John 3:16 Study Bible: For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have everlasting life.

◄ John 3:16 ►

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Study Bible

For God
The phrase "For God" introduces the subject of the verse, emphasizing the divine origin of the message. In the Greek, "Theos" is used, which is the standard term for God in the New Testament. This highlights the monotheistic belief central to Christianity, rooted in the Jewish tradition of Yahweh, the one true God. Historically, this underscores the continuity of the Christian faith with the Old Testament, affirming that the God of Israel is the same God who initiates the plan of salvation.

so loved
The Greek word for "loved" here is "agapao," which signifies a selfless, sacrificial love. This is not merely an emotional affection but a deliberate act of will. The adverb "so" (Greek "houtos") intensifies the action, indicating the magnitude and depth of God's love. This love is unconditional and universal, transcending human understanding and reflecting the very nature of God as described in 1 John 4:8, "God is love."

the world
The term "world" (Greek "kosmos") refers to humanity in its entirety, encompassing all people regardless of race, nationality, or status. In the historical context, this was a radical concept, as many religious systems of the time were ethnocentric. The use of "kosmos" underscores the inclusivity of God's love and the universal scope of the Gospel message.

that He gave
The verb "gave" (Greek "didomi") indicates a voluntary act of generosity and sacrifice. This reflects the nature of God's love as giving and selfless. In the historical context of sacrificial systems, this act of giving is profound, as it is God Himself who provides the ultimate sacrifice, not requiring anything from humanity in return.

His one and only Son
The phrase "one and only" (Greek "monogenes") emphasizes the uniqueness and singularity of Jesus Christ. "Monogenes" can be translated as "only begotten," highlighting the special relationship between the Father and the Son. This underscores the Christian doctrine of the Trinity and the divinity of Christ, affirming that Jesus is not merely a prophet or teacher but the unique Son of God.

that everyone who believes
The word "everyone" (Greek "pas") signifies the inclusivity of the offer of salvation. "Believes" (Greek "pisteuo") is more than intellectual assent; it involves trust and reliance upon Jesus Christ. This belief is the means by which individuals receive the gift of eternal life, emphasizing faith as the key response to God's offer.

in Him
The preposition "in" (Greek "eis") indicates a direction or focus of faith. Belief is not just a general faith but specifically faith in Jesus Christ. This highlights the centrality of Christ in the Christian faith and the necessity of a personal relationship with Him.

shall not perish
The phrase "shall not perish" (Greek "apollumi") refers to eternal destruction or separation from God. This is contrasted with eternal life, emphasizing the stakes of the decision to believe. The promise of not perishing is a reassurance of the security and permanence of salvation for those who believe.

but have eternal life
"Eternal life" (Greek "zoe aionios") is not just an unending existence but a quality of life that begins now and continues forever in the presence of God. This life is characterized by a restored relationship with God, peace, and joy. The promise of eternal life is the culmination of God's redemptive plan, offering hope and assurance to believers.

Persons / Places / Events

1. God
The Creator and Sustainer of the universe, who demonstrates His love for humanity by giving His Son.

2. The World
Refers to all of humanity, emphasizing the universal scope of God's love and the offer of salvation.

3. Jesus Christ (the Son)
The one and only Son of God, sent into the world to provide salvation through His sacrificial death and resurrection.

4. Believers
Those who place their faith in Jesus Christ, receiving the promise of eternal life.

5. Eternal Life
The gift of everlasting life with God, contrasted with perishing, which signifies eternal separation from God.

Teaching Points

The Nature of God's Love
God's love is unconditional and sacrificial, demonstrated by giving His only Son for the salvation of the world.

The Universality of the Gospel
The offer of salvation is extended to all people, regardless of background or status, emphasizing the inclusivity of the Gospel message.

The Call to Faith
Belief in Jesus is the sole requirement for receiving eternal life, highlighting the importance of personal faith and trust in Christ.

The Assurance of Salvation
Those who believe in Jesus are assured of eternal life, providing hope and security in the promise of God.

The Urgency of the Gospel Message
The contrast between perishing and eternal life underscores the urgency of sharing the Gospel with others.

