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Selected Verse: John 3:16 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| Joh 3:16 |
Strong Concordance |
For [1063] God [2316] so [3779] loved [25] the world [2889], that [5620] he gave [1325] his [846] only begotten [3439] Son [5207], that [2443] whosoever [3956] believeth [4100] in [1519] him [846] should [622] not [3361] perish [622], but [235] have [2192] everlasting [166] life [2222]. |
| |
King James |
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. |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| For God so loved, &c.--What proclamation of the Gospel has been so oft on the lips of missionaries and preachers in every age since it was first uttered? What has sent such thrilling sensations through millions of mankind? What has been honored to bring such multitudes to the feet of Christ? What to kindle in the cold and selfish breasts of mortals the fires of self-sacrificing love to mankind, as these words of transparent simplicity, yet overpowering majesty? The picture embraces several distinct compartments: "THE WORLD"--in its widest sense--ready "to perish"; the immense "LOVE OF GOD" to that perishing world, measurable only, and conceivable only, by the gift which it drew forth from Him; THE GIFT itself--"He so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son," or, in the language of Paul, "spared not His own Son" (Rom 8:32), or in that addressed to Abraham when ready to offer Isaac on the altar, "withheld not His Son, His only Son, whom He loved" (Gen 22:16); the FRUIT of this stupendous gift--not only deliverance from impending "perdition," but the bestowal of everlasting life; the MODE in which all takes effect--by "believing" on the Son. How would Nicodemus' narrow Judaism become invisible in the blaze of this Sun of righteousness seen rising on "the world" with healing in His wings! (Mal 4:2). |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
For God so loved - This does not mean that God approved the conduct of men, but that he had benevolent feelings toward them, or was "earnestly desirous" of their happiness. God hates wickedness, but he still desires the Happiness of those who are sinful. "He hates the sin, but loves the sinner." A parent may love his child and desire his welfare, and yet be strongly opposed to the conduct of that child. When we approve the conduct of another, this is the love of complacency; when we desire simply their happiness, this is the love of benevolence.
The world - All mankind. It does not mean any particular part of the world, but man as man - the race that had rebelled and that deserved to die. See Joh 6:33; Joh 17:21. His love for the world, or for all mankind, in giving his Son, was shown by these circumstances:
1. All the world was in ruin, and exposed to the wrath of God.
2. All people were in a hopeless condition.
3. God gave his Son. Man had no claim on him; it was a gift - an undeserved gift.
4. He gave him up to extreme sufferings, even the bitter pains of death on the cross.
5. It was for all the world. He tasted "death for every man," Heb 2:9. He "died for all," Co2 5:15. "He is the propitiation for the sins of the whole world," Jo1 2:2.
That he gave - It was a free and unmerited gift. Man had no claim: and when there was no eye to pity or arm to save, it pleased God to give his Son into the hands of men to die in their stead, Gal 1:4; Rom 8:32; Luk 22:19. It was the mere movement of love; the expression of eternal compassion, and of a desire, that sinners should not perish forever.
His only-begotten Son - See the notes at Joh 1:14. This is the highest expression of love of which we can conceive. A parent who should give up his only son to die for others who are guilty if this could or might be done - would show higher love than could be manifested in any other way. So it shows the depth of the love of God, that he was willing. to give his only Son into the hands of sinful men that he might be slain, and thus redeem them from eternal sorrow. |
| The Scofield Bible Commentary, by Cyrus Ingerson Scofield, [1917] |
perish
(Greek, "apollumi") translated "marred," (Mar 2:22); "lost,"; (Mat 10:6); (Mat 15:24); (Mat 18:11); (Luk 15:4); (Luk 15:6); (Luk 15:32). In no New Testament instance does it signify cessation of existence or of consciousness. It is the condition of every non-believer.
world
Greek, "kosmos", means "mankind".
(See Scofield) - (Mat 4:8). |
| Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886] |
The world (κόσμον)
See on Joh 1:9.
Gave
Rather than sent; emphasizing the idea of sacrifice.
Only-begotten Son
See on Joh 1:14.
Have
See on Joh 3:15.
This attitude of God toward the world is in suggestive contrast with that in which the gods of paganism are represented.
Thus Juno says to Vulcan:
"Dear son, refrain: it is not well that thus
A God should suffer for the sake of men."
"Iliad," xxi., 379, 380.
And Apollo to Neptune:
"Thou would'st not deem me wise, should I contend
With thee, O Neptune, for the sake of men,
Who flourish like the forest-leaves awhile,
And feed upon the fruits of earth, and then
Decay and perish. Let us quit the field,
And leave the combat to the warring hosts."
"Iliad," xxi., 461, 467.
