by NikL 20 Replies latest watchtower bible
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.
Shouldn't it read ' For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that the 144,000 who believes shall not perish, but have eternal life. Everyone else who is a Jehovahs Witness will have Jehovah which is much better
VANDERHOVEN 7 : "What I find enlightening about the verse couplet is the fact that *eternal life* is equivalent to *salvation* "
interesting ...yup, an inner *new motivation* now, not something in the future (which is the consummation/ fruitfulness) 2 peter 1:3-9
What doesn't impress me is the JW theological interpretation of this verse.
For God soooo loved the world that he sent his top angel. ..
...that whoever accepts God's modern day arrangement and is loyal to an organization with headquarters in NY might survive Armageddon and have a thousand extra years to prove themselves worthy of eternal life
God must be an idiot , he needs imperfect humans of today , to interpret what he is supposed to have meant when he inspired the Bible writers.to write down what they did thousands of years ago.?
Couldnt he forsee what a problem he caused by confusing the languages at Babel ? and the outcome today trying to work out what he meant when he said anything ?
It's all nonsense, it should read, "God so loved the world he destroyed it in a flood."
NikL - I thought your OP was very interesting. Thanks for posting it.
In other words "God loved the world in this way ... "
The love of God to mankind / to the world is the reason (vv. 16a: γὰρ) for God to give his .... unique son, the Son of man, Jesus for man - pro nobis (V. 16b: ἔδωκεν, see also the verbum compositum παραδίδωμι in the context of Jesus handing over to Judas Iscariot in 6:44, 71; 12.4; 13.2.11.21; 18.2.5; 21,20).
(Source: perikopen.de)
16 Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον
Its indeed this manner of love which is given here as the reason for the act of giving his son.
The uplifted snake is only used as intentional typological analogy it is not the reason that jesus had to be lifted up. There the gospelwriter used the term "even as" or "thus"
Verse 14 recites Num 21,8-9.11 in the sense of a typological comparison
(V. 14a: καθὼς - v. 14b: οὕτως). This is "not a Moses-typology" (Sabbe,166), but by the parallel verb ὑψόω in v. 14a.b is the act of elevation is an intentional allusion by the fourth evangelist.
Once upon a time the bronze serpent for the salvation of the people in the desert of Moses was attached to a stake and erected. This act corresponds to the Son of Man (vv. 13c.14b) Jesus by being fixed and erected on the cross (cf. 19, 16-38). The auxiliary verb δεῖ in verse 14b (see also 12,34; 20,8) also underlines this to elevate / elevate as a "divine activity" within the framework of God's planful action." Just God can be the subject of an elevation process "(Sabbe, 167). The one elevated by God is thus the crucified.
The action of God in the Verses 14.16a-b.17a intend the (eternal) life (vv. 15.16d) for all who believe in Jesus (vv. 15.16c).
The action of God is called threefold:
1 . as the elevation of man and God , Analogy to the brazen serpent (v. 14),
2. as an act of love for men / to the world (vv 16a.17a.b.c) because of the gift of his Son (v. 16b) and
3. the sending of the Son of God into the world (v. 17a).
or "and just as Moses lifted up" ...thus it is necessary that" --- the consequence of a strict analogy
____________
VERSES 16-17
____________
Interesting is also the ending Verses 16-17
According to the testimony of verses 16-17, the merciful, graceful God wants the good, indeed the best, the salvation for all men through Jesus (δι 'αὐτοῦ).
The intention for the classical mission and judgment terminology is emphaysized by the rhetorical stylistic means of correction μὴ / οὐ - ἀλλά, in verses 16c-d.17a.c:
not should perish -- but might have eternal life;
Not sent the Son of God into the world to judge ---- but to save them.
Because of the [...] loving act of God, the above mentioned reason, conceived as a mission of the Son, the traditional balance of perish and life, from judgment and rescue comes out of balance" (Kohler, 260).
good!
