John 3: 16 Commentary

THE GREAT LOVE STORY

LSTEN: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXPehxZTrio

By TIUCHE (wrote 2749 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 11/10/2011 16:14 pm

Whoever believes in salvation through the LORD Jesus Christ has eternal life and, in a moment in time, passes from spiritual death to spiritual life. “Whoever,” includes immoral persons of all sorts. God excludes no one who believes in salvation through His finished work at Calvary’s cross.

The love of God is greater than man can ever imagine. He died for immoral people too (John 3:16). His offer of salvation is open to “whoever” believes. That is the good news of salvation!

By Roland G (wrote 1413 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 7/20/2011 15:31 pm

James R:
Though Jesus Christ hath a BEGINNING-
a. “In the beginning was the Word (Logos)-John 1:1;
b. “He is the image of the invisible God, the FIRSTBORN over all creation..”
-Colosian 1:15;
He called Himself the Son of man and God created man in His own Image
-Genesis 1:27;
C. “the words of the Amen…the BEGINNING of God’s creation…”
-Revelation 3:14;

^Yet we must remember He was before Abraham-John 8:58)…and…

^This is what He tells us believers in Him:

“To him who overcomes will I grant to sit with me on my throne,
EVEN AS I OVERCAME and sat down with My Father on His throne..”
-Revelation 3:21…

“And they overcame “THE DEVIL” with the blood of the Lamb, and with the Word of their testimony, not loving their lives even when faced with the’last enemy’-death! -Revelation 12:9-11,John 8:44

WHO DESPITES THE seeming HOPELESSNESS BELIEVES IN GOD THAT HE IS ABLE TO DO THAT WHICH HE HATH PROMISED (Romans 4:18, 21).

By TIUCHE (wrote 2749 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/24/2011 06:01 am

Roland G: Your contributions are essential as we get to the bottom of the meaning of this verse. You have proved yourself highly educated and take the bible seriously. Your viewpoint is important to this discussion.

STRONGS AND THE KJV

Most bible study c.d.’s have Strongs. As you know I have Strongs. Strongs has a reference to how all of the words are translated into KJV. This gives a base understanding of a Greek word. It is not the true translation.

It is no secret that the KJV mistranslated many words. Research has been done, and is posted all over, to show the many mistranslations in the KJV. That is why it is essential to read many translations and not get caught up in the ‘King James only’ doctrine.

There is a true reason why the King James is called the ‘authorized version’. The Church of England and the King of England only would allow this version in their churches and not other. There were consequences if another version was read there.

A BEING FROM ETERNITY CANNOT BE BEGOTTEN

Jesus is the ‘Logos’ of God, as described (scholars note is poorly translated ‘Word’) in John 1:1. He is from eternity. Yet when he is described in English as ‘begotten’ that means he had a beginning.

1. No ‘begotten’ being can be as old as the father. He came from ‘everlasting’ as described in Michah 5:2.

2. A ‘begotten’ being is has a beginning. Yes, physically he was born of Mary, yet the Logos always existed.

3. Jehovah’s Witnesses use this verse to demote him to ‘creature status’ rather that ‘creator status’. Thus, making Jesus an angel.

4. Issac was also described as begotten. Issac was not from eternity.

JOHN 3:16: AND IMPORTANT VERSE
This verse, along with John 1:1, are of the most important verses to figuring out who it is we worship in the religion of Christianity. It is therefore imperative, that a truthful and thoughtful analysis is put forth.

By James Richter (wrote 536 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/23/2011 21:12 pm

James (Post #15): Also, the external link below may be of service.

http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/3439.htm

By Roland G (wrote 1413 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/23/2011 00:10 am

James (Post #15): I look at original language text. The word “begotten” appears in the Greek. That said, I do not condemn any translation for the reason translators do their best to communicate with the general population.

Below is the Greek text for John 3:16. “Only begotten” appears in parenthesis:

“οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν τὸν (μονογενῆ) ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ᾽ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον.”

