Hello all, I am David John and this is actually my first reply to a thread.
Here is the real issue surrounding John 3:16 passage. 1st the red letter or not truly doesn't have much significance. However, in the passages we know to be the words of our Lord, He never actually talked this way... "For God so Loved the world......" Generally He would begin with "I tell you"...etc.
To better understand John 3:16, we must first take a look at 1 John 2:15.."[FONT=Arial, Geneva, Helvetica]Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him." We are told NOT to love the world, but according to most, John 3:16 says God loves the world.
Herein lies the problem. John 3:16 does NOT say "For God so LOVES the world", but instead says (past tense) "For God so LOVED the world". Now we must also understand what the word "world" is in the Greek text. World in this passage, unlike many appearances of the word elsewhere was mistranslated world when it should have been Greek (Aeon) meaning age, in this passage it is the Greek word Kosmos, which means (God's Orderly Arrangement). So the passage would mean thus.. For God so LOVED (past tense) His orderly arrangement, that HE gave His only Begotten Son. Therefore this verse, misused widely today, does not say that God LOVES the world and absolutely every person, but the context is regarding His original order and arrangement.
Be blessed all and May God bless the hearing/reading of His Word.
In Christ,
David (NewJerusalem)
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