Neville Goddard on John 3:3

Executive Summary

Neville Goddard interprets the scriptural injunction to be "born again" (John 3:3) in two distinct ways. The first is a psychological "second birth" achieved through faith, where an individual dares to assume they are God. The second is a literal, supernatural experience, correctly translated as being "born from above." This event is not a metaphor but an actual occurrence that marks the first step in a divine pattern, granting one entry into the Kingdom of God. It is not earned through works but happens by grace.

Key Concepts

• The phrase "born again" is more literally translated as "born from above."
• Being born from above is an absolute prerequisite for entering the Kingdom of God.
• One interpretation is a psychological rebirth: a self-begotten act of faith where you dare to assume "I am God."
• The other interpretation is a literal, supernatural event, not merely a figure of speech.
• This mystical birth is unexpected and cannot be earned through good works, human will, or social status; it is an act of grace.
• The literal birth from above is part of a divine "Pattern" that unfolds in man and occurs on the same night one awakens within their own skull.

Detailed Explanation

Neville Goddard explains that the scriptural mandate, "Except a man be born again he cannot enter the kingdom of God," refers to a birth "from above," which is a more literal translation. This experience is presented as an absolute necessity for seeing or entering the Kingdom of God.

One interpretation of this second birth is a profound psychological act. It is a birth through faith alone, where one quietly appropriates a state that no other person can give them. This involves daring to assume the consciousness of being God. This is a self-begotten birth, independent of any earthly father or external authority, which allows one to be born out of their current limitations.

Beyond the psychological application, Neville teaches that the birth from above is a literal, supernatural event. He initially believed it was only a figure of speech but came to know it as a tangible experience. This birth is not something one can acquire through effort, good deeds, or social standing. It is a birth "of God," not of blood or the will of man.

This literal birth is the first of a series of major mystical events that constitute a divine "Pattern" unfolding within the individual. It happens unexpectedly and is granted by grace. Specifically, the experience of being born from above occurs on the very same night that a person has the experience of awakening within themself, as themself. This event is what truly takes a person from this world and places them into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Important Quotes

I quietly appropriate that which no man can give me, no woman can give me. I dare to assume that I am God.

— No One To Change But Self

Unless you are born from above, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:3); and he heard it wondered, How can I, a man – an old man, once more reenter my mother’s womb and be born again?

— The Man Within

Until you are “born from above” you cannot in any manner enter the Kingdom of God (John 3:3); and you don’t acquire it. It’s all by grace.

— The Pattern Man

The same night that you awake within yourself is the night that you are “born from above.”

— The Pattern Man2

Related Concepts

• I AM / Consciousness: The psychological second birth is a direct application of the I AM principle, where one consciously assumes the state of being God.
• Law of Assumption: The act of appropriating the feeling of being God is an exercise in the Law of Assumption, where faith in a new state of being brings it forth.
• States: Being born again is the ultimate change of state, moving from the consciousness of a limited human to the consciousness of God, and from this world into the Kingdom of Heaven.

Common Misunderstandings

• It is not just a metaphor: While it has a psychological parallel, the birth from above is taught as a literal, supernatural event, not merely a figure of speech.
• It cannot be earned: Entry into the kingdom is not a reward for being a good person or for social, intellectual, or financial status. The birth from above is by grace alone.
• It is not a physical rebirth: The sources reference Nicodemus's confusion about re-entering a mother's womb to clarify that this is a spiritual birth, not a physical one.

Practical Applications

The primary application described is the psychological second birth. A student can practice this by ceasing to look to others for validation or salvation and instead, through faith, daring to assume the consciousness of being God. This is a quiet, internal act of appropriating the desired state, which is described as becoming "the blessed."

Frequently Asked Questions

What does 'born from above' mean according to Neville?

It is the literal translation for 'born again' and refers to a birth that originates from God, not from human will or flesh. It is a required experience to enter the Kingdom of God.

Is being born again a psychological technique or a mystical event?

The source material presents it as both. There is a psychological application where one assumes 'I am God,' and there is also a literal, supernatural event that happens by grace as part of a divine pattern.

Can I make the birth from above happen?

No. The literal, mystical birth is not acquired through effort or good works. It is an unexpected event that unfolds by grace.