John 3:16 ESV

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 3:16

3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that every one who believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. All great men have had their favourite texts; but this has been called "Everybody's text." Herein for every simple heart is the very essence of the gospel. This text tells us certain great things. (i) It tells us that the initiative in all salvation lies with God. Sometimes Christianity is presented in such a way that it sounds as if God had to be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 3:16

For God so loved the world ,.... The Persic version reads "men": but not every man in the world is here meant, or all the individuals of human nature; for all are not the objects of God's special love, which is here designed, as appears from the instance and evidence of it, the gift of his Son: nor is Christ God's gift to every one; for to whomsoever he gives his Son, he gives all things freely with him; which is not the case of every man. Nor is human nature here intended, in opposition to,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 3:16

For God so loved the world - Such a love as that which induced God to give his only begotten son to die for the world could not be described: Jesus Christ does not attempt it. He has put an eternity of meaning in the particle οὑτω , so, and left a subject for everlasting contemplation, wonder, and praise, to angels and to men. The same evangelist uses a similar mode of expression, 1 John 3:1 ; : Behold, What Manner of love, ποταπην αγαπην , the Father hath bestowed upon us. From the... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 3:16

Verse 16 16.For God so loved the world. Christ opens up the first cause, and, as it were, the source of our salvation, and he does so, that no doubt may remain; for our minds cannot find calm repose, until we arrive at the unmerited love of God. As the whole matter of our salvation must not be sought any where else than in Christ, so we must see whence Christ came to us, and why he was offered to be our Savior. Both points are distinctly stated to us: namely, that faith in Christ brings life to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:1-36

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:3-21

5. The revelation of earthly and heavenly things to one who knew that God was with him. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:16

For God so loved the world. The Divine love to the whole of humanity in its condition of supreme need, i.e. apart from himself and his grace, has been of such a commanding, exhaustless, immeasurable kind, that it was equal to any emergency, and able to secure for the worst and most degraded, for the outcast, the serpent-bitten and the dying, a means of unlimited deliverance and uplifting. The Divine love is the sublime source of the whole proceeding, and it has been lavished on "the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:16

The immensity of God's love to the world. The apostle here emphasizes the love which was manifest in the method of salvation. I. THE TRUE ORIGIN OF SALVATION . "God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son." It is God's love, infinite, eternal, unchangeable. 1 . Salvation is not wrung from the Father by the Son. The atonement was the effect, not the cause, of God's love. 2 . This love is no contradiction to the wrath of God, which is implied in this... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:16

The greatness of God's love to the world. This will be seen if we consider— I. THE OBJECT OF HIS LOVE . "The world"—the fallen human family. 1 . There was nothing in the world to attract and deserve his love. For he loved the world, not as he made it, but as it made itself by sin. God loves all holy beings. This is natural, as natural as it is for a virtuous father to love a dutiful son. But God loved the world in its disobedience and sin. It was the magnitude and... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:16

The love of God in deed and truth. Here the producing cause of the gospel is briefly stated—why men need it, and why God sends it. How God regards the world and what he would do for it are here set before us. I. THE WOULD IS A PERISHING WORLD . If those believing in the Son of God will not perish, the conclusion is plain that those who remain unbelieving in Christ will perish. The word might have been, "God so loved the world as to fill it, with all manner of things pleasant... read more

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - John 3:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - John 3:16

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - John 3:16

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - John 3:16

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:1-36

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:3-21

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:16

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:16

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:16

The Pulpit Commentary - John 3:16

Group of Brands