Go ye into all the world. Part 1
For those who are more interested in the testimony of sacred scripture than the assertions and presupposition of men the following scriptures are offered for your consideration.
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. (Mark 16:15 AV)
Ferror Fenton translates this verse as:
“And He said to them, ‘Go out into ALL PARTS of the world, and proclaim the good news to the whole creation”
This, to me, seems quite a bit of difference; but not when one takes into consideration that from the end of Mark 16:8 we find the following:
“The following fourteen verses are omitted from the older MSS. They differr greatly in style and language from the rest ofthe book; and on this asccount it has been supposed that they were added by a later hand. Alford expresses the opinion that ‘in all probability they formed no part of Mark’s original Gospel.’ (See also Westcott andHort’s Greek Testament) Ferror Fenton suggest that these three so called endings of St. Mark’s Gospel are simply notes of ancieht copyists or editors.
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29 AV)
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. (John 3:16‑19 AV)
For discussion let’s leave off the rest of the quotes and center in on John 3:16. For it would appear that this verse does not belong in the text at all and that it was added at some later date. Some estimate around 1100 A.D. That being the case let’s examine it a little and see if that supposition might be correct.
Oringinal New Testament (ONT)
(See Authentic New Testament). Footnote: While much that was in his documentary source (the Memoirs of John the Priest) has been adapted by the Greek author to bring the text into line with his ideas, as here, some passages, largely by way of commentary, stand out as his distinctive contribution. Whenever possible attention has been drawn to these, as in this instance, and some have been placed below the main body of the text and in slightly smaller type. The present passage is John 3:16‑21. [This passage has been so placed by the translator].
The Ferror Fenton Bible Translation has the following in bracket indicating that the verse WAS ADDED BY THE TRANSLATERS at some point
in time.
[For God so loved the world that He gave the only‑begotten Son, so that every one believing in Him should not be lost, but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son to the world that He might condemn the world; but that He might save the world through Him...] and ends with John 3:21 therefore it would appear that all the verses from John 3:16 forward to John 3:21 were added by someone at some point in time AFTER the original was related.
Love Not The World
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15)
If this is true, and we believe that it is, then why would Yahweh say that He so loved the world? We don’t believe that He would do so.
Now the question that was put forth that so many began jumping up and down because it was even suggested that John 3:16 should not be in the Bible.
“For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
We also have the testimony of Luke:
“...take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” (Luke 21:34-36)
James said:
“...know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4)
In Colossians we are told:
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Colossians 3:2)
Yet John 3:16 is a direct contradiction to the above verses.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
Therefore, we must research the word “world” and see what it actually means.
World: Strong’s Concordance: #2889 kosmos (kos'‑mos); probably from the base of 2865; orderly arrangement, i.e. decoration; by implication, the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]): KJV– adorning, world.
World: Strong’s Concordance: #2865 komizo (kom‑id'‑zo); from a primary komeo (to tend, i.e. take care of); properly, to provide for, i.e. (by implication) to carry off (as if from harm; genitive case obtain): KJV‑‑ bring, receive.
World: Thayler’s Definition: #2889 kosmos‑
1) an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government
2) ornament, decoration, adornment, that is, the arrangement of the stars, `the heavenly hosts', as the ornament of the heavens. 1 Pet. 3:3
3) the world, the universe
4) the circle of the earth, the earth
5) the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human race
6) the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ
7) world affairs, the aggregate of things earthly
the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc., which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ
8) any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort
a) the Gentiles as contrasted to the Jews (Rom. 11:12 etc)
a) used of believers only, John 1:29; 3:16; 3:17; 6:33; 12:47 1 Cor. 4:9; 2 Cor. 5:19
World: Thayer’s Definition: #2865 komizo‑
1) to care for, to take care of, to provide for
2) to take up or carry away in order to care for and preserve
3) to carry away, to bear off
4) to carry, to bear, to bring to, to carry away for oneself, to carry off what is one's own, to bring back
a) to receive, to obtain: the promised blessing
b) to receive what was previously one's own, to get back, to receive back, to recover
Now does it make sense that Yahweh would tell us that He loved world affairs, the aggregate of things earthly the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc., which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, SEDUCE FROM GOD AND ARE OBSTACLES TO THE CAUSE OF CHRIST.
WORLD: “World is also associated with mankind. Christ said of His disciples, ‘Ye are the light of the world’ <Matt. 5:14a>. OFTEN WORLD IS USED TO INDICATE ‘THE MEN OF THIS WORLD’ WHO ARE SAID TO LIE IN WICKEDNESS <Eph. 2:2; 1 John 5:19>. THE MEN ARE CALLED ‘THE WORLD,’ not only because they compose the greater part of the world's population, but mainly because they pursue and cherish the things of this world. The Psalmist describes these men ‘as having their portion in this life’ <Ps. 17:14>.
“World may also denote the fleeting character of life's riches and pleasures and the folly of making them of central importance in life. "Will a person gain anything if he wins the whole world, but loses his life?" <Matt. 16:26>. (from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Now John 3:16 makes even less sense, and it certainly appears that it does not belong in the Bible or men have been interpreating it in error for a long period of time. It would appear that John 3:16, like the rest of the Bible is making reference only to the Israelites in the world; not to all mankind.
When reading John 3:16, seldom does the Judeo-Christian clergy mention the following verse:
“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:17)
This is very clear, if men of Yahweh will only look with their eyes open and not closed by the lying, deceiving Judeo-Christian clergy, that John is speaking of the Israelites who were, even then, scattered all over the earth. He is not speaking of the blacks, chinese, and the other races or peoples, he is speaking only of the world of Israelites.