What I found interesting when I translated verse 12 is that the English word "received" (Jn. 1:12, KJV) is from the same Greek word used in Revelation 22:17, where it is translated as "take": "And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Rev. 22:17, KJV).
The Greek word translated "received" in John 1:12 is elabon, the aorist tense of lambanō, meaning "took" or "received". So John 1:12 could be translated: "But as many as took Him (the Word), He (God the Father) gave them the right to be called children of God, even to those who believe in His name". This means (in contrast to what some Calvinists teach) that "as many as" actively "take" Christ by faith will be saved!
In my translation below, I have given expanded definitions for some of the words (e.g. "took/received"); italicized words have been added.
My Translation of John 1:12 (1:12-13)
12 ὅσοι δὲ ἔλαβον αὐτόν, ἔδωκεν αὐτοῖς ἐξουσίαν τέκνα Θεοῦ γενέσθαι, τοῖς πιστεύουσιν εἰς τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ,
But as many as took/received Him, He gave to them the right to be children of God, to the ones who believe in His name,
13 οἳ οὐκ ἐξ αἱμάτων οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος σαρκὸς οὐδὲ ἐκ θελήματος ἀνδρὸς ἀλλ’ ἐκ Θεοῦ ἐγεννήθησαν.
who were not born from a natural bloodline, nor from the will of the flesh [i.e. "trying to be better," as Dr. Ironside has explained it], nor from the desire of a man/male/husband, but from God.
Does John 1:13 support Calvinism?
Calvinists like to interpret John 1:13 to mean that God unconditionally elects certain people to salvation, apart from a person's will. But that's not what verse 13 is saying at all. The Greek word for "man" (Jn. 1:13, ESV) is andros, which in this context would be better translated as "a man" or "a husband". This is exactly how several of the English Bible translations render it (for example, see John 1:13 in the NET Bible). So John 1:13 doesn't support the Calvinistic notion of unconditional election to salvation, but is instead saying that the new birth is not a physical birth, i.e. it is not the result of a husband's desire for his wife, but it is instead a spiritual birth (cf. Jesus' words to Nicodemus in John chapter 3).
"Who will take the son?"
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam war broke out the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month late there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art. The young man held out his package. "I know this isn't much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."
The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift." The father hung the portrait over his mantle. Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection. On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?" There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted. "We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one." But the auctioneer persisted. "Will someone bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?" Another voice shouted angrily. "We didn't come to see this painting. We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts. Get on with the real bids!" But still the auctioneer continued. "The son! The son! Who'll take the son?"
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. "I'll give $10 for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. "We have $10, who will bid $20?" "Give it to him for $10. Let's see the masters." "$10 is the bid, won't someone bid $20?" The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections. The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going once, twice, SOLD for $10!"
A man sitting on the second row shouted. "Now let's get on with the collection!" The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm sorry, the auction is over." "What about the paintings?" "I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time. Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets everything!"
—Author unknown.
Of course, eternal life cannot be bought with money. The Lord Jesus paid for it with His own precious blood (1 Pet. 1:18-20), and therefore eternal life is a "free gift" (Rom. 6:23). So the story is not an exact picture of salvation. But it does illustrate the wonderful truth of John 1:12 that as many as took the Son, to them God the Father gave the right to everything!1
ENDNOTE:
1 See 1 Corinthians 3:21-23.
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