Understanding John 3:16

Jim Beale (eghx@gdeb.com)
Thu, 19 Dec 1996 14:36:16 -0500

Greetings,

I'd be grateful if someone would comment on the following analysis:

hOUTWS GAR HGAPHSEN hO QEOS TON KOSMON hWSTE TON hUION
TON MONOGENH EDWKEN hINA PAS hO PISTEUWN EIS AUTON MH
APOLHTAI ALL' EXH ZWHN AIWNION
(John 3:16)

hWSTE in this case introduces a results clause, a clause that is a
consequent of the the main verb, HGAPHSEN (cf. Dana and Mantey,
270). "As a result of God's great love for the world, He sent His
only-begotten Son."

hINA introduces a purpose clause, expresses the aim of the action
in the main verb. It means "in order that" or "for the purpose of."
"He sent His only-begotten Son for the purpose of X."

PISTEUWN is a present active participle, a substantive, indicating
those who continue in believing. Thus, PAS ho PISTEUWN means "all
the believing," or "all who believe."

EXH is present active subjunctive. The subjunctive mood follows from
the purposive conjunction, hINA, introducing this clause. The final
aspect of the purpose clause is contingent on the verb in the
results clause, the relative main to this purpose clause (cf. Dana
and Mantey, 267). Thus, having everlasting life as a present
possession is made contingent on the Father sending the Son.

And so, I affirm that this verse means,

God loved the world so much that He gave His only begotten
Son in order to save all the ones believing in Him.

It is important to note that the saving is not made contingent on
believing here, but, as it turns out, the saving is contingent on
the sending. He came to save His people from their sins (Mt. 1:21).

Have I gone astray in any particular? Thanks for any correction
(even for rebuke!:) in advance.

In Christ,
Jim Beale

--