John 3:16 "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."
John 3:16 is one of the most popular verses among professing Christians. Many say that this verse declares that God loves every single person in the world. Many also say that this verse implies that man has a free will. This is just not so.
First, lets look at the word "world." In Greek it is kosmos (kos'-mos) and it means an orderly arrangement, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively. It is used in Scriptures quite often, if not always, in a general sense and not an absolute sense, meaning every single man, women and child. For an example, in John 17:9, Jesus is praying to the Father and He says that He prays not for the world, but those that the Father has given Him out of the world. In this verse world does not include the believers, but the unbelievers, those that were not given to the Son. There are many more examples that word world is used in Scripture that does not include every single person. Also, in John 3:16, Jesus was talking to Nicodemus. He was a Pharisees, a ruler of the Jews. Often Jews referred to the Gentiles as the world. Here, Jesus was saying that He was not just a Savior of the Jews, but of the Gentiles as well. A good definition of the word "world" in John 3:16 is found in Revelation 5:9 which states, "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;"
Second, the word "so" in John 3:16 is houto (hoo'-to) in the Greek. It is an adverb to the word love and it means in this manner. This word is important. It defines how God's love is being used in this verse and what is to follow.
Third, the word "whosoever" in John 3:16 is pas (pas) in the Greek. It mean all, every, the whole or everyone. The most accurate English translation of this word whosoever, that I have found, is the LITV translation. It uses the word everyone. It's not that the word whosoever is a wrong translation, but it is not the best. Part of the problem lies with the reader. Most people, when they read John 3:16 and see the word whosoever, they think that it implies or is stating that the sinner has the ability to choose Christ or that God is trying to save everyone. This is not so.
Here is a good, clear and accurate English translation of John 3:16;
"For God in this manner loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
This verse does not imply or state that man has free will nor that God is loving every single person in the world. In truth, this verse teaches that God's love is particular and I would call it a predestination verse.
John 3:16 is one of the most popular verses among professing Christians. Many say that this verse declares that God loves every single person in the world. Many also say that this verse implies that man has a free will. This is just not so.
First, lets look at the word "world." In Greek it is kosmos (kos'-mos) and it means an orderly arrangement, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively. It is used in Scriptures quite often, if not always, in a general sense and not an absolute sense, meaning every single man, women and child. For an example, in John 17:9, Jesus is praying to the Father and He says that He prays not for the world, but those that the Father has given Him out of the world. In this verse world does not include the believers, but the unbelievers, those that were not given to the Son. There are many more examples that word world is used in Scripture that does not include every single person. Also, in John 3:16, Jesus was talking to Nicodemus. He was a Pharisees, a ruler of the Jews. Often Jews referred to the Gentiles as the world. Here, Jesus was saying that He was not just a Savior of the Jews, but of the Gentiles as well. A good definition of the word "world" in John 3:16 is found in Revelation 5:9 which states, "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;"
Second, the word "so" in John 3:16 is houto (hoo'-to) in the Greek. It is an adverb to the word love and it means in this manner. This word is important. It defines how God's love is being used in this verse and what is to follow.
Third, the word "whosoever" in John 3:16 is pas (pas) in the Greek. It mean all, every, the whole or everyone. The most accurate English translation of this word whosoever, that I have found, is the LITV translation. It uses the word everyone. It's not that the word whosoever is a wrong translation, but it is not the best. Part of the problem lies with the reader. Most people, when they read John 3:16 and see the word whosoever, they think that it implies or is stating that the sinner has the ability to choose Christ or that God is trying to save everyone. This is not so.
Here is a good, clear and accurate English translation of John 3:16;
"For God in this manner loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
This verse does not imply or state that man has free will nor that God is loving every single person in the world. In truth, this verse teaches that God's love is particular and I would call it a predestination verse.
