It may appear to some of our readers that the exposition we have given of John 3:16 in the chapter on "Difficulties and Objections" is a forced and unnatural one, inasmuch as our definition of the term "world" seems to be out of harmony with the meaning and scope of this word in other passages, where, to supply the world of believers (God�s elect) as a definition of "world" would make no sense. Many have said to us, "Surely, �world� means world, that is, you, me, and everybody." In reply we would say: We know from experience how difficult it is to set aside the "traditions of men" and come to a passage which we have heard explained in a certain way scores of times, and study it carefully for ourselves without bias Nevertheless, this is essential if we would learn the mind of God.
Many people suppose they already know the simple meaning of John 3:16, and therefore they conclude that no diligent study is required of them to discover the precise teaching of this verse. Needless to say, such an attitude shuts out any further light which they otherwise might obtain on the passage. Yet, if anyone will take a Concordance and read carefully the various passages in which the term "world" (as a translation of "kosmos") occurs, he will quickly perceive that to ascertain the precise meaning of, the word "world" in any given passage is not nearly so easy as is popularly supposed.
The word "kosmos," and its English equivalent "world," is not used with a uniform significance in the New Testament. Very far from it. It is used in quite a number of different ways. Below we will refer to a few passages where this term occurs, suggesting a tentative definition in each case:
"Kosmos" is used of the Universe as a whole: Acts 17: 24 - "God that made the world and all things therein seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth." is used of the Universe as a whole: Acts 17: 24 - "God that made the world and all things therein seeing that He is Lord of heaven and earth."
"Kosmos" is used of the earth: John 13:1; Eph. 1:4, etc., etc.- "When Jesus knew that his hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world He loved them unto the end." "Depart out of this world" signifies, leave this earth. "According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world." This expression signifies, before the earth was founded�compare Job 38:4 etc.
"Kosmos" is used of the world-system: John 12:31 etc. "Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the Prince of this world be cast out"� compare Matt. 4:8 and I John 5:19, R. V.
"Kosmos" is used of the whole human race: Rom. 3: 19, etc.�"Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God."
"Kosmos" is used of humanity minus believers: John 15:18; Rom. 3:6 "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you." Believers do not "hate" Christ, so that "the world" here must signify the world of unbelievers in contrast from believers who love Christ. "God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world." Here is another passage where "the world" cannot mean "you, me, and everybody," for believers will not be "judged" by God, see John 5:24. So that here, too, it must be the world of unbelievers which is in view. is used of humanity minus believers: John 15:18; Rom. 3:6 "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you." Believers do not "hate" Christ, so that "the world" here must signify the world of unbelievers in contrast from believers who love Christ. "God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world." Here is another passage where "the world" cannot mean "you, me, and everybody," for believers will not be "judged" by God, see John 5:24. So that here, too, it must be the world of unbelievers which is in view.
"Kosmos" is used of Gentiles in contrast from Jews: Rom. 11:12 etc. "Now if the fall of them (Israel) be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them (Israel) the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their (Israel�s) fulness." Note how the first clause in italics is defined by the latter clause placed in italics. Here, again, "the world" cannot signify all humanity for it excludes Israel!
"Kosmos" is used of believers only: John 1:29; 3:16, 17; 6:33; 12;47; I Cor. 4:9; 2 Cor. 5:19. We leave our readers to turn to these passages, asking them to note, carefully, exactly what is said and predicated of "the world" in each place. is used of believers only: John 1:29; 3:16, 17; 6:33; 12;47; I Cor. 4:9; 2 Cor. 5:19. We leave our readers to turn to these passages, asking them to note, carefully, exactly what is said and predicated of "the world" in each place.
Thus it will be seen that "kosmos" has at least seven clearly defined different meanings in the New Testament. It may be asked, Has then God used a word thus to confuse and confound those who read the Scriptures? We answer, No! nor has He written His Word for lazy people who are too dilatory, or too busy with the things of this world, or, like Martha, so much occupied with "serving," they have no time and no heart to "search" and "study" Holy Writ!
