John 3:16 interpetative translation

[Van]

You have got to love a Gentile claiming Jesus came only for the Jews.

 

[kyredneck]

The bad shepherds are contrasted with the good shepherd in Ezekiel 34.

15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord Jehovah.
16 I will seek that which was lost, and will bring back that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick: but the fat and the strong I will destroy; I will feed them in justice. Ezek 34

24 But he answered and said, I was not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Mt 15

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep.
14 I am the good shepherd; and I know mine own, and mine own know me, Jn 10

16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice: and they shall become one flock, one shepherd. Jn 10

1 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith Jehovah. Isa 54

26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, which is our mother.
27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; Break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: For more are the children of the desolate than of her that hath the husband. Gal 4

 

[Van]

God [Agapao] loved humanity in this way, He gave is uniquely divine Son so that everyone believing into Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

Here God demonstrated His unconditional love for fallen humanity, for while we were yet sinners, He gave His Son so that everyone believing into Him will not perish but have everlasting life. This act of love bestowed benefit, the means of salvation, to fallen humanity.

Is "Agapao" used in the inspired NT to convey more than one meaning? Yes

1) The sacrificial and unconditional love of one entity (God or human) toward another entity (God or human). If this love is from humans, it is motivated from humility, to bestow benefit or glory.

2) The other meaning, "agapeo" love directed from lust or pride, toward someone or something else is found in verses such as John 3:19.

 

[kyredneck]

For God so loved His arrangement that He gave His only begotten Son, so that every one who is believing in him shall not perish in the wrath soon to come but have everlasting life.

John 3:16 is a statement of fact, NOT an invitation.

Acts Of The Apostles 2:40

Acts Of The Apostles 3:23

Revelation 18:4

Luke 13:1-5

 

[Van]

Ever wonder why so many off the wall, outlier, viewpoints are proclaimed non-stop on this forum?

John 3:16: What’s It All About? - The Gospel Coalition

God [Agapao] loved humanity in this way, He gave is uniquely divine Son so that everyone believing into Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

Everyone and anyone whose faith in Christ is credited as righteousness by God alone, will not perish. Thus all are invited to put their full faith and devotion upon Christ alone. Full Stop

 

[Robert165]

I think one of the most important points here is that John 3:16 should be read as part of the argument beginning in verses 14–15 rather than as an isolated statement.

The Greek houtōs seems to point primarily to manner — “in this way God loved the world” — because the following clause explains how that love was demonstrated: He gave His Son. At the same time, I don't think this excludes the magnitude of God's love; the act itself demonstrates how extraordinary that love is.

The NET Bible translation notes on John 3:16 are helpful here because they discuss the wording and some of the translation difficulties surrounding the verse.

I would also be cautious about narrowing kosmos (“world”) too quickly. John uses the word in several ways, so its meaning has to be determined from both the immediate context and John's wider usage. In John 3:16–17, the repeated reference to the world seems deliberately broad, especially alongside the statement that the Son was sent so that the world might be saved through Him.

On monogenēs, “unique” or “one and only” communicates an important part of the sense. I don't think the doctrine of Christ's nature should be built primarily from the English expression “only begotten.” John's broader presentation of the Son, especially John 1:1–18, is much more important for that question.

The Greek text of John 3:16 can also be examined word by word, including houtōs, monogenēs, kosmos and the verb for believing.

The same principle applies to “believes.” John 3:16 is not simply a detached formula about intellectual agreement. The verses that follow contrast belief and unbelief, light and darkness, and people's response to the light. That context gives “believing” considerably more depth.

There is also a detailed discussion of John 3:16 covering the surrounding context, the major Greek terms, different translations, and several of the main Christian interpretations of the verse.

For that reason, I think a good interpretive translation should preserve the simplicity of John 3:16 rather than trying to settle every theological question inside the translation itself. The translation can communicate what the Greek says, while exegesis can deal separately with the larger questions surrounding houtōs, kosmos, monogenēs, faith, and eternal life.

 

[kyredneck]

the most important points here is that John 3:16

is a statement of fact, NOT an invitation.

 

[Martin Marprelate]

Special Topic:Kosmos

"only begotten Son" This means "unique, one of a kind." It should not be understood as "only begotten" in (1) a sexual sense or (2) the sense that there are no other children. There are just no other children like Jesus. See fuller note at John 1:14.

THe Greek word is monogenes, and it could come from genao, 'beget,' or genea, 'a kind.' Hence, either 'unique' or 'only begotten' are possible translations. What is not correct are the translations of the NIV, ESV and others, 'only' or 'one and only.' These are factually incorrect since the Lord Jesus is not the only Son. Gal. 3:26. 'For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.'
The Lord Jesus is unique in many ways, but one of those is that He was begotten. Matt. 1:20. '...Saying, "Jospeh, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit."' The Greek word translated 'conceived' is a derivitive of genao and could (should?) therefore be translated as 'begotten.'
I therefore prefer the translation of 'only begotten' for monogenes which is found, not only in the KJV, but also in the NKJV and NASB (1995).

 

[Van]

Again and again, the mistaken mistranslation of Monogenes is given credence. It does not mean beget, it means unique, one of a kind. God has many sons, but only one is unique, one of a kind, and that is God incarnate, Jesus.

If we ask, in what way was Jesus, a Son of God, unique and one of a kind, the answer is He was God incarnate, and quite unique from Adam or any born anew believer.

John uses "world" in two ways, to refer to humanity and the fallen value system of humanity.