Man has no assurance of forgiveness even when he offers the sacrifices in which the gods especially delight. "Man's sin and the divine punishment therefore are certain; forgiveness is uncertain, dependent upon the arbitrary caprice of the gods. Human life is a life without the certainty of grace" (Nagelsbach, "Homerische Theologie"). Mr. Gladstone observes: "No Homeric deity ever will be found to make a personal sacrifice on behalf of a human client" ("Homer and the Homeric Age," ii., 372). |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Yea, and this was the very design of God's love in sending him into the world. Whosoever believeth on him - With that faith which worketh by love, and hold fast the beginning of his confidence steadfast to the end. God so loved the world - That is, all men under heaven; even those that despise his love, and will for that cause finally perish. Otherwise not to believe would be no sin to them. For what should they believe? Ought they to believe that Christ was given for them? Then he was given for them. He gave his only Son - Truly and seriously. And the Son of God gave himself, Gal 4:4, truly and seriously. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
For God so loved the world - Such a love as that which induced God to give his only begotten son to die for the world could not be described: Jesus Christ does not attempt it. He has put an eternity of meaning in the particle οὑτω, so, and left a subject for everlasting contemplation, wonder, and praise, to angels and to men. The same evangelist uses a similar mode of expression, Jo1 3:1 : Behold, What Manner of love, ποταπην αγαπην, the Father hath bestowed upon us.
From the subject before him, let the reader attend to the following particulars.
First, The world was in a ruinous, condemned state, about to perish everlastingly; and was utterly without power to rescue itself from destruction.
Secondly, That God, through the impulse of his eternal love, provided for its rescue and salvation, by giving his Son to die for it.
Thirdly, That the sacrifice of Jesus was the only mean by which the redemption of man could be effected, and that it is absolutely sufficient to accomplish this gracious design: for it would have been inconsistent with the wisdom of God, to have appointed a sacrifice greater in itself, or less in its merit, than what the urgent necessities of the case required.
Fourthly, That sin must be an indescribable evil, when it required no less a sacrifice, to make atonement for it, than God manifested in the flesh.
Fifthly, That no man is saved through this sacrifice, but he that believes, i.e. who credits what God has spoken concerning Christ, his sacrifice, the end for which it was offered, and the way in which it is to be applied in order to become effectual.
Sixthly, That those who believe receive a double benefit:
1. They are exempted from eternal perdition - that they may not perish.
2. They are brought to eternal glory - that they may have everlasting life. These two benefits point out tacitly the state of man: he is guilty, and therefore exposed to punishment: he is impure, and therefore unfit for glory.
They point out also the two grand operations of grace, by which the salvation of man is effected.
1. Justification, by which the guilt of sin is removed, and consequently the person is no longer obnoxious to perdition.
2. Sanctification, or the purification of his nature, by which he is properly fitted for the kingdom of glory. |
2 But unto you that fear [03373] my name [08034] shall the Sun [08121] of righteousness [06666] arise [02224] with healing [04832] in his wings [03671]; and ye shall go forth [03318], and grow up [06335] as calves [05695] of the stall [04770].
16 And said [0559], By myself have I sworn [07650], saith [05002] the LORD [03068], for because [03282] [0834] thou hast done [06213] this thing [01697], and hast not [03808] withheld [02820] thy son [01121], thine only [03173] son:
32 He that [3739] [1065] spared [5339] not [3756] his own [2398] Son [5207], but [235] delivered [3860] him [846] up [3860] for [5228] us [2257] all [3956], how [4459] shall he [5483] not [3780] with [4862] him [846] also [2532] freely give [5483] us [2254] all things [3956]?
14 And [2532] the Word [3056] was made [1096] flesh [4561], and [2532] dwelt [4637] among [1722] us [2254], (and [2532] we beheld [2300] his [846] glory [1391], the glory [1391] as [5613] of the only begotten [3439] of [3844] the Father [3962],) full [4134] of grace [5485] and [2532] truth [225].
19 And [2532] he took [2983] bread [740], and gave thanks [2168], and brake [2806] it, and [2532] gave [1325] unto them [846], saying [3004], This [5124] is [2076] my [3450] body [4983] which [3588] is given [1325] for [5228] you [5216]: this [5124] do [4160] in remembrance [364] of [1519] me [1699].
32 He that [3739] [1065] spared [5339] not [3756] his own [2398] Son [5207], but [235] delivered [3860] him [846] up [3860] for [5228] us [2257] all [3956], how [4459] shall he [5483] not [3780] with [4862] him [846] also [2532] freely give [5483] us [2254] all things [3956]?
