What does John 3:16 mean? Most of us can recite it by memory. From the time of conversion and for often long before, it’s words are resounded throughout or studies, our witnessing, and countless sermons.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” NASB
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” KJV
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” NLT
It is seen throughout the faith to be the ultimate verse of all verses, illustrating perfectly god’s grace and love. But are we right to isolate this verse to illustrate the nature of God and his grace, which is illustrated over and over again in the scriptures? Do we interpret this verse correctly so that people can understand what it means clearly in our modern language?
In it’s common translation, spanning consistently through our most widely used versions of the bible, I believe that this verse is often misinterpreted. It is a “free grace” Armenians delight. In it’s current form, it is read by the majority of Christians in this manner:
For God loved the world (everyone) so (so very) much that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
But is this the correct interpretation of this verse?
The word for world (ko/smov) used in this verse can be translated in several ways. It can be translated as above to the world or the universe, but it can also be translated to mean any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort. For example,
- the Gentiles as contrasted to the Jews (Rom. 11:12 etc)
- of believers only, John 1:29; 3:16; 3:17; 6:33; 12:47 1 Cor. 4:9; 2 Cor. 5:19
Why it is cited as meaning of believers only in Strongs concordance and yet still translated world in most versions of the bible, I do not know.
The word translated as so (ouètw) in this verse can be translated as: even so, 1; exactly, 1; follows, 2; in such a manner, 1; in such a way, 4; just, 2; like, 1; like this, 5; same, 2; same manner, 1; same way, 5; so, 125; such, 2; then, 1; thereby, 1; this, 1; this effect, 1; this is how, 1; this is the way, 2; this manner, 4; this respect, 1; this way, 22; thus, 7; way, 7; way this.
Even further, I do not believe that the word (a)gapa/w), translated in this verse as loved, is accurately depicted in our modern day bibles.
In the Bible, the words most often translated “love” usually have nothing to do with emotional attachment. The love of God, represented in John 3:16, is not about a warm feeling in God’s heart, it’s a choice to take up our pain and sin upon Himself. We don’t understand the love of God because we keep trying to think of it as an emotional feeling. God does have that emotional feeling, but this isn’t it. God also commands us to show this same virtue to others that He shows to us, but it’s not an emotional response, not a feeling exuded by telling people you “love” them.
So what is it? The great “love chapter” in the Bible is 1Cor.13, and none of the modern translations accurately capture the meaning of the Greek word agaph (agape). As bad and outdated as it is, I think the King James Version comes closest with “charity”. Charity is what you do for other people who don’t deserve it, and who don’t do anything for you. It’s what you do because you are a good Christian and Christians do that kind of thing. It’s not an emotional response to the plight of the poor — oh, it might be — but usually it’s a thoughtful choice of how to spend a little of the bounty God gives every one of us, so to help out people less fortunate than we are. “Charity suffers long. Charity is not proud,…” This is not about your emotions, it’s about what you choose to do.
Taking all of this into consideration, I believe a more accurate portrayal and interpretation of John 3:16 is this:
For God demonstrated his (agape) love to the believers (the elect, the chosen, the sheep, those that the father has given to the son) in this manner, that he gave his only son, that those who believe in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
My intention is not to re-write scripture, but only to point out the inadequacy of our current translations of the original Greek terminology. Study of the original Greek language and it’s uniqueness is certainly an important insight into our understanding of scripture. I hope that you will take these language gaps and misinterpretations into consideration when comparing this and other verses to the rest of scripture. The Bible never contradicts itself.
John 6:35-40
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”
Last 5 posts by Vanessa
- Praise To God - July 30th, 2009
- Illustration of the Three Views of Salvation - July 7th, 2009
No Responses to “What Does John 3:16 Mean?”
Trackbacks/Pingbacks