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NASB | John 3:16 ¶ "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. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 3:16 ¶ "For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
Subject: predestined? |
Bible Note: Greetings Joe! I just propose this line of thought as a way of looking at these verses from a different perspective. But, to address your points: 1) If indeed 'those whom He foreknew' functions as a title, then it would influence the context of the remainder of Rom. 8. We do know that by Rom. 9, the question of Israel is on his mind. Further, I contend that it has been on his mind from the very beginning of Rom. (1:16). So, it isn't really forcing anything in the context. 2) The 'we's' of Romans 8:28 could very well be understood as Paul and all Israelites, since Paul was an Israelites. 3) However, I would agree that what is said here does apply to all believers, since Paul goes on to explain that "Israel" is more than just the nation of Israel, but all those who believe. So, I don't think that seeing 'those whom He foreknew' as a title for Israel really changes the meaning of the passage, it simply clarifies the context in such a way that Rom. 9-11 isn't a break in the thought of Romans 1-8, but a continuation of it. 4) The joy and assurance would be the result of the fact that spiritual Israel is foreknown. If I respond to the Gospel in faith, then I too am foreknown, since I am now a part of spiritual Israel. Just soemthing to think about! :-) Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |