Water of Life (Christianity)

Depiction of Fleuve de Vie, the "River of Life", from the Book of Revelation, Urgell Beatus, (f°198v-199), c. 10th century

In Christianity the term "water of Life" (Greek: ὕδωρ ζωῆς hydōr zōēs) 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.[1] In these references, the term Water of Life refers to the Holy Spirit.[1][2][3]

The passages that comprise John 4:10–26 are sometimes referred to as the Water of Life Discourse.[4] These references in the Gospel of John are also interpreted as the Water of Life.[3]

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".[5][6]

  1. ^ a b David L. Jeffrey (1992) A Dictionary of biblical tradition in English literature ISBN 0-8028-3634-8 pp. 457–458
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Aquinas was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Augustine was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference CKBarrett was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries by Everett Ferguson 2009 ISBN 0-8028-2748-9 p. 730
  6. ^ Maxwell E. Johnson (2007) The rites of Christian initiation: their evolution and interpretation ISBN 0-8146-6215-3 p. 288