Case Study: The Case of God's Gift

A Familiar Verse

This may be the most frequently quoted verse – "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" (Fourth gospel 3:16). However, familiarity with a passage should not keep us from doing our due diligence. Even so, this is a temptation we are more likely to face when it comes to Bible verses we have heard many times.

Take a little time to read this verse in its context in your Bible and write down your thoughts on the principles this verse is teaching. Then come back to this study and see if scripture can show us how to get more out of God's word.

 

 

The Case of God's Gift

Unconditional?

"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" (Fourth gospel 3:16). Some will characterize this verse by saying things like, 'this tells us God's love is unconditional,' yet the plain words of the text actually teach precisely the opposite. "Whosoever believeth in him" is a condition! This is explicit, and since the verse is a conditional statement, it surely is not teaching unconditional love or universal acceptance. "Not perish, but have everlasting life" is not an unconditional blessing. It is only for those who meet the condition.

Whatever scripture may say elsewhere, we still need to be faithful in communicating this verse. It tells us the reason God gave his only begotten Son was that those who meet the condition should not perish. Since "believeth in him" is a necessary condition for everlasting life, unconditional love is not the subject of this verse.

Let Scripture Light the Way

In addition, the word "whosoever" is always linked to a condition. Thus, this word could not possibly imply the verse is for everyone without condition. Consider five verses where this word was used:

  • "I [Aaron] said unto them, Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off" (Ex 32:24),
  • "speak unto Aaron, saying, Whosoever he be of thy seed in their generations that hath any blemish, let him not approach to offer the bread of his God" (Lev 21:17),
  • "whosoever heareth these sayings of mine [Jesus], and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock" (Mt 7:24),
  • "whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have" (Lk 8:18),
  • "whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God" (1Jo 4:15).

When seeking the meanings of words in scripture, we must not let our assumptions or the views of others prejudice our judgment. Rather, we should let scripture show us the meaning of the words, phrases, and word pictures in the Bible. If we do this for the word "whosoever," here is what the verses cited above can teach us:

  • "whosoever hath any gold" [Here "whosoever" introduced a condition that defined a subset (those with "any gold")]
  • "whosoever he be of thy seed" [Here the word introduced a condition that defined a set of men in Aaron's lineage]
  • "whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them" [Here "whosoever" refers only to those who meet the condition (i.e., hears Jesus' sayings and does them)]
  • "whosoever hath… and whosoever hath not" [No one can be in both groups. Here two distinct conditions ("hath" and "hath not") were used to define two very different groups]
  • "whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God" [Only those who "confess that Jesus is the Son of God" are in this subset].

The word "whosoever" introduces a condition. So, there is no way it could make any verse unconditional.

Besides this, similar terms like "whoso," "whomsoever," "soever," and "whatsoever" are also always tied to a condition:

  • "whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man" (Gen 9:6),
  • "he [Judas] that betrayed him [Jesus] gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he" (Mt 26:48),
  • "he [Jesus] said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into a house, there abide till ye depart… " (Mk 6:10),
  • "every beast, every creeping thing, and every fowl, and whatsoever creepeth upon the earth, after their kinds, went forth out of the ark" (Gen 8:19).

Such words define a subset based on some trait(s) or condition(s) that define who or what is included. Lastly, in the KJV the word "whosoever" appears 163 times and in every one of those verses, it introduces a condition or set of conditions.

So?

If we attach the wrong meaning to a word, we will misunderstand what scripture says. This occurs with the word "so" in the verse in question. The word "so" has various meanings and here are some of them:

    • indicates a quantity – a large amount or extreme degree

(He so loves the smell of coffee. / He has so much money.)

    • indicates a quality – the way a thing is or was done

(He takes his coffee like so. / It happened just so.)

    • consequently, therefore

(He had too much coffee, so he is unable to sleep.)

    • in order that

(He drinks coffee so he can stay awake.)

    • indeed, certainly

(He does so drink coffee.)

Here are four verses that use the word "so". In the first two, it refers to a quantity and in the second two verses it refers to a quality:

  • "when Jesus heard it, he marveled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel" (Mt 8:10),
  • "his disciples say unto him, Whence should we have so much bread in the wilderness, as to fill so great a multitude?" (Mt 15:33),
  • "those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled" (Acts 3:18),
  • "they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (1Cor 9:24).

Quantity and quality were expressed by different Greek words. Yet, in the verses above, the word "so" was used to translate both. But the Strong's number for these words gives us a way to know what meaning of the word "so" we need to have in mind.

Above, the phrase "so fulfilled" does not refer to the amount of fulfillment. It refers to the way those things were fulfilled.

Likewise, the phrase "so run" (1Cor 9:24) is not talking about a large quantity of running. It is about how one runs, and the writer used it to urge running in a way that resulted in victory. In these two verses, the word "so" translated Greek word number G3779 and this word always refers to a quality.

Other examples are "if then God so G3779 clothe the grass" (Lk 12:28) and "for so G3779 is the will of God" (1Pt 2:15). These verses talk about the quality of the design that is visible in nature and the quality of God's will.

