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PreviewAdvancedSpecial charactersHelpHeadingLevel 2Level 3Level 4Level 5FormatInsertLatinLatin extendedIPASymbolsGreekGreek extendedCyrillicArabicArabic extendedHebrewBanglaTamilTeluguSinhalaDevanagariGujaratiThaiLaoKhmerCanadian AboriginalRunesÁáÀàÂâÄäÃãǍǎĀāĂ㥹ÅåĆćĈĉÇçČčĊċĐđĎďÉéÈèÊêËëĚěĒēĔĕĖėĘęĜĝĢģĞğĠġĤĥĦħÍíÌìÎîÏïĨĩǏǐĪīĬĭİıĮįĴĵĶķĹĺĻļĽľŁłŃńÑñŅņŇňÓóÒòÔôÖöÕõǑǒŌōŎŏǪǫŐőŔŕŖŗŘřŚśŜŝŞşŠšȘșȚțŤťÚúÙùÛûÜüŨũŮůǓǔŪūǖǘǚǜŬŭŲųŰűŴŵÝýŶŷŸÿȲȳŹźŽžŻżÆæǢǣØøŒœßÐðÞþƏəFormattingLinksHeadingsListsFilesDiscussionReferencesDescriptionWhat you typeWhat you getItalic''Italic text''Italic textBold'''Bold text'''Bold textBold & italic'''''Bold & italic text'''''Bold & italic textDescriptionWhat you typeWhat you getReferencePage text.<ref>[https://www.example.org/ Link text], additional text.</ref>Page text.[1]Named referencePage text.<ref name="test">[https://www.example.org/ Link text]</ref>Page text.[2]Additional use of the same referencePage text.<ref name="test" />Page text.[2]Display references<references />↑ Link text, additional text.↑ Link text=== Exegesis === <!-- {{Col-begin}} {{Center|Comparison of John 3:15–17 (King James Version)<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203&version=KJV |title=John 3 |publisher=[[BibleGateway.com]] |access-date=12 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220130165036/https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%203&version=KJV |archive-date=30 January 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>}} {{Col-3}} <blockquote>"That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."<br />—John 3:15</blockquote> {{Col-3}} <blockquote>"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."<br />—John 3:16</blockquote> {{Col-3}} <blockquote>"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."<br />—John 3:17</blockquote> {{Col-end}} --> [[File:Piero di Cosimo (Piero di Lorenzo) - St. John the Evangelist, c. 1500.jpg|thumb|upright|[[John the Evangelist]] is thought to have written the verse himself]] John 3:16 has been termed as "the golden text of the Bible",{{sfn|Butler|1961|p=111}} "the gospel in a nutshell",{{sfnm|1a1=Borthwick|1y=2020|1p=4|2a1=Lucado|2y=2007|2p=iv|3a1=Pawson|3y=2014|3p=6}} and "everyman's text".{{sfn|Butler|1961|p=111}} One of the verses pivotal to the [[Johannine theology]],{{sfn|Flanagan|1992|p=986}} it concerns God's motive for sending Jesus.{{sfnm|1a1=Borthwick|1y=2020|1pp=1–3|2a1=Lucado|2y=2007|2pp=87–88, 170, 214|3a1=Webber|3y=2003|3p=137}} In Christianity, it is thought that believing in Jesus grants eternal life to the believer.{{sfnm|1a1=Borthwick|1y=2020|1pp=99–100|2a1=Kieffer|2y=2001|2p=966|3a1=Köstenberger|3y=2004|3pp=128–129}} Eternal life is a dominant theme throughout John's entire Gospel,{{sfn|Harris|2015|p=41}} and its first appearance in the Gospel is in this verse. Theologian [[Larry Hurtado]] sees the verse as reflecting Jesus' importance in Christianity.{{sfn|Hurtado|2005|p=363}} The [[Methodism|Methodist]] minister [[C. K. Barrett]] wrote, "Mention of ... the eternal life given ... to believers ... suggests ... the general setting of the work of Christ in the love and judgement of God."{{sfn|Barrett|1956|p=214}} The verse (which has parallels with John 3:15{{efn|{{Bibleverse||John|3:15|KJV}}: "That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life." ([[KJV]])}} and John 3:17{{efn|{{Bibleverse||John|3:17|KJV}}: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (KJV)}}){{sfnm|1a1=Bruce|1y=1983|1pp=89–91|2a1=Carson|2y=1991|2p=206|3a1=Harris|3y=2015|3pp=12–13|4a1=Kieffer|4y=2001|4p=966}} has been used by some to support [[Christian universalism]],{{sfnm|1a1=Borthwick|1y=2020|1p=4|2a1=Lucado|2y=2007|2p=7}} a view that all humans will eventually be saved by God or denies eternal suffering in [[Hell]].