Found in Mt. 27:51; Mk. 15:38; Lk. 1:3; Jn. 3:3, 7, 31; 19:11, 23; Acts 26:5; Gal. 4:9; Jas. 1:17; 3:15, 17, the Greek adverb “anothen” meant “from the top,” “from the beginning,” or “from above.”

The veil of the temple was torn “from the top” (Mt. 27:51; Mk. 15:38).  Luke’s account of Jesus’ life was traced “from the first” (Lk. 1:3).  Jesus said a person must be “born again” (Jn. 3:3, 7), and we need to listen to Him because He is “from above” (Jn. 3:31).  Civil authority has power because it is given “from above” (Jn. 19:11).  In Acts 26:5 this adverb has the sense of “a long time.”  In Jas. 1:17; 3:15, 17 the idea is “from above” (i.e. from the Father).