Orthodox Apologetics

Something written three years ago on Ancient Christian Defense

This is from a conversation I had with a Calvinist. Some of them try to use this verse to say God doesn't love everyone or that God only loves the Elect. While others use this verse to show God loves everyone.


The greek word for "whoever" is "pas" and we all know it can mean "all" so the verse can be translated as :

"16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that "ALL" who believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."


So basically "all" in the World that God loved will be saved if they believe in His Son.The reason why we know the word "World" includes more than just christians is because of versus 17 and 18


"For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. 18 "He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."


Both the ones who believe as well as the ones who refuse to believe dwell in the same World the Father said He LOVED.

Also elsewhere we know that creation itself will be made new in which we are the first fruits........so the Father sent His Son into "CREATION" to save creation. We are just the first fruits of that process.


Romans chapter 8
"18I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently."


The word Kosmos in John 3:16 is talking about creation as found in Romans chapter 8 as well as John chapter 1


John chapter 1
"9There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. 10He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, 13who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."


Thus John 3:16 is not saying "God so loved the elect that he gave His only Begotten Son that whoever believes in him would have ever lasting life."


Not only would that be "tautology" but you would have to somehow figure out how those who dwell in the elect and not believe be condemned?. For the same World that God said he loved in verse 16 shows up again in versus 17 and 19.


Verse 18 tells us that both those who believe as well as those who don't believe dwell in the same Kosmos that the Son "Created"/MADE", "was sent into", and "eventually will save".


So I read John 3:16 as ultimately saying:
"For God so loved Creation that He gave His only begotten Son, that "ALL" who believe in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life."






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