{{sfn|Harris|2003|p=494}} However, [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] bishop [[N. T. Wright]] has argued against this, saying that the "position is quite clear: God in His great love has made one way of salvation for all men without exception. Those who refuse this way have no alternative left to them. And accepting the way of salvation, for [[John the Apostle|John]] as for [[Paul the Apostle|Paul]], is bound up with faith in Jesus Christ."<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Towards a biblical view of universalism |last=Wright |first=N. T. |author-link=N. T. Wright |journal=[[Themelios]] |date=January 1979 |volume=4 |issue=2 |issn=0307-8388 |pages=54–58 }}</ref> ==== Purpose ==== Theologians have assumed the verse's purpose to be that of strengthening the faith of Christians rather than as an evangelical tool. This is because John 3:16 does not contain commands of vital [[sacrament]]s (such as [[Repentance in Christianity|repentance]] and [[Baptism in Christianity|baptism]]).{{sfnm|1a1=Borthwick|1y=2020|1pp=91, 93|2a1=Pawson|2y=2003|2p=880|3a1=Pawson|3y=2014|3p=40}} In the words of theologian [[David Pawson]], it is problematic to use a verse in evangelism that does not tell the hearers "how to respond in proper detail ... that you get a simple decision which is not enough for a real change in life ... It is not dealing with a gospel situation and outward evangelistic thrust".{{sfn|Pawson|2014|p=39}} Instead, the emphasis of the verse is toward continuing belief for Christians.{{sfn|Pawson|2014|p=39}} ==== Christian commentary ==== {{Quote box | quote = "The reward for faith is beyond our comprehension ... For if the Father has given everything he has to the Son, and the Father has eternal life, then he has given to the Son to be eternal life ... Whoever believes in the Son has that toward which he tends, that is, the Son, in whom he believes. But the Son is eternal life; therefore, whoever believes in him has eternal life." | author =—[[Thomas Aquinas]], a Catholic philosopher{{sfn|Aquinas|2010|p=204}} | width = 25em | align = left }} John 3:16 has been popular for theology comments.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Die liefde van god as aanknopingspunt vir 'n gesprek met moslems: Die rol van Joh. 3:16 |trans-title=The love of god as point of contact in the dialogue with muslims: The role of John 3:16 |last=Verster |first=P. |date=December 2009 |journal=[[Acta Theologica]] |volume=29 |issue=2 |issn=2309-9089 }}</ref> In evangelist [[Andreas J. Köstenberger]]'s opinion, the verse summarizes central teachings in [[Christianity]] that are to put beliefs in Jesus,{{sfn|Köstenberger|2020|p=383}} and "there is no middle ground: believing in the Son (resulting in eternal life) or refusing to believe (resulting in destruction) are the only options."{{sfn|Köstenberger|2004|pp=129–130}} Christian philosopher [[William Lane Craig]] said the verse denotes salvation through Jesus only.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.reasonablefaith.org/media/reasonable-faith-podcast/five-steps-to-atheism |title=Five Steps to Atheism |date=15 July 2016 |website=[[Reasonable Faith]] |access-date=9 March 2022 |last1=Harris |first1=Kevin |last2=Craig |first2=William Lane |author-link2=William Lane Craig |archive-date=9 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309120923/https://www.reasonablefaith.org/media/reasonable-faith-podcast/five-steps-to-atheism |url-status=live }}</ref> According to theologian Paul T. Butler: "God, motivated by infinite love, sent His only son ... not to condemn but to save everyone who believes in His Son ... This text shows God loving us, not for His sake alone, but for our sakes."{{sfn|Butler|1961|p=111}} Biblical scholar [[F. F. Bruce]] interpreted John 3:16 that God has a limitless and universal love to all humans.{{sfn|Bruce|1983|p=90}} Barrett noted that the salvation would only be advantageous whenever there is a belief in Jesus.