Bible Study Questions

1. How does understanding the depth of God's love in John 3:16 impact your view of His character and your relationship with Him?

2. In what ways can you share the inclusive message of God's love and salvation with those around you?

3. How does the assurance of eternal life influence your daily decisions and priorities?

4. What are some practical steps you can take to strengthen your faith and trust in Jesus as your Savior?

5. How can the urgency of the Gospel message motivate you to engage in evangelism and discipleship within your community?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 22
The account of Abraham and Isaac prefigures God's sacrifice of His own Son, highlighting the theme of sacrificial love.

Romans 5:8
Demonstrates God's love in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us, reinforcing the unconditional nature of God's love.

1 John 4:9-10
Explains how God's love was manifested through sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Ephesians 2:8-9
Emphasizes salvation by grace through faith, not by works, aligning with the call to believe in John 3:16.

Revelation 21:1-4
Describes the fulfillment of eternal life in the new heaven and new earth, where God dwells with His people.

Sermons

A Mother's Lesson	Clerical Anecdotes	John 3:16
A Royal Gift		John 3:16
A Triple Ray of Gospel Light	R. Glover.	John 3:16
Believe Only	C. H. Spurgeon.	John 3:16
Christ not the Cause But the Manifestation of God's Love	J. C. Jones, D. D.	John 3:16
Christ's Mission a Revelation of God's Love	E. Lewis, B. A.	John 3:16
Faith in Christ is Certain Salvation	C. H. Spurgeon.	John 3:16
God is Love	C. H. Spurgeon.	John 3:16
God's Love and its Gift	J. Eadie, D. D.	John 3:16
God's Love and Justice in Sacrifice	S. Coley.	John 3:16
God's Love for a Sinning World	C. G. Finney, D. D.	John 3:16
God's Love for Man	R. Besser, D. D.	John 3:16
God's Love for Sinners	S. Coley.	John 3:16
God's Love for the World	A. Beith, D. D.	John 3:16
God's Love to the World	Bible Notes and Queries	John 3:16
God's Mercy is Free		John 3:16
God's Provision of the Sacrifice	J. G. Jones, D. D.	John 3:16
God's Wonderful Love	R. S. MacArthur, D. D.	John 3:16
Immeasurable Love	C. H. Spurgeon.	John 3:16
Love	Charles Haddon Spurgeon	John 3:16
Redemption	J. Guiness Rogers, B. A.	John 3:16
Redemption Through Christ	C. D. Barrows.	John 3:16
Salvation	J. Gaskin, M. A.	John 3:16
The Christian's Creed	R. Glover.	John 3:16
The Cost and Cheapness of Salvation	W. Baxendale.	John 3:16
The Divine Love	J. Cynddylan Jones, D. D.	John 3:16
The Everlastings	J. C. Jones.	John 3:16
The Glory of the Gospel	D. Thomas, D. D.	John 3:16
The Gospel	Mortlock Daniell.	John 3:16
The Gospel in Brief	C. H. Spurgeon.	John 3:16
The Greatness of God's Love to the World	B. Thomas	John 3:16
The Lake and the River	Alexander Maclaren	John 3:16
The Love of God		John 3:16
The Love of God	R. Newton, D. D.	John 3:16
The Love of God	Prof. Finney.	John 3:16
The Love of God	J. Flavel.	John 3:16
The Love of God	L. O. Thompson.	John 3:16
The Love of God	A. J. Morris.	John 3:16
The Love of God	J. Dyke.	John 3:16
The Love of God	H. W. Beecher.	John 3:16
The Love of God	S. Coley.	John 3:16
The Love of God as Seen in the Gift of Christ	C. H. Spurgeon.	John 3:16
The Love of God in Deed and Truth	D. Young	John 3:16
The Love of God in the Gift of a Saviour	A. Barnes, D. D.	John 3:16
The Love of God in the Gift of Christ	S. Coley.	John 3:16
The Love of God is a Necessity of His Own Nature	H. W. Beecher.	John 3:16
The Love of God Self-Originated	J. C. Jones, D. D.	John 3:16
The Morality of the Evangelical Faith	R. W. Dale, D. D.	John 3:16
The Naturalness of God's Love	S. Coley.	John 3:16
The Personal Appropriation of the Atonement	A. F. Schauffer.	John 3:16
The Power of God's Love	A. J. Parry	John 3:16
The Power of This Gospel of Love on its First Proclamation	A. J. Morris.	John 3:16
The Universality of the Atonement	C. G. Finney	John 3:16
The Word So	C. H. Spurgeon.	John 3:16
We Must Believe or Perish	R. B. Nichol.	John 3:16
What is it to Perish	Rev. R. Brewin.	John 3:16
Whosoever	C. H. Spurgeon.	John 3:16
Whosoever	C. H. Spurgeon.	John 3:16
Whosoever	D. L. Moody.	John 3:16
Whosoever	S. Coley.	John 3:16
Whosoever		John 3:16
The Gift of God	J.R. Thomson	John 3:16, 17