Should it be asked further, But how is a searcher of the Scriptures to know which of the above meanings the term "world" has in any given passage? The answer is: This may be ascertained by a careful study of the context, by diligently noting what is predicated of "the world" in each passage, and by prayer fully consulting other parallel passages to the one being studied.
The principal subject of John 3:16 is Christ as the Gift of God. The first clause tells us what moved God to "give" His only begotten Son, and that was His great "love;" the second clause informs us for whom God "gave" His Son, and that is for, "whosoever (or, better, �every one�) believeth;" while the last clause makes known why God "gave" His Son (His purpose), and that is, that everyone that believeth "should not perish but have everlasting life."
That "the world" in John 3:16 refers to the world of believers (God�s elect), in contradistinction from "the world of the ungodly" (2 Pet. 2:5), is established, unequivocally established, by a comparison of the other passages which speak of God�s "love." "God commendeth His love toward US"�the saints, Rom. 5:8. "Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth"�every son, Heb. 12:6. "We love Him, because He first loved US"�believers, I John 4:19.
The wicked God "pities" (see Matt. 18:33). Unto the unthankful and evil God is "kind" (see Luke 6:35). The vessels of wrath He endures "with much long-suffering" (see Rom. 9:22). But "His own" God "loves"!!
Yup...Charitable...thats right...thats the word you shared...I was thinkin about how it had nothing to do with the Topic of John 3:16...and then thought...compassion...it goes with charity...Yahweh~Yahshua showed...taught...gave much compassion..."charity~love~mercy"...and now I think and know...that I know...that I know...John 3:16 is the abosolute Imbodiment of that...and nothing will every change that Truth...:bouncy:....:peace:...:yay:...
John 3:16 (KJV)
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.
Thank you ABBA and Yahshua for your unselfish act of Compassion...For Your Mercy Endureth Forever...:bow:
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.
Jas 2:19
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
Do you think the devils will just stand on the "simple truth" and highlight the "Meaning and Difinition" of John 3:16 come judgment day? :nahnah:
Shared ~ Do you think the devils will just stand on the "simple truth" and highlight the "Meaning and Difinition" of John 3:16 come judgment day?
*** The devils will not stand...For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. Rom 14:11
And I dont give hoot what the devils think...they are ALL
distined for Hell with no hope of salvation...:nahnah:...xo
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Does stand mean stand?
"And I dont give hoot what the devils think...they are ALL distined for Hell with no hope of salvation.."
Sounds mighty Calvnistic.. It seems a bit unloving and unfair for God to predestine all of those angels to hell and offer them no hope of salvation despite the CLEAR EVIDENCE in Scripture that they not only believe in God but that they also fear him. :nahnah:
If I were them, I would at least try to stand on the universalist eisegesis of John 3:16... wouldn't you? :laugh:
I knew the contentious woman could not just give up the fight she started.
Every knee will bow, and all of you who hold to the doctrines of the devil (free will) will finally know the all knowing, all powerful, sovereign God reigns, and your bell hop god, is a fallacy.
The devils will not stand...For it is written, [As] I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. Rom 14:11
12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. [[[ Rev 20:12 ]]]]
Does stand mean stand?
Romans comes before Revelations�and there is always Order and no Confusion in Yahwehs spoken and Written word�and YES!!! Stand means stand�however it can mean more depending upon the placement of the word in the structure of the Scripture�Greek is just as difficult as Hebrew�I study both�
satan is a dialectic�do you not remember what and how he caused Eve to �doubt� the Condition and Comandment of Yahweh� �thou shalt not eat of it� Gen 2:14�and satan says� �Ye shall not surely die:� Gen 3:4��.
Here is what stand means...
