίας καὶ ἀνακαινώσεως ‘new birth and new life by washing’ Tt 3:5. The metaphor of ‘new birth’ is so important in the NT that it should be retained if at all possible. In some languages ‘new birth’ can be expressed as ‘to cause to be born all over again’ or ‘to have a new life as though one were born a second time.’
67.55 ἄνωθενb; πάλινa; εἰς τὸ πάλιν:
a subsequent point of time involving repetition—‘again.’
ἄνωθενb: οἷς πάλιν ἄνωθεν δουλεύειν θέλετε ‘whom you want to serve as slaves all over again’ Ga 4:9.
In Jn 3:3 ἄνωθεν involves a play on the two distinct meanings of the word, namely, ἄνωθενb ‘again’ and ἄνωθενa ‘from above’ (see 84.13). For the idiom γεννάω ἄνωθεν, see 41.53.
πάλινa: εἶτα πάλιν ἐπέθηκεν τὰς χεῖρας ἐπὶ τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς αὐτοῦ ‘then he again placed his hands on the man’s eyes’ Mk 8:25.
εἰς τὸ πάλιν: ἐὰν ἔλθω εἰς τὸ πάλιν οὐ φείσομαι ‘when I come again, I will not spare anyone’ or ‘… nobody will escape punishment’ 2 Cor 13:2.
84.13 ἄνωθενa:
extension from a source which is above—‘from above, from the top of.’ ἦν δεδομένον σοι ἄνωθεν ‘it was given to you from above’ Jn 19:11; ἐσχίσθη εἰς δύο ἀπ̓ ἄνωθεν ἕως κάτω ‘torn in two from top to bottom’ Mk 15:38; ἐκ τῶν ἄνωθεν ὑφαντὸς δἰ ὅλου ‘woven from the top in one piece’ Jn 19:23; ὁ ἄνωθεν ἐρχόμενος ἐπάνω πάντων ἐστίν ‘he who comes from above is far above all’ Jn 3:31. In Jn 3:31 the reference of ἄνωθεν is obviously heaven, and in many languages it is essential to translate ‘he who comes from heaven is far above all.’ ἐὰν μή τις γεννηθῇ ἄνωθεν ‘unless someone is born from above’ Jn 3:3. In Jn 3:3 ἄνωθεν may also mean ‘again’ (see 67.55). For ἄνωθεν as part of an idiom, see 41.53.
My Greek has the three numbers 41.53, 67.55 and 84.13 to translate 'born again.'
My understanding of 'born again,' personally has always been that it has to come from God, therefore, from above; otherwise, I cannot be 'born again.' Obviously, Jesus was telling Nicodemus that he had to be born spiritually not physically; therefore from above or from God. At least this has always been the way I understood this verse.
lain: