Many Greek words have more than one meaning. For example our word kardia can mean the physical heart or the spiritual heart. The word gennao can mean “born,” “begotten,” or “begat.” Baptist preachers have capitalized upon the dual meaning of this word and have espoused false doctrine.

For example, they go to 1 Corinthians 4:15 where Paul says, “I have begotten you through the gospel.” They tell us this word “begotten” comes from the same word as “born”; therefore, Paul “born” all of the Corinthians. Next they go to 1 Corinthians 1:14 where Paul says he did not baptize all of the Corinthians; therefore baptism is not essential to salvation because Paul did not baptize all of them!

One does not have to be astute to see that such verbal gymnastics are false. In order to sustain this doctrine they substitute the word “born” for the word “begotten.” These two words do not mean the same. W.E. Vine says on page 109, “In Matt. 1:20 it is used of conception that which was conceived in her.” Greek scholars know there is a difference in a conception and a birth. In order to have a birth, seed must be sown; there must be a conception, a blood contact, and then a delivery. One can have a conception or begetting without a birth!

In this text Paul is not discussing the conversion of the Corinthians; rather he was the first to preach the gospel in Corinth. He did not say he had “born again” all of the Corinthians. The word all has been added by the false teacher just as the word only is added to faith.

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