Stand ~ G2476 ~ histemi
1) to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set
a) to bid to stand by, [set up]
1) in the presence of others, in the midst, before judges, before members of the Sanhedrin;
2) to place
b) to make firm, fix establish
1) to cause a person or a thing to keep his or its place
2) to stand, be kept intact (of family, a kingdom), to escape in safety
3) to establish a thing, cause it to stand
a) to uphold or sustain the authority or force of anything
c) to set or place in a balance
1) to weigh: money to one (because in very early times before the introduction of coinage, the metals used to be weighed)
2) to stand
a) to stand by or near
1) to stop, stand still, to stand immovable, stand firm
a) of the foundation of a building
b) to stand
1) continue safe and sound, stand unharmed, to stand ready or prepared
2) to be of a steadfast mind
3) of quality, one who does not hesitate, does not waiver
Shared ~ Sounds mighty Calvnistic.. It seems a bit unloving and unfair for God to predestine all of those angels to hell and offer them no hope of salvation despite the CLEAR EVIDENCE in Scripture that they not only believe in God but that they also fear him.
*** Calviniistic ???....we are to Hate evil...they are eveil...what is Calvinistic about Hating evil ???...Nothing...unless you wanna tie it into the evil ways recorded in History of Calvins rampage...just sayin...
Also shared ~ If I were them, I would at least try to stand on the universalist eisegesis of John 3:16... wouldn't you?
*** Are you one of them ???...:laugh:...I pray not!!!...They can try all they want...however...they Truely have no FOUNDATION to stand on...the devils and fallen angels that is...I Stand Firm in Him and only HIM...xo
A TRUE SETTING FORTH OF THE DOCTRINE OF ELECTION ALWAYS CAUSES HATRED AND PERSECUTION!
Michael Jeshurun
�Mark, my reader, the apostle READILY SAW the doctrine he had formulated WOULD raise THIS very objection, [Why doth he yet find fault] and unless what WE have written throughout this book [The Sovereignty of God] provokes, in some at least, (ALL whose carnal minds are not subdued by divine grace) the SAME objection, then it must be either because we have not presented the doctrine which is set forth in Romans 9, or else because human nature has CHANGED since the apostle�s day�. [A.W. Pink]
But sadly, men like John MacArthur. Jr., EXPLAIN AWAY the discriminating sovereign grace of God in such a way that a question such as the above does not arise at all. If God�s election or reprobation are based on the acts of the creature either in believing or rejecting the gospel of their own free will, then the question � �Why doth He yet find fault? For who hath resisted His will�? - does not arise!
Consider MacArthur�s commentary on this verse: �With regard to Esau, I say, nowhere in Genesis does it say that God hated Esau, it doesn�t say anywhere that he hated Esau. It was only after Esau had chosen sin and abandoned God, for many many years, over a thousand years, before God would look back and say �Esau have I hated�. By that time it was clear to all where Esau stood. So once the sinner is inexorably, and finally identified with his sin, then the sinner feels the hatred of God.( Tape GC-70-11).
Such an interpretation upsets none but the true child of God! The rest of the nominal �bench-warmers� will commend their �pastor� for the error! �Oh thank you so much for explaining this difficult portion to us, Pastor. We were so troubled and confused as to how our loving god who loves every one and hates no one could be guilty of what some �Hyper-Calvinists� believe � i.e. that God loves one and hates another without any regard to their works! But you have so beautifully explained it to OUR satisfaction�!
Remember this beloved, a true setting forth of the doctrines of Election and reprobation will ALWAYS result in TWO things � one it will command the love and respect of God�s true sheep and two it will raise the hatred and ire of the reprobate!
The Master was hated and hounded for preaching Sovereign Grace, and YOU are not greater than Him and so you can expect the same treatment!
�And He said, Verily, I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country. But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow. And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian. And all they in the synagogue, WHEN THEY HEARD THESE THINGS, were FILLED WITH WRATH, And rose up, and thrust Him out of the city, and led Him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast Him down headlong�! [Luke 4:24-29]
But do I now persuade men, or GOD? Or do I seek to please MEN? for if I yet pleased men, I SHOULD NOT BE the servant of Christ! [Gal 1:10]
I started the fight ???...:ROFL:...Im not sure who think you are fooling Doona because I didnt initiate the OP dirrected at those that Believe in Free Will...the ALL...the Whosoever...for the purppose of Telling them they are wrong for Believing the way they do...Anyone reading this post can SEE that...Oh my...:ROFL:...:ROFL:....:ROFL:....xo
