Sermon of the WeekJohn 3:16 Set Free

I've spoken before in passing about how certain scriptures are tortured and misused. For example, I have mentioned 2Peter 3:9 and Rev 3:20 elsewhere. Here's another much abused text.

It's hard to blame sheep for the latter-day "tradition" that attaches to this verse. But it is not hard to blame those who claim to be shepherds, and who maintain the error by reinforcing it from their pulpits.

In this short sermon Joseph Losardo of the Bread of Life Fellowship takes aim directly at what modern Christian mythology has done to this verse. Be warned - the exegesis is technical and the word "Greek" (O horrors!!!) appears numerous times. So do Greek words and references to Greek grammar. To those who are all but convinced that God wrote the Bible in English, that most favored language, and that the matter is forever settled in the heavens by that fact, there is no help for you. Except that God should open your eyes.

But for those who understand that not only was the New Testament written in an ancient language called Koine Greek, to people who lived in a particular situation, and with a certain world view - then hopefully the flexibility of mind exists to be free of the bondage of mere tradition and open to hear what the text actually says. It takes work to understand what the text is saying. It takes work to hold that text against the background of its authors and original hearers. But the reward of work is wealth, my friends - the sort of wealth that the world cannot give. Enjoy Joseph Losardo speaking to this very well known text.

John 3:16 - Set Free - Joseph Losardo

The Text:

John3:16 οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ θεὸς τὸν κόσμον ὥστε τὸν υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ’ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.