Verse (Click for Chapter)
New International VersionFor
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
New Living Translation"For
God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that
everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
English Standard Version“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Berean Study BibleFor
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.
Berean Literal BibleFor
God so loved the world that He gave the only begotten Son, so that
everyone believing in Him should not perish, but should have eternal
life.
New American Standard Bible "For
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
King James BibleFor
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Holman Christian Standard Bible"For
God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that
everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
International Standard Version"For
this is how God loved the world: He gave his unique Son so that
everyone who believes in him might not be lost but have eternal life.
NET BibleFor
this is the way God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so
that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
New Heart English BibleFor God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life.
Aramaic Bible in Plain EnglishFor
God loved the world in this way: so much that he would give up his Son,
The Only One, so that everyone who trusts in him shall not be lost, but
he shall have eternal life.
GOD'S WORD® TranslationGod loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.
New American Standard 1977 “For
God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Jubilee Bible 2000For
God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
King James 2000 BibleFor
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
American King James VersionFor
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
American Standard VersionFor
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Douay-Rheims BibleFor
God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that
whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life
everlasting.
Darby Bible TranslationFor
God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that
whosoever believes on him may not perish, but have life eternal.
English Revised VersionFor
God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Webster's Bible TranslationFor
God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that
whoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Weymouth New TestamentFor
so greatly did God love the world that He gave His only Son, that every
one who trusts in Him may not perish but may have the Life of Ages.
World English BibleFor
God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Young's Literal Translation
for God did so love the world, that His Son -- the only begotten -- He
gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may
have life age-during.
Commentary
Matthew Henry Commentary
3:1-8
Nicodemus was afraid, or ashamed to be seen with Christ, therefore came
in the night. When religion is out of fashion, there are many
Nicodemites. But though he came by night, Jesus bid him welcome, and
hereby taught us to encourage good beginnings, although weak. And though
now he came by night, yet afterward he owned Christ publicly. He did
not talk with Christ about state affairs, though he was a ruler, but
about the concerns of his own soul and its salvation, and went at once
to them. Our Saviour spoke of the necessity and nature of regeneration
or the new birth, and at once directed Nicodemus to the source of
holiness of the heart. Birth is the beginning of life; to be born again,
is to begin to live anew, as those who have lived much amiss, or to
little purpose. We must have a new nature, new principles, new
affections, new aims. By our first birth we were corrupt, shapen in sin;
therefore we must be made new creatures. No stronger expression could
have been chosen to signify a great and most remarkable change of state
and character. We must be entirely different from what we were before,
as that which begins to be at any time, is not, and cannot be the same
with that which was before. This new birth is from heaven, ch. 1:13, and
its tendency is to heaven. It is a great change made in the heart of a
sinner, by the power of the Holy Spirit. It means that something is done
in us, and for us, which we cannot do for ourselves. Something is
wrong, whereby such a life begins as shall last for ever. We cannot
otherwise expect any benefit by Christ; it is necessary to our happiness
here and hereafter. What Christ speak, Nicodemus misunderstood, as if
there had been no other way of regenerating and new-moulding an immortal
soul, than by new-framing the body. But he acknowledged his ignorance,
which shows a desire to be better informed. It is then further explained
by the Lord Jesus. He shows the Author of this blessed change. It is
not wrought by any wisdom or power of our own, but by the power of the
blessed Spirit. We are shapen in iniquity, which makes it necessary that
our nature be changed. We are not to marvel at this; for, when we
consider the holiness of God, the depravity of our nature, and the
happiness set before us, we shall not think it strange that so much
stress is laid upon this. The regenerating work of the Holy Spirit is
compared to water. It is also probable that Christ had reference to the
ordinance of baptism. Not that all those, and those only, that are
baptized, are saved; but without that new birth which is wrought by the
Spirit, and signified by baptism, none shall be subjects of the kingdom
of heaven. The same word signifies both the wind and the Spirit. The
wind bloweth where it listeth for us; God directs it. The Spirit sends
his influences where, and when, on whom, and in what measure and degree,
he pleases. Though the causes are hidden, the effects are plain, when
the soul is brought to mourn for sin, and to breathe after Christ.