Let Scripture Light the Way Once Again

"Let every one of you in particular so G3779 love his wife even as himself" (Eph 5:33). This is how a man should love his wife. It is not about the quantity of his love. Likewise, when we read "beloved, if God so G3779 loved us, we ought also to love one another" (1Jo 4:11) we can see this is how the brethren should love one another, not how much. Even if the context does not reveal the meaning of the word "so," there is no reason for us to be confused since we can verify whether the original word referred to quantity or quality. Look at scripture's use of word number G3779 in the first ten verses in the New Testament where this word was used:

  • "the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise G3779" (Mt 1:18),
  • "thus G3779 it is written by the prophet" (Mt 2:5),
  • "thus G3779 it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness" (Mt 3:15),
  • "great is your reward in heaven: for so G3779 persecuted they the prophets" (Mt 5:12),
  • "let your light so G3779 shine before men, that they may see your good works" (Mt 5:16),
  • "whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so G3779" (Mt 5:19),
  • "if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so G3779?" (Mt 5:47),
  • "after this manner G3779 therefore pray ye" (Mt 6:9),
  • "if God so G3779 clothe the grass of the field" (Mt 6:30),
  • "whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so G3779 to them" (Mt 7:12).

The way the writers of scripture used word number G3779 proves this Greek word refers to a quality, not a quantity. It means "thus" or "in this manner."

The writers of scripture did use Greek words that refer to quantity or intensity, but none of them were used in the verse in question.

How Much? Or How?

The word "so" is a valid way to translate Greek word number G3779, so the translators cannot be blamed if we misconstrue this word. When we attach a wrong meaning to the phrase "for God so loved the world," our choice keeps us from understanding the verse, so we need to get this right. Now, let us look at the verse in context:

"14as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 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. 17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (Fourth gospel 3:14-18).

The phrase "whosoever believeth in him" shows up in the verse before verse 16. Thus, the author meant to highlight this condition since he repeated it.

Verses 14 & 15 link how people got saved when "Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness" to how they get saved by "the Son of man" being "lifted up." In addition, in verse 17 the words, "that the world through him might be saved" refers to how the world "might be saved." So, this was stressed on both sides of verse 16. In verse 14, "so" refers to how "the Son of man" would "be lifted up" and the same Greek word is translated "so" in verse 16. Thus, the way this word was used in verse 14 shows it is wrong to think it was referring to how much God loved the world in verse 16.

We can test our view of a verse by looking for other passages on the same topic. Are there any other verses that indicate the words "God so loved" are about how God's love was expressed? Yes. For example, consider the passage below that taught the brethren the kind of love they ought to have for one another:

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another" (1Jo 4:9-11).

How was the love of God expressed? "God sent his only begotten Son into the world." Why did he do it? "That we might live through him," and the context proves "we" refers to the "beloved" who are "of God."

The Focus of the Verse

When people are not open to correction, they will say things like, 'it's no big deal' or 'what difference does it make' so they can avoid having to change. But this dilutes the authority of scripture since it suggests staying true to God's word is sometimes unimportant.

If people think the word "so" in "for God so loved the world" refers to quantity and not quality does it make a difference? If scripture never says God loves all men unconditionally, but people are told scripture says he does, is this a big deal? A misrepresentation on "for God so loved the world… " is a big deal. It is easy to see why. If people say, 'the verse means God loves you so much that if you were the only person in the world he still would have sent his son to die for you' where is the focus? It is on us. Yet, if we stick with the proper meaning of the words of scripture, where is the focus? It is on the gift!

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son" puts the focus on Jesus. He is the way God's love was expressed, and this fits with Jesus' words, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (Fourth gospel 14:6).

A right understanding of the phrase "God so loved the world" fits with the condition that is found in verses like, "he that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life" (Fourth gospel 3:36). However, this harmony is ruined if we say a conditional statement is unconditional or if the verse's focus is shifted from Jesus to us. If people say, 'the verse means God loves you, he always has and always will' and we compare this to scripture, we would see their words are very different from the verse and we could notice the tense of a word was changed.

In scripture, the word is "loved," not 'loves'. It is in the past tense because it referred to something that took place in the past, i.e., the time when God "gave his only begotten Son". The word "gave" is past tense, just like the word "loved," and we should not be rewording verses to make them support our beliefs. The benefits of God's gift are still available to those who satisfy the condition ("believeth in him"), but the verse used the past tense because it declared a love God had expressed through a gift already given. This also explains why the past tense was used in another verse. "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him" (1Jo 4:9). "Manifested" and "sent" are in the past tense because this manifestation occurred before the verse was written.

All of Us?

'God loves everybody' is a popular idea today. Yet, neither Jesus nor his apostles ever said 'God loves you' to the various crowds who heard them! Thus, making indiscriminate and unconditional declarations of God's love for people is not in line with what Jesus and his apostles said in their public statements.