The considerable depth of "believing" comes from the preceding preposition, "eis" which means "into." Everyone believing into Him, will not perish but have everlasting life. Not, everyone believing in or on Him, as soils 2 and 3 of Matthew 13 demonstrate. In order to believe into Him, God must credit your faith as righteousness, and on that basis, He transfers you out of the realm of darkness and into the kingdom of His Beloved Son.

God loved humanity in this way, He gave is uniquely divine Son so that everyone believing into Him will not perish but have everlasting life.

 

[Kai]

John 3:16 is a statement of fact, NOT an invitation.

One can make the argument that John 3:16 is simply a statement of fact that everyone believing in Him has eternal life. Fair enough. At the same time, we have other passages, such as 1 Timothy 2:4, which tell us that He desires everyone to believe Him.

 

[Van]

One can make the argument that John 3:16 is simply a statement of fact that everyone believing in Him has eternal life. Fair enough. At the same time, we have other passages, such as 1 Timothy 2:4, which tell us that He desires everyone to believe Him.

Yes, someone can make an argument that 2 + 2 = 5. However, God gave His Son so that everyone believing into Him will not perish but have everlasting life. Gee, that means if anyone believes into Him, good happens. Naw, I am NOT attracted by the gospel. Nosiree bob. Nothing to see here, I should move along. What me worry. OTOH, if I put my complete trust and commitment toward Christ, I too could have everlasting life. That sounds like a pretty good solicitation. But let's not call it an invitation or call of the gospel, or draw of the gospel.

Is the gospel the power of God for salvation. Romans 1:16

 

[Ascetic X]

I doubt that God will be displeased if John 3:16 is viewed as an invitation. It sounds strongly inviting to me. I am sure John is trying to persuade people to believe in Jesus throughout his gospel.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 20

30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.

31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

 

[shodan]

Baptists are split on the specifics of John 3:16. When I was young, and the "Bible" was the KJV, we memorized the verse this way: For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.

1) The first issue is that some thought the verse was saying how much God loved. Now scholars translate the verse to indicate the idea is how or in what manner God loved.

2) Next, the translation of Kosmos (G2889) as world is ambiguous. The Greek word refers to an interrelated system, such as a planet or a society. Contextually, in this verse "kosmos" refers to fallen humanity.

3) Next the idea of "give" certainly indicates to provide or make available for use. Looking a little deeper the idea is that the gift would provide a blessing (shall not perish).

4) "Only begotten" is a mistranslation of "monogenes" and should be translated "one of a kind," unique" or "uniquely divine." Jesus is not God's only Son, as Adam was also the son of God, and every born anew believer is also a child of God. However Jesus was one of a kind, uniquely divine, God incarnate.

5) "Whosoever believes" refers to an undetermined segment of fallen humanity, not a preselected segment.

6) In Him refers to those who spiritually enter into Christ's spiritual body, as the preposition translated "in" means "into." Since humanity is not able to change their spiritual location (going from the realm of darkness into the marvelous light of God's kingdom) "into" refers to God crediting the person's faith as "righteous faith" and on that basis transferring the person into Christ.

7) Once placed within Christ, the person is made (eternally) alive together with Christ.

When these observations are addressed, the resulting interpretive translation reads:

​

God loved humanity in this way, He gave is uniquely divine Son so that everyone believing into Him will not perish but have eternal life. ​

Yes, that
"first issue is that some thought the verse was saying how much God loved." In King James day, people understood the grammar. Most modern American Christians do not, as this pastor did not in this example.... The Easter Message and John 3:16

 

[Ascetic X]

Yes, that
"first issue is that some thought the verse was saying how much God loved." In King James day, people understood the grammar. Most modern American Christians do not, as this pastor did not in this example.... The Easter Message and John 3:16

You and others are being incredibly nitpicky, trying to downplay the enormity of God’s love expressed in Christ. You are attempting to sedate this exhilarating verse of salvation.

Shame.

QUOTE

A few weeks ago, I heard a pastor, using this text, emphasizing that God sooooooo loved the world. The main focus of the verse was not even acknowledged [‘love’ replaced Christ as the focus, for further reading, (be a disciple/learner) see my book…].

‘So’ or ‘Thus’: ‘in a manner or way indicated,’ hence, “God thus loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…”

Or “This is how God loved the world, he gave his son…” He gave him up to the cross, for you, for me. This is how God loved the world. And the great confirmation of this act of love came on the third day with the greatest event in all history: The Resurrection.

“For God so [thus; in this manner] loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

END QUOTE

 

[Kai]

For God so loved the world... In what way?

In the same way He loved the rich young ruler, who went away sorrowful and unsaved at that moment.

Mark 10:21 (ESV)
And Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”

In the same way He loved John the apostle.

John 13:23 (ESV)
One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side

In the same way that is consistent with His nature.

Psalm 145:8 (ESV)
The Lord is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.

 

[Van]

Yes, that
"first issue is that some thought the verse was saying how much God loved." In King James day, people understood the grammar. Most modern American Christians do not, as this pastor did not in this example.... The Easter Message and John 3:16

I agree, John 3:16 is describing the way in which God sacrificially loved human society, the world so to speak, and of course the manner of love presents a tremendous love, giving His Son as a human sacrifice so that everyone believing into Him would not perish.

 

[Van]

For God so loved the world... In what way?

In the same way He loved the rich young ruler, who went away sorrowful and unsaved at that moment.


In the same way He loved John the apostle.


In the same way that is consistent with His nature.

Yes, Jesus had a steadfast love toward John, meaning Jesus would act sacrificially to bestow benefit upon John unconditionally, just like our Redeemer, the Lamb of God, did toward all of human society.

And I agree, the Hebrew hesed carries that very same meaning as the Greek in John 3:16.