4 Who [3588] gave [1325] himself [1438] for [5228] our [2257] sins [266], that [3704] he might deliver [1807] us [2248] from [1537] this present [1764] evil [4190] world [165], according [2596] to the will [2307] of God [2316] and [2532] our [2257] Father [3962]:
2 And [2532] he [846] is [2076] the propitiation [2434] for [4012] our [2257] sins [266]: and [1161] not [3756] for [4012] ours [2251] only [3440], but [235] also [2532] for [4012] the sins of the whole [3650] world [2889].
15 And [2532] that he died [599] for [5228] all [3956], that [2443] they which live [2198] should [2198] not henceforth [3371] live [2198] unto themselves [1438], but [235] unto him which died [599] for [5228] them [846], and [2532] rose again [1453].
9 But [1161] we see [991] Jesus [2424], who [3588] was made [1642] a little [1024] [5100] lower [1642] than [3844] the angels [32] for [1223] the suffering [3804] of death [2288], crowned [4737] with glory [1391] and [2532] honour [5092]; that [3704] he [1089] by the grace [5485] of God [2316] should taste [1089] death [2288] for [5228] every man [3956].
21 That [2443] they all [3956] may be [5600] one [1520]; as [2531] thou [4771], Father [3962], art in [1722] me [1698], and I [2504] in [1722] thee [4671], that [2443] they [846] also [2532] may be [5600] one [1520] in [1722] us [2254]: that [2443] the world [2889] may believe [4100] that [3754] thou [4771] hast sent [649] me [3165].
33 For [1063] the bread [740] of God [2316] is he [2076] which [3588] cometh down [2597] from [1537] heaven [3772], and [2532] giveth [1325] life [2222] unto the world [2889].
8 Again [3825], the devil [1228] taketh [3880] him [846] up [3880] into [1519] an exceeding [3029] high [5308] mountain [3735], and [2532] sheweth [1166] him [846] all [3956] the kingdoms [932] of the world [2889], and [2532] the glory [1391] of them [846];
32 It was [1161] meet [1163] that we should make merry [2165], and [2532] be glad [5463]: for [3754] this [3778] thy [4675] brother [80] was [2258] dead [3498], and [2532] is alive again [326]; and [2532] was [2258] lost [622], and [2532] is found [2147].
6 And [2532] when he cometh [2064] [1519] home [3624], he calleth together [4779] his friends [5384] and [2532] neighbours [1069], saying [3004] unto them [846], Rejoice [4796] with me [3427]; for [3754] I have found [2147] my [3450] sheep [4263] which [3588] was lost [622].
4 What [5101] man [444] of [1537] you [5216], having [2192] an hundred [1540] sheep [4263], if [2532] he lose [622] one [1520] of [1537] them [846], doth [2641] not [3756] leave [2641] the ninety and nine [1768] in [1722] the wilderness [2048], and [2532] go [4198] after [1909] that which is lost [622], until [2193] he find [2147] it [846]?
11 For [1063] the Son [5207] of man [444] is come [2064] to save [4982] that which [3588] was lost [622].
24 But [1161] he answered [611] and said [2036], I am [649] not [3756] sent [649] but [1508] unto [1519] the lost [622] sheep [4263] of the house [3624] of Israel [2474].
6 But [1161] go [4198] rather [3123] to [4314] the lost [622] sheep [4263] of the house [3624] of Israel [2474].
22 And [2532] no man [3762] putteth [906] new [3501] wine [3631] into [1519] old [3820] bottles [779]: else [1490] the new [3501] wine [3631] doth burst [4486] the bottles [779], and [2532] the wine [3631] is spilled [1632], and [2532] the bottles [779] will be marred [622]: but [235] new [3501] wine [3631] must be put [992] into [1519] new [2537] bottles [779].
15 That [3363] whosoever [3956] believeth [4100] in [1519] him [846] should [622] not [3363] perish [622], but [235] have [2192] eternal [166] life [2222].
14 And [2532] the Word [3056] was made [1096] flesh [4561], and [2532] dwelt [4637] among [1722] us [2254], (and [2532] we beheld [2300] his [846] glory [1391], the glory [1391] as [5613] of the only begotten [3439] of [3844] the Father [3962],) full [4134] of grace [5485] and [2532] truth [225].
9 That was [2258] the true [228] Light [5457], which [3739] lighteth [5461] every man [3956] [444] that cometh [2064] into [1519] the world [2889].
4 But [1161] when [3753] the fulness [4138] of the time [5550] was come [2064], God [2316] sent forth [1821] his [846] Son [5207], made [1096] of [1537] a woman [1135], made [1096] under [5259] the law [3551],
1 Behold [1492], what manner [4217] of love [26] the Father [3962] hath bestowed [1325] upon us [2254], that [2443] we should be called [2564] the sons [5043] of God [2316]: therefore [1223] [5124] the world [2889] knoweth [1097] us [2248] not [3756], because [3754] it knew [1097] him [846] not [3756].