Christ's stating of the doctrine and the necessity of regeneration, it
should seem, made it not clearer to Nicodemus. Thus the things of the
Spirit of God are foolishness to the natural man. Many think that cannot
be proved, which they cannot believe. Christ's discourse of gospel
truths, ver. 11-13, shows the folly of those who make these things
strange unto them; and it recommends us to search them out. Jesus Christ
is every way able to reveal the will of God to us; for he came down
from heaven, and yet is in heaven. We have here a notice of Christ's two
distinct natures in one person, so that while he is the Son of man, yet
he is in heaven. God is the HE THAT IS, and heaven is the
dwelling-place of his holiness. The knowledge of this must be from
above, and can be received by faith alone. Jesus Christ came to save us
by healing us, as the children of Israel, stung with fiery serpents,
were cured and lived by looking up to the brazen serpent, Nu 21:6-9. In
this observe the deadly and destructive nature of sin. Ask awakened
consciences, ask damned sinners, they will tell you, that how charming
soever the allurements of sin may be, at the last it bites like a
serpent. See the powerful remedy against this fatal malady. Christ is
plainly set forth to us in the gospel. He whom we offended is our Peace,
and the way of applying for a cure is by believing. If any so far
slight either their disease by sin, or the method of cure by Christ, as
not to receive Christ upon his own terms, their ruin is upon their own
heads. He has said, Look and be saved, look and live; lift up the eyes
of your faith to Christ crucified. And until we have grace to do this,
we shall not be cured, but still are wounded with the stings of Satan,
and in a dying state. Jesus Christ came to save us by pardoning us, that
we might not die by the sentence of the law. Here is gospel, good news
indeed. Here is God's love in giving his Son for the world. God so loved
the world; so really, so richly. Behold and wonder, that the great God
should love such a worthless world! Here, also, is the great gospel
duty, to believe in Jesus Christ. God having given him to be our
Prophet, Priest, and King, we must give up ourselves to be ruled, and
taught, and saved by him. And here is the great gospel benefit, that
whoever believes in Christ, shall not perish, but shall have everlasting
life. God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and so saving
it. It could not be saved, but through him; there is no salvation in
any other. From all this is shown the happiness of true believers; he
that believeth in Christ is not condemned. Though he has been a great
sinner, yet he is not dealt with according to what his sins deserve. How
great is the sin of unbelievers! God sent One to save us, that was
dearest to himself; and shall he not be dearest to us? How great is the
misery of unbelievers! they are condemned already; which speaks a
certain condemnation; a present condemnation. The wrath of God now
fastens upon them; and their own hearts condemn them. There is also a
condemnation grounded on their former guilt; they are open to the law
for all their sins; because they are not by faith interested in the
gospel pardon. Unbelief is a sin against the remedy. It springs from the
enmity of the heart of man to God, from love of sin in some form. Read
also the doom of those that would not know Christ. Sinful works are
works of darkness. The wicked world keep as far from this light as they
can, lest their deeds should be reproved. Christ is hated, because sin
is loved. If they had not hated saving knowledge, they would not sit
down contentedly in condemning ignorance. On the other hand, renewed
hearts bid this light welcome. A good man acts truly and sincerely in
all he does. He desires to know what the will of God is, and to do it,
though against his own worldly interest. A change in his whole character
and conduct has taken place. The love of God is shed abroad in his
heart by the Holy Ghost, and is become the commanding principle of his
actions. So long as he continues under a load of unforgiven guilt, there
can be little else than slavish fear of God; but when his doubts are
done away, when he sees the righteous ground whereon this forgiveness is
built, he rests on it as his own, and is united to God by unfeigned
love. Our works are good when the will of God is the rule of them, and
the glory of God the end of them; when they are done in his strength,
and for his sake; to him, and not to men. Regeneration, or the new
birth, is a subject to which the world is very averse; it is, however,
the grand concern, in comparison with which every thing else is but
trifling. What does it signify though we have food to eat in plenty, and
variety of raiment to put on, if we are not born again? if after a few
mornings and evenings spent in unthinking mirth, carnal pleasure, and
riot, we die in our sins, and lie down in sorrow? What does it signify
though we are well able to act our parts in life, in every other
respect, if at last we hear from the Supreme Judge, Depart from me, I
know you not, ye workers of iniquity?
Melania Trump read The Lord's Prayer and was met with immediate backlash.
