(John 3:16)….For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
GOD SO LOVED – When asked, “What is the greatest word used in (John 3:16)?” My answer is always the word “so. But why you might ask. “The word “so” often denotes intensity. For instance, a man may say to his wife, “I love you sooooo much,” as he wishes to express the measure and depth of his love. Though this is a popular understanding of this verse, that is NOT how the word “so” is being used in this passage. There is another way of using the word “so” in English, which describes the way in which something occurs. When we are taught or trained as a young person how to tie our shoes, the one teaching us might say, “now when you pull the laces tight, you make loops in the laces “just so” (or in this way), and you tie them “just so” (or this way). In (John 3:16) it is this “just so” concept that is in view. We could rightly read the text as “God’s love for the world is seen in this way.
THE WORLD – There are at least ten different uses of the word “world” (Greek kosmos) in John’s gospel. Context is a most vital component in determining the meaning of words. Here, the word kosmos is being used in a general way to speak of humanity, of Jews and Gentiles.
GOD GAVE HIS SON – God’s love for the world is seen in tangible terms – the giving of His Son…
PURPOSE – God gave His Son with a particular goal in mind. Notice there is a strong element of particularity (rather than universality) here. The purpose was not to save everybody on the planet (past, present and future) but to save those who believe in Christ.
WHOEVER BELIEVES – Literally, the text reads “in order that every the one believing in Him…” It says “every” or “all the ones believing…” That’s hard to express in English but in essence, it is saying “all the believing ones.” That’s what is being communicated. It is saying that there is no such thing as a believing one who does not receive eternal life, but who perishes. Though our English translation says “whoever believes,” the literal rendering is accurately translated as “every believing one” and the emphasis is NOT AT ALL on the “whosoever,” but on the belief. The ones BELIEVING will not have one consequence, and they will not perish but will have everlasting life.