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NASB | John 3:14 "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:14 "Just as Moses lifted up the [bronze] serpent in the desert [on a pole], so must the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross], [Num 21:9] |
Subject: Jesus' Instruction to Nicodemus |
Bible Note: [continued] "Thus it will be seen that 'kosmos' has at least seven clearly defined different meanings in the New Testament. It may be asked, Has then God used a word thus to confuse and confound those who read the Scriptures? We answer, No! nor has He written His Word for lazy people who are too dilatory, or too busy with the things of this world, or, like Martha, so much occupied with 'serving,' they have no time and no heart to 'search' and 'study' Holy Writ! Should it be asked further, But how is a searcher of the Scriptures to know which of the above meanings the term 'world' has in any given passage? The answer is: This may be ascertained by a careful study of the context, by diligently noting what is predicated of 'the world' in each passage, and by prayer fully consulting other parallel passages to the one being studied. The principal subject of John 3:16 is Christ as the Gift of God. The first clause tells us what moved God to 'give' His only begotten Son, and that was His great 'love;' the second clause informs us for whom God 'gave' His Son, and that is for, 'whosoever (or, better, 'every one') believeth;' while the last clause makes known why God 'gave' His Son (His purpose), and that is, that everyone that believeth 'should not perish but have everlasting life.' That 'the world' in John 3:16 refers to the world of believers (God's elect), in contradistinction from 'the world of the ungodly' (2 Pet. 2:5), is established, unequivocally established, by a comparison of the other passages which speak of God's 'love.' 'God commendeth His love toward US' -- the saints, Rom. 5:8. 'Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth'—every son, Heb. 12:6. 'We love Him, because He first loved US' -- believers, I John 4:19. The wicked God 'pities' (see Matt. 18:33). Unto the unthankful and evil God is 'kind' (see Luke 6:35). The vessels of wrath He endures 'with much long-suffering' (see Rom. 9:22). But 'His own' God 'loves'!" --A. W. Pink |