Text: John 3:1-17
(focus on 3:16)
Date: February 24,
2002
Step I - (Initial) Acquaintance
A. Comparison of English or other
published translations
·
V:
16 - “he gave” (NIV, KJV, NAS, New
Jerusalem, NRSV, Promise)
·
“only
son” (NRSV, New Jerusalem) vs. “one and only son” (NIV) vs. “only begotten son”
(KJV, NAS)
B. Greek/Hebrew Textual Criticism
·
verb
translated “give”
·
didomi
·
in contrast to concept of “sent,” which is
more common expression in John’s gospel
·
basic
motive for incarnation
·
give
– gift
·
love
·
send
·
accomplishment
·
“World”
·
kosmos
·
John
uses term often to refer to those in conflict with God and/or Jesus
·
Loving
gift is for everyone, but only some accept gift (“believers”)
·
“For
thus loved God the world, so as the only begotten Son he gave that everyone
believing in him may not perish but have life eternal.”
Step II -
Disposition
A. Genre - How the text says what
it says
·
Expression
of God’s love
·
A
gift statement
·
God
giving a basic reason for the incarnation
·
Does
God give us Jesus or send us Jesus?
·
Doe
it make any difference?
·
Why
is Jesus given?
·
Justice
·
Salvation
·
Implementation
of God’s will
·
Are
all these basic assumptions of a foundational love?
·
Difference
between “give” and “send” (“send” in v. 17 a different emphasis?)
C.
Organization
- Where the elements of "B" are located
·
Step
III - Composition
A. Immediate Context -
preceding/following pericope
·
John
3:16 follows the discussion with Nicodemus and precedes further conversation
about light and dark; people loving darkness rather than light, because of
their evil deeds
·
Verse
16 links salvific dimensions of v. 14-15 with true motive for Jesus’
incarnation
·
Love
·
Love
of the world
B.
Organization
of the Compositional Whole
·
This
reading found early in Book of Signs
·
John’s
gospel’s central claim;
·
God
revealed in Jesus Christ
·
Incarnational
C.
Issues
of Authorship
·
Pempo
and apostello used elsewhere by author as representations of God’s will
·
Jesus
sent to accomplish something
Step IV - Context
A. Primitive Christianity
·
This
entire chapter (including discourse with Nicodemus, John’s testimony regarding
Christ) not found in the synoptic Gospels
B.
Old
Testament and Judaism
·
“only
son” sacrifice
·
Genesis
22:2 – Abraham and Isaac
·
God
“testing” God’s own love for the world?
·
Does
not spare Jesus as Isaac is spared
C.
Hellenistic
World
·
Step V - Distillation
A. Summary of Salient Features
·
Incarnation
·
Happens
for a reason?
·
What
is the reason?
·
Accomplish
goal
·
Implement
God’s will
·
Establish
God’s kingdom
·
Q: Is there an even more foundational reason?
·
Love
·
Give
vs. send
·
Prevalence
of this particular verse in modern society
·
Signs
·
Billboards
·
Greeting
cards
·
Have
we lost the intent of the gift?
B.
Smooth
Translation
·
C.
Hermeneutical
Bridge
·
The
sign
·
Ballgames,
big crowds
·
“John
3:16”
·
Do
we rush to look it up?
·
Do
we already know it?
·
Do
we care anymore?
Step VI - Contemporary Address
A. Description of Audience
·
UM
congregation preparing for Lenten season
·
Reclaim
watered-down meaning of the gift
·
It’s
cost
·
The
real reason it’s given