People

Jesus, John, Nicodemus

Places

Aenon, Jerusalem, Jordan River, Judea, Salim

Topics

Age-during, Ages, Begotten, Believes, Believeth, Believing, Destruction, Eternal, Everlasting, Faith, Greatly, Love, Loved, Only-begotten, Perish, Trusts

Dictionary of Bible Themes

John 3:16

     1135   God, suffering of
     1436   reality
     1511   Trinity, relationships in
     1651   numbers, 1-2
     2048   Christ, love of
     4029   world, human beings in
     5013   heart, divine
     5325   gifts
     5762   attitudes, God to people
     5856   extravagance
     5971   uniqueness
     6142   decay
     6645   eternal life, nature of
     6646   eternal life, gift
     6755   union with Christ, nature of
     7332   child sacrifice
     7950   mission, of Christ
     8021   faith, nature of
     8122   friendship, with God
     8203   character
     8211   commitment, to world
     8261   generosity, God's
     8296   love, nature of
     8301   love, and enemies
     9023   death, unbelievers
     9122   eternity, and God

John 3:1-16

6698 newness

John 3:14-16

     2324   Christ, as Saviour
     2424   gospel, promises
     6617   atonement, in NT
     8022   faith, basis of salvation

John 3:14-17

5005 human race, and redemption

John 3:15-16

4018 life, spiritual

John 3:16-17

     1085   God, love of
     1115   God, purpose of
     1175   God, will of
     1513   Trinity, mission of
     2218   Christ, Son of God
     4028   world, redeemed
     5003   human race, and God
     5542   society, positive
     6025   sin, and God's character
     6668   grace, and Christ
     8848   worldliness

John 3:16-18

     1170   God, unity of
     2078   Christ, sonship of
     6028   sin, deliverance from
     6125   condemnation, divine
     6512   salvation, necessity and basis
     8449   imitating

Library

Notes on the Third Century
Page 161. Line 1. He must be born again, &c. This is a compound citation from John iii. 3, and Mark x. 15, in the order named. Page 182. Line 17. For all things should work together, &c. See Romans viii. 28. Page 184. Lines 10-11. Being Satan is able, &c. 2 Corinthians xi. 14. Page 184. Last line. Like a sparrow, &c. Psalm cii. Page 187. Line 1. Mechanisms. This word is, in the original MS., mechanicismes.' Page 187. Line 7. Like the King's daughter, &c. Psalm xlv. 14. Page 188. Med. 39. The best …
Thomas Traherne—Centuries of Meditations

September 14 Evening
Ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son.--I COR. 1:9. He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.--Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God. Be ye . . . followers of God, as dear children.--If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ. The brightness of his glory, and the express image of his …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

February 28 Morning
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. God . . . hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

March 31 Evening
What communion hath light with darkness?--II COR. 6:14. Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.--Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Darkness hath blinded his eyes.--Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. The dark places of the earth are full of the habitations of cruelty.--Love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

January 26 Evening
The Lord Jesus Christ . . . shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.--PHI. 3:20,21. Upon the likeness of the throne was the likeness as the appearance of a man above upon it. And I saw as the colour of amber, as the appearance of fire round about within it, from the appearance of his loins even upward, and from the appearance of his loins even downward, I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and it had brightness round about. This was the appearance of the …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

April 8 Evening
They shall see his face.--REV. 22:4. I beseech thee shew me thy glory. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live.--No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. Every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him.--I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh. I know that my Redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