{{sfn|Barrett|1956|p=180}} [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] theologian [[D. A. Carson]] said the verse "makes it clear that, as applied to human beings, the love of God is not the consequence of their loveliness but of the sublime truth that 'God is love'."{{sfn|Carson|1991|p=205}} Theologian [[Robert E. Webber]] described it as "an invitation to embrace a sweeping story that encompassed the whole of history".{{sfn|Webber|2003|pp=137–138}} Bible commentator [[J. Ramsey Michaels]] wrote: "God's intent is a saving intent, and the scope of his salvation is worldwide. His love for the whole human race expressed itself in the giving of his only Son [who would] die on the cross."{{sfn|Michaels|1995|p=59}} [[Bruce Vawter]], a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] priest, stated: "The only explanation that we shall ever have of the gift of eternal life made possible for us in the redemption achieved in Christ is the incredible love of God for the world."{{sfn|Vawter|1968|p=430}} [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] priest [[Leon Morris]] compared the idea of God's universal love with [[Jews as the chosen people|God's exclusive love to Jews]],{{sfn|Morris|1971|p=229}} which is frequently mentioned in the [[Old Testament]].<ref>{{Cite journal |title=A Chosen People in a Pluralist Nation: Horace Kallen and the Jewish-American Experience |journal=[[Religion and American Culture]] |date=Summer 2006 |last=Greene |first=Daniel |doi=10.1525/rac.2006.16.2.161 |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=161–194 |s2cid=143487935 }}</ref> He then concluded that "it is a distinctively Christian idea that God's love is wide enough to embrace all mankind. His love is not confined to any national group or any spiritual elite. It is a love which proceeds from the fact that He is love."{{sfn|Morris|1971|p=229}} [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] pastor Lamar Williamson found that John 3:16 emphasises the significance of Jesus in Christianity as God the Son.{{sfn|Williamson|2004|p=37}} Catholic theologian Neal M. Flanagan said that the verse is pivotal to the [[Johannine theology]].{{sfn|Flanagan|1992|p=986}} ==== Status as Jesus' words ==== Beginning in John 3:21, the conversation becomes Jesus' monologue.{{sfnm|1a1=Brown|1y=1988|1p=33|2a1=Carson|2y=1991|2pp=198, 203|3a1=Harris|3y=2015|3pp=4, 6|4a1=Lewis|4y=2005|4p=22}} Because ancient Bible copies do not use quotation marks for dialogues,{{sfnm|1a1=Carson|1y=1991|1p=204|2a1=Knuth|2y=1991|2p=172|3a1=Morris|3y=1971|3p=228}} biblical scholars have disputed on where Jesus and Nicodemus' conversation ends.{{sfnm|1a1=Hurtado|1y=2005|1p=363|2a1=Vawter|2y=1968|2p=430}} Speculations that John 3:16 is the personal commentary of an evangelist (traditionally named [[John the Evangelist]]) have arisen,{{sfnm|1a1=Harris|1y=2015|1p=33|2a1=Palmer|2y=1978|2p=45|3a1=Tenney|3y=1995|3p=50}} but it remains controversial.{{sfnm|1a1=Köstenberger|1y=2020|1p=382|2a1=Perkins|2y=1990|2p=956|3a1=Vawter|3y=1968|3p=430}} Pawson said it is unusual for Jesus to speak from the third-person perspective,{{sfn|Pawson|2003|p=881}} or to repeat or expand on what he had said. Jesus never referred to himself as the "[[Only-begotten Son|only begotten Son]]"{{sfn|Pawson|2014|pp=34–35}} but as the "[[Son of man (Christianity)|Son of Man]]".{{sfnm|1a1=Borthwick|1y=2020|1p=21|2a1=Harris|2y=2015|2p=34}} The only begotten son is what the evangelist calls Jesus in [[John 1]].{{sfnm|1a1=Pawson|1y=2014|1p=35|2a1=Morris|2y=1971|2pp=228–229}} Theologian [[Robert E. Van Voorst]] has commented that it is not important to know if John 3:16 is Jesus's words, and that words not spoken by Jesus are no less true than those that are.{{sfn|Voorst|2017|pp=112–113}} Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! 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