Question: Why is John 3:16 considered to be the "golden text" of the Bible?

Reply: The Bible contains several great, profound verses regarding God's love for man. One such verse is, "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:8). Another is 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." We memorize, quote, and refer to John 3:16, perhaps more than any other verse in the entire Bible. Alas, John 3:16 is also among the Bible's most misunderstood verses. We shall now explore the verse to ascertain its meaning and why the statement it contains is such a great statement.

Great because of the one who loved. GOD so loved! God, who is eternal, immutable, all-knowing, omnipresent, and absolutely holy; God, who created all that was created--He it is who loved (Deuteronomy 33: 27, Hebrews 6: 17, 18, Job 34: 21, Psalm 139, Leviticus 11: 44, Genesis 12).

Great because of who He loved. "For God so loved THE WORLD," we are told (all emphasis throughout is mine, dm). The "world" (kosmos) in this verse is mankind, not the world about which John spoke when he said "love not the world, neither the things that are in the world" (1 John 2:15). In that verse, cosmos refers to the baser elements (see verse 16). The greatness of God's love for man is seen in the fact that man is totally unworthy of being the recipient of that love: "But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Christ died for the ungodly (vs. 6).

Great because of how much he loved. "For God SO LOVED...," John wrote. There continues to be a debate among some scholars as to whether so (aste) means manner or degree. R.C.H. Lenski wrote the following about the word so: "in this way and to such an astounding degree" (Interpretation of St. John's Gospel, pg. 259). John later wrote, "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God" (1 John 3:1).

The extent of God's love is seen in the phrase "that he gave his only begotten Son. ..." The love (agapao) of John 3:16 is unselfish and seeks the well being of the one(s) who are loved. Hence, "he gave." The Father loved so much that he gave his "only begotten Son." Jesus was unique (only begotten is from monogenes, which means one of a kind). It was a totally unselfish act for God to sacrifice (give) his one-of-a-kind Son for sinful men!

Great because of how many God loved. The universality of God's love is seen in "that WHOSOEVER believeth..." The Pharisaic concept in John's day limited God's love to the Jews (Matthew 5:43 ff.). The Augustinian view would seek to channel God's love to the "elect," those who were arbitrarily predestined to be saved (today's Calvinists). However, the scriptures teach, "...if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3: 20).

Great because of the statement's negative purpose. The verse says, "...that whosoever believeth in him SHOULD NOT PERISH, but have everlasting life." Perishing is an antonym for everlasting life. The negation should not perish (KJV, me apoletai) is literally translated may not perish (Marshall in Nestle's Interlinear Greek-English New Testament). This lack of permission to perish, however, is conditional (see below).

Great because of the statement's positive purpose. The opposite of perish, as seen, is HAVING EVERLASTING LIFE. There are only two classes of individuals: "And these shall go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into life eternal" (Matthew 25: 46). Jesus presents, in detail, the two classes (Matthew 25:31-46). Everlasting life is indicative of the grandeur and bliss that awaits the saved (2 Corinthians 5:1-9, Revelation 20-22). Everlasting life is the inheritance reserved in heaven for the saved (1 Peter 1:4; Titus 1:2).

Last of all, John 3:16 is great because of the condition upon which we receive the benefits of God's wonderful love. The condition is: "...that whosoever BELIEVETH IN HIM should not perish, but have everlasting life." Let it be immediately understood, the contemplated belief is not a dead, inactive faith (James 2:14-26). The faith that avails is "faith which worketh by love" (Galatians 5:6, 1 John 5:3). "Faith only," as such, never saved anybody (James 2:19).

"Believeth" is translated from pisteuon. The grammar of pisteuon (believeth) is important: nominative case, singular in number, masculine in gender, participle, and present tense (The Analytical Greek Lexicon, pg. 326). The participle and present tense describe ongoing, continuous action. One expanded translation renders it, "...whosoever believes in (trusts, clings to, relies on)..." (The Amplified New Testament). Marshall accents the participle, "everyone believing in him..." (Interlinear Greek-English New Testament).

Those who believe in him (present tense) are those who repent, confess Christ's deity , and are baptized for the remission of their sins (Acts 2:38, Romans 10:9,10, Acts 2:38, Acts 16:30-34). The Lord adds them to his church (Acts 2:47, KJV, Galatians 3:26,27). These who believe will then add all the virtues to their faith (grow), and in so doing, they "shall never fall" (2 Peter 1:5-10). However, one can elect to cease believing (Hebrews 3:12-19).

Indeed, John 3:16 contains a great statement. It is difficult to know why all men are not appropriating God's love to themselves and reaping its rich benefits. "Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life" (Jude 21).

Brother Martin has done a wonderful job of commenting about the truth of John 3:16. At every major sporting event in this country, a banner proclaims this verse in bold letters. It's sad that so many love to repeat the verse but fail to recognize all the truth it contains! (KMG)