April 29 Evening
That blessed hope, . . . the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.--TIT. 2:13. Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil: whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus.--Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things.--When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe. The whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

November 18 Evening
I believed not the words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it; and, behold, the half was not told me.--I KGS. 10:7. The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.--We beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. My speech and my preaching was . . . in demonstration of the …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

April 2 Morning
If ye do return unto the Lord with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the Lord, and serve him only.--I SAM. 7:3. Little children, keep yourselves from idols.--Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.--Ye cannot serve God and Mammon. Thou shalt worship no other …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

May 3 Evening
Perfecting holiness in the fear of God.--II COR. 7:1. Dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit. Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.--Teaching us that denying ungodliness and wordly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.--Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.--Not as though …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

June 11 Evening
Behold, I make all things new.--REV. 21:5. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.--If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.--Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump.--The new man, which after God is created in righteousness …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

June 19 Morning
Holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.--HEB. 12:14. Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.--There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth.--There is no spot in thee. Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God am holy.--As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

January 16 Morning
It pleased the Father, that in him should all fulness dwell.--COL. 1:19. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand.--God hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.--Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

September 3 Morning
Neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters.--EXO. 13:7. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.--Abhor that which is evil.--Abstain from all appearance of evil.--Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

December 14 Evening
By nature the children of wrath, even as others.--EPH. 2:3. We ourselves also were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.--Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. Job answered the Lord, and said, Behold, I am vile: what shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.--The Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

January 14 Evening
[The woman's seed] shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.--GEN. 3:15. His visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men.--He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. This is your hour, and the power of darkness.--Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above. The Son of God was manifested, that he might …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

July 3 Morning
If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.--ROM. 8:17. If ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God.--Thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.--Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Father, I will that …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

April 20 Morning
There shall cleave nought of the cursed thing to thine hand.--DEUT. 13:17. Come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing.--Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.--Hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Beloved, now are we the sons of God . . . And it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we shall see him …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

June 21 Evening
I sought him, but I could not find him: I called him, but he gave me no answer.--SONG 5:6. O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies! and the Lord said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, for they have even taken of the accursed thing . . . and they have put it even among their own stuff. Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: but your iniquities …
Anonymous—Daily Light on the Daily Path

The Brazen Serpent
'Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness.'--JOHN iii. 14. This is the second of the instances in this Gospel in which our Lord lays His hand upon an institution or incident of the Old Testament, as shadowing forth some aspect of His work. In the first of these instances, under the image of the ladder that Jacob saw, our Lord presented Himself as the sole medium of communication between heaven and earth; here He goes a step further into the heart of His work, and under the image, very eloquent …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Christ's Musts
'... Even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.'--JOHN iii. 14. I have chosen this text for the sake of one word in it, that solemn 'must' which was so often on our Lord's lips. I have no purpose of dealing with the remainder of this clause, nor indeed with it at all, except as one instance of His use of the expression. But I have felt it might he interesting, and might set old truths in a brighter light, if we gather together the instances in which Christ speaks of the great necessity which dominated …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Lake and the River
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 iii. 16. I venture to say that my text shows us a lake, a river, a pitcher, and a draught. 'God so loved the world'--that is the lake. A lake makes a river for itself--'God so loved the world that He gave His... Son.' But the river does not quench any one's thirst unless he has something to lift the water with: 'God so loved the world that He gave His... …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Teacher or Saviour?
'The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto Him, Rabbi, we know that Thou art a Teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that Thou doest, except God be with him.'--JOHN iii. 2. The connection in which the Evangelist introduces the story of Nicodemus throws great light on the aspect under which we are to regard it. He has just been saying that upon our Lord's first visit to Jerusalem at the Passover there was a considerable amount of interest excited, and a kind of imperfect faith …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

Wind and Spirit
'The wind bloweth where it listeth, and them hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.'--JOHN iii. 8. Perhaps a gust of night wind swept round the chamber where Nicodemus sat listening to Jesus, and gave occasion for this condensed parable. But there is occasion sufficient for it in the word 'Spirit,' which, both in the language in which our Lord addressed the ruler of the Sanhedrim, and in that which John employed …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

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