John 3:16
 

Ok Jesus is talking to Nicodemus in John 3 right? So how come John 3:16 is future tense cause Jesus is still on earth 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Reading the scripture Jesus was still around so was he telling them this before it acually happened I don't see a problem with it if thats the way it was just sounds wierd

Re: John 3:16
 

Well, once Jesus was born, the Father gave His Son to us.

The Father gave His Son.

The Son gave His life.


This is how this scripture makes sense to me.

Re: John 3:16
 

Ok got ya I was reading it in a totally diffrent way..LOL

Re: John 3:16
 

Be careful as my train of thought tends to establish a difference between the identities of the Father and Son that really doesn't line up with traditional Oneness thought.

I was raised believing:

Jesus is the Father.
Jesus is the Son.
Jesus is the Holy Ghost.
All three are One.



My explanation of your John 3:16 DOES NOT match the above train of thought.

So beware!

Re: John 3:16
 

Hey I will be the first to tell ya how complicated the bible is....LOL

Re: John 3:16
 

Thank God that He doesn't make it a requirement that I understand fully all mysteries, such a s to the stuff we hash over here.

Thank God that He is working in me a love for Him, love for my brothers and sisters in Christ, love for lost souls, and a hatred for sin.

Re: John 3:16
 

Jn 3:15 And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, [even] the Son of man which is in heaven.
Jn 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Jn 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jn 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.
Jn 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

In a way it is future tense, speaking of the new dispensation after Jesus would be crucified and resurrected. I'm not so sure that Jn 3:16 is still referring to future tense... I always thought it was more present tense, after a little prophecy. Jesus forgave sins, too, before he died for us. He was the "Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev 13:8). And he was talking to one man, who would still be alive to bury him (Jn 19:39).

Nicodemus was hungry for answers. He didn't know how to ask them. Jesus gave him the answers, without them really being asked. I'd have liked to see Nicodemus face!

Re: John 3:16
 

Buckle your seats belts for this one. The words in John 3:16 are not Jesus' but John's. John's gospel is written as an explanation of what Jesus said and did. Therefore, John includes many explanations. The words in 3:16 are one such case. That verse is John's explanation of what Jesus did to fulfill what He had said in the previous verses. If a person reads this chapter with an open mind, and without seeing the red letters, then this becomes easily seen. Unfortunately the red letter Bible completely changes the meaning of this.

A few other examples of John's explanations are: John 1:14, John 1:38, John 4:2, John 4:54, John 20:16.

What must be remembered is that the red letters were added by man according to their opinion. John 3:16 is one of the reasons why I do not like red letter Bibles.

Re: John 3:16
 

John 3:1-21 is a conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus.

After Jesus tells Nicodemus that one must be born again (or from above) to see (experience) the Kingdom of God.

Nicodemus confuses a natural birth with a rebirth and asks if a person could re-enter the womb and be born a second time.

Jesus goes on to tell him that the first birth (birth of water or birth from a woman) and thesecond birth (birth of Spirit or birth from a Heavenly Father) are two different experiences.

When Nicodemus again asks "how can these things be?" Jesus goes on to explain further. He tells Nicodemus that all around him there are people who have been born again. He then compares the new birth to the way the Israelites were healed when they viewed the brazen serpent on a pole. He then goes on to explain that the new birth happens by believing in the Son of God who has been given by the Father.

The idea that people were saved/born again before the cross is shown in: --John 1:11-13 where it says that people were already born of God
--John 3:36 where it says that those who believe in Jesus have (not will someday have) eternal life
--John 5:24 where those who believe in Jesus already have everlasting life
John 10:28-29 where Jesus told them they were His sheep and they had eternal life and were held in the Father's hand
--John 13:10 where Jesus told His disciples that they were clean from sin
--John 15 where Jesus again told them that they were clean and were branches in the vine
John 20:22-23 where Jesus addressed them as His own and told them to receive (here and now) the Holy Spirit. This was 50 days before they were empowered by or baptized in the Spirit.

Re: John 3:16
 

agreed that red letter Bibles can cause some problems, and that some times we don't know if Jesus is speaking or if it is commentary by the author of the book. However, whether a quote by Jesus or a comment by the author, they are equally inspired and considered Scripture.

There are differences of opinion on how much of John chapter 3 is spoken by Jesus. I happen to be among those who believe the words of Jesus go through verse 21. That is not based on the color of the text.