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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: Which proposition is scriptural? |
Bible Note: Greetings Parable! This isn't directed at just you my friend. I have seen many people use Eph. 2:8 to say that 'faith' is a gift. However, that actually isn't what Eph. 2:8 says. In Greek, pronouns must agree with their antecedents in both number and gender. In Eph. 2:8, 'faith' is a feminine, singular noun. 'Grace' is also a feminine, singular noun. However, 'it' is a neuter, singular pronoun. Therefore, 'it' cannot refer to either 'faith' or 'grace'. To what then does 'it' refer? Here is what the Bible Knowledge Commentary says: ************************************** "Paul elaborated, And this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. Much debate has centered around the demonstrative pronoun 'this' (touto). Though some think it refers back to 'grace' and others to 'faith,' neither of these suggestions is really valid because the demonstrative pronoun is neuter whereas 'grace' and 'faith' are feminine. Also, to refer back to either of these words specifically seems to be redundant. Rather the neuter touto, as is common, refers to the preceding phrase or clause. (In Eph. 1:15 and 3:1 touto, 'this,' refers back to the preceding section.) Thus it refers back to the concept of salvation (2:4-8a), whose basis is grace and means is faith. This salvation does not have its source in man (it is 'not from yourselves'), but rather, its source is God’s grace for 'it is the gift of God.'" ************************************** So, it would be more proper to say that salvation is a gift of God, based upon Eph. 2:8. Your Brother in Christ, Tim Moran |