Water of Life (Christianity)
Encyclopedia
In Christianity
the term Water of Life is used in the context of living water, specific references appearing in the Book of Revelation
(21:6 and 22:1), as well as the Gospel of John
. In these references, the term Water of Life refers the Holy Spirit
.
The passages that comprise John 4:10–26 are sometimes referred to as the Water of Life Discourse. These references in the Gospel of John
are also interpreted as the Water of Life.
The term is also used when water is poured during Baptismal prayers
, praying for the Holy Spirit, e.g., "Give it the power to become water of life".
and states: "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely". Revelation 22:1 then states: "And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb" .
The Revelation reference is interpreted as the Holy Spirit
. The Catechism of the Catholic Church
, item 1137, considers it "one of most beautiful symbols of the Holy Spirit".
The common theme of thirst for the Water of Life in the Book of Revelation and the Gospel of John may be summarized as follows:
The use of the term Water of Life in Revelation 20 is part of the "theme of life" in the book of Revelation, other instances being the Book of Life in Revelation 21:27, and the Tree of Life in 22:2, 22:14 and 22:19. John R. W. Stott relates this theme to Eternal Life
in John 17:3: "And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, Jesus Christ".
some references to water, as in John 4:15, are traditionally identified as the Water of Life being the Holy Spirit.
The passages that comprise John 4:10–26, and relate the episode of the Samaritan woman
are sometimes referred to as the "Water of Life Discourse". The Water of Life Discourse is the second among the seven discourses in the Gospel of John that pair with the seven signs in that gospel.
Another discourse, called the Bread of Life Discourse
appears in John 6:22–59. On their own, each of the discourses on the Water of Life and the Bread of Life are key examples of "single theme discourses" in the Gospel of John. However, these two discourses in the Gospel of John complement each other to form the theme of "Christ as the Life".
According to W. E. Vine, this theme of "Christ as the Life" relates to
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
the term Water of Life is used in the context of living water, specific references appearing in the Book of Revelation
Book of Revelation
The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament. The title came into usage from the first word of the book in Koine Greek: apokalupsis, meaning "unveiling" or "revelation"...
(21:6 and 22:1), as well as the Gospel of John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
. In these references, the term Water of Life refers the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit (Christianity)
For the majority of Christians, the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and is Almighty God...
.
The passages that comprise John 4:10–26 are sometimes referred to as the Water of Life Discourse. These references in the Gospel of John
Gospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
are also interpreted as the Water of Life.
The term is also used when water is poured during Baptismal prayers
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
, praying for the Holy Spirit, e.g., "Give it the power to become water of life".
The Book of Revelation
The reference to Water of Life in Revelation 21:6 appears in the context of New JerusalemNew Jerusalem
In the book of Ezekiel, the Prophecy of New Jerusalem is Ezekiel's prophetic vision of a city to be established to the south of the Temple Mount that will be inhabited by the twelve tribes of Israel in the...
and states: "I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely". Revelation 22:1 then states: "And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb" .
The Revelation reference is interpreted as the Holy Spirit
Holy Spirit (Christianity)
For the majority of Christians, the Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and is Almighty God...
. The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Catechism of the Catholic Church is the official text of the teachings of the Catholic Church. A provisional, "reference text" was issued by Pope John Paul II on October 11, 1992 — "the thirtieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council" — with his apostolic...
, item 1137, considers it "one of most beautiful symbols of the Holy Spirit".
The common theme of thirst for the Water of Life in the Book of Revelation and the Gospel of John may be summarized as follows:
| Revelation 21:6 | John 7:37 | John 4:14 |
|---|---|---|
| ... to the thirsty I will freely give from the fountain of the water of life. | ... if any man thirsts, let him come unto me and drink. | ... the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up unto eternal life. |
The use of the term Water of Life in Revelation 20 is part of the "theme of life" in the book of Revelation, other instances being the Book of Life in Revelation 21:27, and the Tree of Life in 22:2, 22:14 and 22:19. John R. W. Stott relates this theme to Eternal Life
Eternal life (Christianity)
In Christianity the term eternal life traditionally refers to continued life after death, rather than immortality. While scholars such as John H. Leith assert that...
in John 17:3: "And this is life eternal, that they should know thee the only true God, and him whom thou didst send, Jesus Christ".
The Gospel of John
In the Gospel of JohnGospel of John
The Gospel According to John , commonly referred to as the Gospel of John or simply John, and often referred to in New Testament scholarship as the Fourth Gospel, is an account of the public ministry of Jesus...
some references to water, as in John 4:15, are traditionally identified as the Water of Life being the Holy Spirit.
The passages that comprise John 4:10–26, and relate the episode of the Samaritan woman
Samaritan Woman at the Well
The Samaritan woman at the well is an episode in the life of Jesus that appears only in the Gospel of John, in . In Eastern Orthodox Church tradition, she is known as Photina.According to the John 4:...
are sometimes referred to as the "Water of Life Discourse". The Water of Life Discourse is the second among the seven discourses in the Gospel of John that pair with the seven signs in that gospel.
Another discourse, called the Bread of Life Discourse
Bread of Life Discourse
The Bread of Life Discourse is an episode in the life of Jesus that appears in the Gospel of John 6:22-59.The title Bread of Life for Jesus is based on this Biblical episode which takes place in the Gospel of John shortly after the Feeding the multitude episode after which the crowds follow...
appears in John 6:22–59. On their own, each of the discourses on the Water of Life and the Bread of Life are key examples of "single theme discourses" in the Gospel of John. However, these two discourses in the Gospel of John complement each other to form the theme of "Christ as the Life".
According to W. E. Vine, this theme of "Christ as the Life" relates to