Behold how he loved:

ἔλεγον οὖν οἱ Ἰουδαῖοι• ἴδε πῶς ἐφίλει αὐτόν. 1

καὶ ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀπέθανεν, ἵνα οἱ ζῶντες μηκέτι ἑαυτοῖς ζῶσιν ἀλλὰ τῷ ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν ἀποθανόντι καὶ ἐγερθέντι. 2

μείζονα ταύτης ἀγάπην οὐδεὶς ἔχει, ἵνα τις τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ θῇ ὑπὲρ τῶν φίλων αὐτοῦ. 3

ὅθεν καὶ σῴζειν εἰς τὸ παντελὲς δύναται τοὺς προσερχομένους δι᾽ αὐτοῦ τῷ θεῷ, πάντοτε ζῶν εἰς τὸ ἐντυγχάνειν ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν. 4

ἐν τῇ οἰκίᾳ τοῦ πατρός μου μοναὶ πολλαί εἰσιν• εἰ δὲ μή, εἶπον ἂν ὑμῖν ὅτι πορεύομαι ἑτοιμάσαι τόπον ὑμῖν; καὶ ἐὰν πορευθῶ καὶ ἑτοιμάσω τόπον ὑμῖν, πάλιν ἔρχομαι καὶ παραλήμψομαι ὑμᾶς πρὸς ἐμαυτόν, ἵνα ὅπου εἰμὶ ἐγὼ καὶ ὑμεῖς ἦτε. 5

Πάτερ, ὃ δέδωκάς μοι, θέλω ἵνα ὅπου εἰμὶ ἐγὼ κἀκεῖνοι ὦσιν μετ᾽ ἐμοῦ, ἵνα θεωρῶσιν τὴν δόξαν τὴν ἐμήν, ἣν δέδωκάς μοι ὅτι ἠγάπησάς με πρὸ καταβολῆς κόσμου. 6

Πρὸ δὲ τῆς ἑορτῆς τοῦ πάσχα εἰδὼς ὁ Ἰησοῦς ὅτι ἦλθεν αὐτοῦ ἡ ὥρα ἵνα μεταβῇ ἐκ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου πρὸς τὸν πατέρα, ἀγαπήσας τοὺς ἰδίους τοὺς ἐν τῷ κόσμῳ εἰς τέλος ἠγάπησεν αὐτούς. 7

ἡμεῖς ἀγαπῶμεν, ὅτι αὐτὸς πρῶτος ἠγάπησεν ἡμᾶς. 8

ἡ γὰρ ἀγάπη τοῦ Χριστοῦ συνέχει ἡμᾶς, κρίναντας τοῦτο, ὅτι εἷς ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀπέθανεν, ἄρα οἱ πάντες ἀπέθανον• καὶ ὑπὲρ πάντων ἀπέθανεν, ἵνα οἱ ζῶντες μηκέτι ἑαυτοῖς ζῶσιν ἀλλὰ τῷ ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν ἀποθανόντι καὶ ἐγερθέντι. 9

ἐὰν τὰς ἐντολάς μου τηρήσητε, μενεῖτε ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ μου, καθὼς ἐγὼ τὰς ἐντολὰς τοῦ πατρός μου τετήρηκα καὶ μένω αὐτοῦ ἐν τῇ ἀγάπῃ. 10
______________

1. John 11:36
2. 2 Cor. 5:15
3. John 15:13
4. Heb. 7:25
5. John 14:2,3
6. John 17:24
7. John 13:1
8. 1John 4:19
9. 2 Cor. 5:14,15
10. John 15:10

By Roland G (wrote 1413 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/22/2011 22:44 pm

Roland G: The ‘Only begotten’ mistranslation seems to be made into a creed of some kind. Notice other translations do not use this term ‘begotten’.

Living Bible
John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son

New International
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son

New Jerusalem with Apocrypha
John 3:16 For this is how God loved the world: he gave his only Son,

By James Richter (wrote 536 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/22/2011 20:06 pm

Milton Hale (Post #12): “The person who died on the cross did He died as a human?”

Yes, Jesus Christ died in His humanity, but, on the third day He was raised from the dead (2 Tim. 2:8-13; 1 Cor. 15:19=20).

By Roland G (wrote 1413 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/22/2011 06:44 am

Milton Hale (Post #12): Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man. He took on a dual nature to die for the sins of humankind. Only like kind can redeem like kind. As God, Jesus Christ was not able to sin. As Man, Jesus Christ was able not to sin. So, what does “begotten” son mean?

It means God the Father GAVE Jesus Christ, the Second Person of the Godhead Three, as a gift to humanity. Jesus Christ voluntarily agreed to take on humanity to die for the sins of all humankind, so that whoever accepts His sacrifice at Calvary’s cross shall have everlasting life. Believers in the LORD Jesus Christ are dead to sin because Christ died for all. Our real life is hidden with Christ in God (Col. 2:20; 3:3; Rom. 6:11; 2 Cor. 5:14; 1 Pet. 4:2).

