God So Loved the World

 Probably the most well-known Bible verse is John 3 : 16.

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. (NIV)

It is most often taught in Christian churches that this verse means that those who believe in God's Son will live forever in heaven, and that non-believers will perish. And this perishing is usually described as enduring eternal torment in a place called hell.

We have been given this interpretation on the basis of common doctrines held dear by much of the Christian religion.
Regular readers of this BLOG know that many of these common doctrines don't stand the scrutiny of clear thinking.
As Oswald Chambers has suggested, "The first thing that goes when you begin to think is your theology."

So let's analyse this verse after re-quoting it from a more literal translation.
Here are two literal renditions:

For God so loved the cosmos as to give the Son, the only one, so that everyone having faith in him might not perish, but have the life of the Age. [DBH]

for God did so love the world, that His Son—the only begotten—He gave, that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during. [YLT]

Firstly, let's notice that it is God's love for the cosmos, the whole world, that prompted the sending of his Son.
Other consequences of this cosmos-wide focus are mentioned in other writings of John, in both his historical records and in his writings to early churches.

The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
[John 1 : 9  NIV]

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
[John 3 : 17  NIV]

"If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world."
[John 12:47  NIV]

And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.
[1 John 4 : 14  NIV]

He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.
[1 John 2 : 2  NIV]

Secondly, let's notice that a more literal translation describes the life being promised as "the life of the Age" or age-during life, and not "eternal life" as most of our popular traditional translations do.
And which age is this?
Some call it the Messianic Age, some the Kingdom Age, some the Millennium, and some the New Heaven and Earth, depending on their currently held end-times theology.
 
Regardless of the name, we are discussing an age - a period of time with a beginning and an end. It is certainly not eternal - a timelessness realm or a period of endless time.

And thirdly, although eternal life is the end result for everyone ...

Adam brought death to all of us, and Christ will bring life to all of us.
[1 Corinthians 15 : 22 CEV]

Jesus said, "... And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself."
[John 12 : 32  NIV]

this "life in the Age" or age-during life is only for those having faith in Jesus.
 
Clearly, only those who have heard the good news of what Jesus has done for them and have been given the faith to believe such an incredible story will have life in that Age, will be spiritually alive, and therefore not perishing.

... we place our confidence in the living God. He is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
[1 Timothy 4 : 10  GW]

The especially ones, the believers, have life in the Age - rather than having to wait for the arrival of the eternal realm at the conclusion of the ages, as everyone else does.

So this well-known verse, when correctly translated, is not talking about eternity, but about participation in the kingdom that precedes the eternal realm.  Jesus was promising life during that age to his followers, those who believed in him.

Blessings, Barry