This post is specifically for students enrolled at our Study Center. However, I think the rest of you will find this brief study on one of the most 0ft-quoted verses in all Scripture enlightening and a real blessing.

Students, as part of your course requirements, you are required to do a Collateral Reading Assignment. Part of that assignment is an exegetical study of John 15:1-17. The following study on John 3:16 will give you the general idea of what an exegesis looks like. All elements of your assignment will be found in this study. You should have your Student Packet open to page 45 as your read my study of John 3:16.

Introductory Comments

It seems almost certain that John’s Gospel was written after the Synoptics. Most Bible scholars fix this Gospel’s composition between 85 and 90, but there are some who suggest a date as early 45 (Pentecost, 1981). It could very well be that John wrote the Gospel early, but it was circulated much later.

A key verse in understanding why this Gospel was written in the first place is John 20:31–

But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Metzger (1971) spends considerable time defending an alternate translation of this verse, which could read like this–

These things are written that you may continue to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God…

The alternate rendering of the verse is highly suggestive that at the time John composed his Gospel, the church was in need of some gentle doctrinal fine tuning. Assuming the Gospel was written between 85 and 90, the church had grown and taken in many cultures and false teachings abounded, as evidenced by the Epistles, many of which were written to combat false teaching and false teachers. These second and third generation believers were now far removed from Christ and personal Apostolic teaching and were being taken in by smooth talking heretics. A fresh look at Jesus and His life and times was necessary as times were changing. This is one reason why John’s Gospel is so different than the Synoptics, which were written earlier (Morris, 1971) and essentially covered the same events and the same time period. John, however, concentrates the bulk of His Gospel on the last week of our Lord’s life.

Authorship

From the earliest teachings of the Church, the author of this Gospel is John, the son of Zebedee, who was among the first of Jesus’ disciples and closest to Him. Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons wrote this: “John, the disciple of the Lord, who also leaned upon his breast, had himself published a Gospel during his residence in Ephesus in Asia.” The early Fathers supported Johannine authorship almost exclusively.

Purpose

While John may have written his Gospel to reinforce the truth of Jesus and His teaching, it most definitely met a spiritual need present in the Church of his day. According to 20:31, the key verse, as well as many verses throughout the Gospel, John’s thesis is that belief in Jesus as the Son of God is essential for one’s salvation; there is no other way to see God the Father except through a relationship with the Living Son.

Exegsis

For 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.

Is John 3:16-21 a continuation of Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemas, or do they represent John’s “commentary” on what Jesus had told Nicodemas. It seems as though commentators are divided on this issue, but the translators of the NIV have made the decision for us, making the words Jesus’. While I believe this is the case, even so, we cannot know for sure, but what we do know is that these verses form the cornerstone teaching of the Gospel: salvation is a gift of God received only by those believing God for it.

The nature of “belief” is illustrated in verse 14–

Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up.

When Moses lifted up the brass snake on the pole, it represented God’s judgment upon the sin of Israel. But, all the people had to do was look at it and they would be healed. As Moses lifted up that snake, so Christ was lifted up, and He represented the sins of all people. All we have to do is look (“believe”) on the efficacy of the Cross and we will be healed (“saved’). In other words, “belief” involves accepting something, not doing something.

There are two issues at play in John 3:16. First, as Jesus previously told Nicodemus, man must be “born again.” Second, the Son of Man must be lifted up. These two issues are forever bound together and cannot be separated. As Christ’s death took care of man’s sin debt before God, so man’s belief in that work done on his behalf results in his salvation. The result of belief is eternal life.

“Eternal” life is the kind of life only God can impart. It refers not only to a length of time, but also the quality of life. This theme is repeated in 10:10–

The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

This “abundant” and “eternal” life is contrasted with the quality of life experienced here on earth, which is temporary, futile, frustrating, and most of all, of the flesh. Jesus has already told Nicodemus that one must be “born of the Spirit,” (3:5-8). Eternal life is something believers can experience here and now, but as it is a growing experience, like a seed that is planted; you can’t see it growing at first, but when the plant breaks through the dirt, it’s growth is evident. Eternal life, as it grows in the believer’s heart, can’t be seen in natural because it is of the spirit, and spiritual things can only be discerned by the spirit. However, one day, when the “sons of God are manifested,” (1 John 3:2ff) the imperishable quality of their eternal life will be seen by all.

Once a person “believes” in Christ, he will not “perish.” The verb “perish” is the opposite of salvation and life; to perish is to die, or to be “destroyed” in contrast to being preserved. A version of this word is also used in Matthew 10:6 of a sheep that has gone astray, and also in Luke 15:24 of a son who has strayed from his father’s house. The many shades of meaning of this word all point to the notion that a life without God is a life of confusion, a life without purpose, a life estranged from God, and life marked by futility. All that is necessary to “perish” is to do nothing. If a person wants “life,” all he has to do is simply “believe.” That is the succinct message of this passage.

How and why does God accomplish this? Very simply: God is motivated by love. The text says plainly, “For God loved.” However, it does not say that God saved the world by that love. As wonderful as God’s love it, it is just the motivator; the saving is done by God’s grace and mercy, manifested in Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 says–

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Application

John 3:16 is one of those verses we all learn in Sunday School and think we know all about just because we have it memorized. It’s important to realize exactly what is being said in this verse.

• It is out of love that God sent His one and only Son into the world to save it. God sent His Son, His Son came willingly, of His own accord, to do the will of the Father. The greatness of the Son’s work on the Cross is seen in the magnitude of God’s love for this world of sinners.
• The benefits of the Cross are appropriated only by belief, that is, man cannot earn salvation by doing something. Belief is all that is necessary. But notice, it is an individual thing; the benefits of salvation are for the individual. Even though Jesus died for the sins of the world, the great benefits His death and resurrection are only of value if one lays hold on them, believing in Him and His work.
• At the moment of belief, we pass from death to life! We are the recipients of life eternal; we receive the fullness of God, through Christ! Through our relationship with Jesus Christ, we are co-heirs with Him; we have access to all He has access to. Wonderful things, like peace and joy, wisdom and strength for living can all be ours through faith in Christ.

There are only two responses to God’s magnificent love: believe or perish. There is no in between with God. Eternal life is a gift from God, and comes only with believing, but also with believing comes a multitude of divine blessings. To perish does not mean an end to living; but rather it means living a life failure and futility and a life ultimately void of hope. John 17:12, referencing Judas the Betrayer, is another example of the use of the Greek word behind “perish.” In this verse, it is translated “destruction”:

While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled.

The choice is clear: Live or perish.

I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life. (Deuteronomy 30:19)

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As you write your paper, much of what you write will not be common knowledge to you. Much of what I wrote is common knowledge to me, and to the world in which I live and work. So, with that in mind, you will need to cite where you got your information so the graders will know you didn’t plagiarize in any way.

The following is what your Reference list may look like. You must cite, within the body of your work, from each book on your list, whether you directly quote from it or not.

References:

Metzger, B.M. A Textual Commentary on the Greek New Testament. New York: United Bible Societies’ Greek Text, 1971

Morris, Leon The Gospel According to St. John. (New International Commentary). Grand Rapids, MI: Eardmans, 1971.

Pentecost, Dwight J. The Words and Works of Jesus Christ. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1981.

Additional Resources you might use in your work:

Gaebelein, A.C. The Gospel of John. New Jersey: Loizeaux Brothers, 1925.

Harrison, E.K. John: The Gospel of Faith. Chicago, Illinois, Moody Press, 1962.