Moreover, they did not say this in private either. Jesus privately told his disciples, "if a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him" (Fourth gospel 14:23). The conditions specified by Jesus show all men are not automatically loved by the Father.

When Paul spoke to Felix and his wife about faith in Christ, it says, "as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled" (Acts 24:25).

The truth is a wake-up call and having to face up to his condition made Felix tremble. When people are confronted with the truth, some will repent, others will not. But there is no reason to think God would have preferred it if Paul had been more winsome and, instead of presenting the gospel, simply told Felix, God loved him.

Paul emphasized three points and he put Felix under conviction by talking about God's standards. Why did he do this? Because he wanted Felix to turn to God. In Romans 1:16 it says, "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth." Then the next verse says, "therein is the righteousness of God revealed" (Rom 1:17). This links the gospel to God's righteousness and not simply his love alone. This is what Paul presented to Felix, and later we will discuss how faith comes to those who hear God's word.

What Does Scripture Say?

If scripture does not say God loves everyone, it is not compatible with God's word to infer this idea from what it does say.

In speaking of the Lord, Psalm 5:5 says, "thou hatest all workers of iniquity" and we cannot act as if verses like this do not exist. Did the Lord change his mind and decide he now loves workers of iniquity? Certainly not. Jesus declared he would tell one group, "I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity" (Mt 7:23), and this statement does not suggest he once loved those people, but they later fell out of favor with him.

So, if a person ignores what Jesus will say to those who he never knew and simply tells everyone, 'God has always loved you and he will continue to do so no matter what,' does this honor Jesus?

When it says, "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom 5:8), we need to know who the word "us" refers to. In the same context, it says, "the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (Rom 5:5). The word "us" referred to Jesus' followers in this verse. So, when verse 8 says, "God commendeth his love toward us… " the word "us" must also refer to the brethren.

In Romans 5, the word "us" refers to the subset of people who:

  • "were reconciled to God by the death of his Son" (Rom 5:10a),
  • "shall be saved by his life" (Rom 5:10b), and
  • "have now received the atonement" (Rom 5:11).

Is God's Grace Universal?

A final word here about assuming God's grace, mercy, and love are unconditional. The Lord stated, "[I] will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy" (Ex 33:19). To/on "whom I will" is a condition and Romans 9:15-18 cited this statement and confirmed this condition still applies.

Jesus said, "he that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" (Fourth gospel 14:21). Notice the condition Jesus stated here for people to be loved by him, "he that hath my commandments, and keepeth them... I will love him." Therefore, it is wrong for anyone to think Jesus' love is unconditional and applies to all men, even if they disregard his commandments.

The difference between who Jesus did and did not pray for also shows this distinction. When Jesus addressed the Father about his disciples he said, "I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me" (Fourth gospel 17:9).

Jesus' concern was not merely for his followers who were alive in that day, for he then added, "neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word" (Fourth gospel 17:20). So, all who have or will yet come to "believe on" him through the teachings of his disciples were included in his prayer. In this discussion with the Father about his followers, Jesus went on to say, "I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them" (Fourth gospel 17:26).

Would his words lead anyone to conclude he meant he would be "in" everyone regardless of their respect for God? No.

Jesus said he would be in some people and they would also have God's love in them. Surely, this would include the future believers who he prayed for when he talked about those who would believe on him through the disciples' word. His prayer for this group links the love of the Father to a proper reverence for his authority. So, here is just one more fact that must be weighed as we think on the issue of God's love.

Scripture says, "the Lord taketh pleasure in them that fear him." (Ps 147:11) and also, "in the fear of the Lord is strong confidence" (Prv 19:27). Therefore, if the Lord is pleased when we fear him and strong confidence also results from this, then this is something we should cultivate. Conversely, if the Lord accepts everyone unconditionally, there is no reason to fear him – and if the fear of the Lord is neutralized, then people are cut-off from the benefits of the fear of the Lord.

The Conclusion to the Case of God's Gift

Think outside the box. This phrase is used to encourage thinking that is not limited by assumptions which may be wrong. This kind of thinking can help us to receive biblical correction since it will keep us open to having our assumptions challenged.

At the same time, if we want God's word to guide us, we must also think inside the book. Reading the Bible is the right place to start. But we must also train ourselves to judge according to scripture when we are considering biblical issues. That way, as we grow, our thinking will continue to be conformed to God's word.

We do not need to understand everything about a subject to know if an idea fails the test of scripture. We can ask questions like:

  • Is the idea contrary to anything in God's word?
  • Does it line up with the life and words of Jesus?
  • Would it apply to the apostles and their teachings?

Doing this can help us cultivate a habit of relying on scripture as a litmus test for truth. The benefits of doing so and the problems that follow from not doing so are epitomized in this verse:

"Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar" (Prv 30:5-6).

"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" (Fourth gospel 3:16).

This tells us what God did ("gave his only begotten Son") and it tells us why God did it ("that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life"). This verse puts the focus on the gift [Jesus] and so do we if we speak God's word faithfully.

The end of the Case of God's Gift

CHAPTER 9