Meaning, commentary and cross references
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”In other translations
KJV · King James Version
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.
NIV · New International Version
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.
WEB · World English Bible
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
What does John 3:16 mean?
John Gill · Exposition of the Entire Bible, on John 3:16
For God so loved the world,.... The Persic version reads "men": but not every man in the world is here meant, or all the individuals of human nature; for all are not the objects of God's special love, which is here designed, as appears from the instance and evidence of it, the gift of his Son: nor is Christ God's gift to every one; for to whomsoever he gives his Son, he gives all things freely with him; which is not the case of every man. Nor is human nature here intended, in opposition to, and distinction from, the angelic nature; for though God has showed a regard to fallen men, and not to fallen angels, and has provided a Saviour for the one, and not for the other; and Christ has assumed…
John Gill, Exposition of the Entire Bible (1746–63). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
John Calvin · Commentaries, on John 3:13–18
16. For God so loved the world. Christ opens up the first cause, and, as it were, the source of our salvation, and he does so, that no doubt may remain; for our minds cannot find calm repose, until we arrive at the unmerited love of God. As the whole matter of our salvation must not be sought any where else than in Christ, so we must see whence Christ came to us, and why he was offered to be our Savior.
John Calvin, Commentaries (Calvin Translation Society English text). Public domain. Digital text: Free Use Bible API (bible.helloao.org).
Context: John 3:13–19 (WEB)
13No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven. 14As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. 17For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. 18He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God. 19This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil.
Cross references
- Romans 5:8
But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
- 1 John 4:9–10
By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his only born Son into the world that we might live through him.
- Romans 8:32
He who didn’t spare his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how would he not also with him freely give us all things?
- John 3:15
that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
- John 11:25–26
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies.
- John 6:40
This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”
- John 3:36
One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won’t see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”
- 1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.