Note any repetition of words, phrases, or ideas. This will usually indicate that the theme in question is a primary one in the passage. See if the repeated idea is given different shades of meaning or remains constant with the repetition. In the account of Jesus’ meeting with Nicodemus in John 3:1–8, the word “born” appears eight times in these six verses. Surely this indicates something about the theme for this passage. The significant words you notice in the text will provide a link to other passages