Christianity Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...

the term "water of Life" ( el, ὕδωρ ζωῆς ''hydōr zōēs'') is used in the context of '' living water'', specific references appearing in the

Book of Revelation The Book of Revelation is the final book of the New Testament (and consequently the final book of the Christian Bible). Its title is derived from the first word of the Koine Greek text: , meaning "unveiling" or "revelation". The Book of ...

( 21:6 and 22:1), as well as the

Gospel of John The Gospel of John ( grc, Εὐαγγέλιον κατὰ Ἰωάννην, translit=Euangélion katà Iōánnēn) is the fourth of the four canonical gospels. It contains a highly schematic account of the ministry of Jesus, with seven "sig ...

.David L. Jeffrey (1992) ''A Dictionary of biblical tradition in English literature''
pp. 457–458
/ref> In these references, the term ''Water of Life'' refers to 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

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".

The Book of Revelation

The reference to Water of Life in Revelation 21:6 appears in the context of New Jerusalem 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.Thomas Aquinas, Daniel Keating, Matthew Levering (2010) ''Commentary on the Gospel of John, Chapters 1–5, Books 1–5'' p. 91 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 John Robert Walmsley Stott (27 April 1921 – 27 July 2011) was an English Anglican cleric and theologian who was noted as a leader of the worldwide evangelical movement. He was one of the principal authors of the Lausanne Covenant in 1974. In ...

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".John R. W. Stott, Sandy Larsen, Dale Larsen (2008) ''Revelation: The Triumph of Christ'' p. 53

The Gospel of John

In the

some references to water, as in John 4:15, are traditionally identified as the ''Water of Life'' being the Holy Spirit.Saint Augustine and Edmund Hill (2009) ''Homilies on the Gospel of John 1–40 (Works of Saint Augustine: A Translation for the 21st Century)''
p. 284
/ref> The passages that comprise John 4:10–26, and relate the episode of the

Samaritan woman The Samaritan woman at the well is a figure from the Gospel of John. John 4:4–42 relates her conversation with Jesus at Jacob's Well near the city of Sychar. Biblical account The woman appears in ; here is John 4:4–26: This episode tak ...

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 The Bread of Life Discourse is a portion of the teaching of Jesus which appears in chapter 6 of John's Gospel ( verses 22–59) and was delivered in the synagogue at Capernaum. The title "Bread of Life" ( grc, ἄρτος τῆς ζωῆς, ''ar ...

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.James D. G. Dunn (1985) ''The evidence for Jesus'' p. 39 However, these two discourses in the Gospel of John complement each other to form the theme of "Christ as the Life".C. K. Barrett (1955) ''The Gospel According to St. John: An Introduction With Commentary and Notes'' p. 12 W. E. Vine (2010) ''Christ (Vine's Topical Commentaries)'' p. 124 According to W. E. Vine, this theme of "Christ as the Life" relates to John 5:26 where Jesus states: "Just as the Father has life in himself, so also he gave to his Son the possession of life in himself", reflecting the assertion of Jesus to have the power to give life, based on his relationship to the Eternal Father.

References

{{Christianity footer, state=collapsed Christian terminology New Testament theology Water and religion Holy Spirit Gospel of John Book of Revelation

The Book of Revelation

The Gospel of John

See also

References