A few key words:

GAVE - δωκεν, verb indicative aorist active 3rd person singular from δίδωμι; of persons: (1) of what is given by a person in superior position to one in subordinate position; as a task, equivalent to τίθημι, appoint, assign (Acts 13:20); as authority to carry out a task entrust, grant, put (Matt. 9:8; John 3:35); as a favor or privilege give, bestow (Matt. 4.9); (b) of what is given by a person in inferior position to one in superior position; as an acknowledgment devote, offer, bring (Luke 2.24); as a service gift surrender, give up (Matt. 20.28);

BEGOTTEN - μονογενῆ adjective normal accusative masculine singular no degree from μονογενής; μονογενής, ές of what is the only one of its kind of class unique; (1) an only child born to human parents one and only (Luke 7:12; 8:42); only child (Luke 9:38); (2) as a child born in a unique way; (a) used of God’s Son Jesus; only begotten; (John 1:14); (b) used of Abraham’s son Isaac; ὁ μ. his only true son (Heb. 11:17)

By Roland G (wrote 1413 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/22/2011 06:31 am

eXPLAIN begotten son This implies a lesser person than God .Jesus did claim to be God and He came to die but God cannot die .The person who died on the cross did He died as a human

By Milton Hayle (wrote 1 Bible Commentary - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/22/2011 03:57 am

LOOK UPON THE BRAZEN SERPENT AND LIVE

The people had just won a battle, but due to the hard journey…the people murmured against God and Moses (Number2 21:1-5).

So the Lord punished them by poisonous snakes(verse 6)…many died,those left humbled themselves by confessing that they sinned (verse 7)…asked the humblest man ever for help, and he prayed for them, and the Lord instructed Moses:

“MAKE THEE A FIERY SERPENT AND SET IT UPON A POLE; AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS, THAT EVERYONE THAT IS BITTEN, WHEN HE LOOKED UPON “THE BRASS SERPENT UPON A POLE” SHALL L I V E !” -Number 12:8. This was the promised and He is faithful that promise…

Now unto us was made ‘JESUS CHRIST CRUCIFIED UPON A POLE, and whosoever looks upon Him, shall live!

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life!”-John 3:14-15. ( Just two verse below john 3:16)!

By TIUCHE (wrote 2749 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/1/2011 12:51 pm

@TIUCHE
I AGREE vehemently, save for the opening statement “Jesus’death on the cross was the first….”!
I try to not make this sound as though I am attacking you. I am happy you have your faith. It is that the salvation doctrine goes against what is within Jesus’ quotation marks.

By V. James (wrote 132 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/1/2011 10:43 am

JESUS DEATH ON THE CROSS WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT FIRST STEP OF THE PLAN OF SALVATION

Contrary to any claims of man that Jesus died by accidents through circumstances during Roman Times; the death of Jesus on the cross was the First STep in the Plan of Redemption.Jesus knew what was His mission. He sweeted out blood to fulfill that mission…then when He fulfilled it He said IT IS FINISHED! The First STep has been laid…the foundation had been positioned…set unmoveable-really finished!…now the rest of the steps will follow….

Thousand of years before the birth of Jesus and His death on the cross as the Lamb of God slain for the sin of the world…God had revealed and laid down the Seven (7)STEPS or the Seven Feast of His Kingdom to His chosen people. They celebrated them annually w/o knowing what these shadows of the things to come mean, they thought it was only about their history. The 1st Feast is:

1. The Passover where the lamb was slain and its blood marked on the doorpost of believers in Egypt….this was the most important first step of God plan…and this was fulfilled when Jesus died on the cross as the lamb of God…people renamed this as the Lord Supper…

The rest of the six step which God laid down during old testament times are just there in the Bible waiting to be fulfilled…but not seen by people in the dark.

By TIUCHE (wrote 2749 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/1/2011 09:06 am

To this all I will add an end point. Jesus’ death was inconsequential, save for the fact it fulfilled a bit of prophecy. That God had to atone for our sin is a falsehood. Our deeds do God no good, and our sins cause God no harm. Our sins do, however, sequester us from God!! It is for our good that we come to God with a contrite heart in admission of our sin.

By V. James (wrote 132 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 5/31/2011 21:16 pm

V. James: The ‘Son’ designation cannot be literal and is figurative.

TOPIC: ONLY BEGOTTEN A MISTRANSLATION?
A point of contention around this mistranslated verse is the term ‘only begotten’ or Greek ‘monos gennetheis’. The NIV translates as ‘one and only’. ‘Unique One’ would be the best translation.

The term ‘begotten’ is used to describe Issac as well. Some translations call Issac ‘only begotten’. This is not true as Abraham had 7 sons. (Cf. Gen. 16:15 and 25:2). Mary also had other children. Cf. Mark 6:3.

IS THE ‘SON’ FIGURE AND ETERNAL BEING OR NOT?
To call the ‘Logos’ (also mistranslated as ‘The Word’) (Cf. Jn 1:1.) a BEGOTTEN being is to DENY HIS ETERNITY (Cf. Micah 5:2). This demotes him to ‘creature’ status instead of ‘creator’ (Cf. Jn 1:3). No ‘begotten being’ can be as old as his father. Thus,the ‘Son’ designation cannot be literal.

Physically he was begotten of Mary. However the ‘Logos’ always existed and was never ‘begotten’. Jesus, through his death and resurrection, is made King and Priest. Cf. Acts 13:32-33 and Hebr. 1:5, 5:5.

CONCLUSION
This verse is the favorite verse of many ‘ignorant Christians’. Many Christians believe Jesus is dishonored if he is not called ‘only begotten’. I was programmed in the church of Christ that way as well. ‘Begotten’ is a confusing term and the Jehovah’s Witnesses have taken full advantage of that.

By James Richter (wrote 536 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 5/31/2011 20:39 pm

John’s word is clearly NOT God’s word. Be careful to discern truth from error!

By V. James (wrote 132 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 5/31/2011 13:28 pm

I DOUBTED GOD’S LOVE AND HIS WORD

When i was younger, naive of the world and the way of God, I doubted God’s love and His Word…i wondered if He loves the people of the earth, why instead of giving Himself to die for them, He gave His Son to die for them? Did He love Himself more than His Son? He sacrificed His Son for His own glory that is what i thought against Him!

It was only after I got married and have a son that i began to understand His great Love for us. There came various times that my son got sick and i prayed that instead of my son dying let my life be for his life. My life was empty without my son…i cried to God for the life of my son & daughter..let them live before Him. My life did not matter, it was their life that mattered…so i began to comprehend.

And i even appreciated John 3:16 …when i heard stories of how fathers reacted to their son’s death during the Japanese occupation. The japanese soldiers manning a certain camp were quite cruel. They would lineup captive fathers and their sons. Then in front of the fathers they would begin killing the sons one by one. It was told that some fathers died ahead before even their sons were executed. Their emotions and love were so great for their sons that it caused them to die even before their sons were executed…it was sort of a picture of John 3:16.Now i understand…

“what you tried to say to me…how you tried to set them free…they would not listen …they did not know how…perhaps they will listen now…” starry starry night /don maclean…just for a thought…

By TIUCHE (wrote 2749 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 5/31/2011 10:42 am

The gospel writer, John, provides his own self-produced dogma. “Only begotten son of God” is an assertion without qualification from the words of Christ Jesus, and without qualification from so much as one sentence in previous scripture. It is, more so, ridicule of God (to think of Him as requiring family, as human do).

By V. James (wrote 132 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 5/31/2011 03:47 am

Darkness covers and hides, whereas light exposes to be seen. Since the evil doers do not want their deeds and themselves being exposed, they like to remain in darkness.So they love darkness and avoid light. Jesus is the light of the world. He is the life giving light. People avoids Jesus for fear of their sins exposed and as a result they deprive themselves of the life that God has made available in Jesus His son. They remain in their sin. Where sin is, there reigns death. The death is the deepest and the most dense darkenss.

By Jayant Christian (wrote 287 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/18/2010 02:44 am

The love of God tells us to love the light rather than the darkness of our own deeds, which is the condemnation (Jn. 3:16 with 21 & 19).

By P. Ho (wrote 8 Bible Commentaries - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 6/17/2010 22:44 pm

I read and understood the why son of man should praise the lord it’s too touching for person new in the act.

By ouma paul (wrote 1 Bible Commentary - permalink to this Commentary)
Posted on: 5/18/2010 06:30 am