Willie Martin
22752 Arapaho Rd.
Justin, Texas 76247
(940) 648-8030
Pastor Dan Gayman
The Church of Israel
Rural Route 1, box 218E
Schell City, Missouri 64783
Dear Pastor Gayman:
I have been informed by a Mr. Jeremia Faulkner, 511 Thames Bluff Rdg., Ft. Pierce, Florida 34982-7974 that John 3:16 was added to the Scriptures sometime around the 1300s or so. I have not been able to find out much more than that, but I have done a little study on the subject and I believe that he is correct. Following is a short study that I have done so far.
When I first heard that John 3:16 was added at some point in time and that it was not in the original, I was a little skeptical. But after doing a little research on it, I find that It would indeed appear that it was added.
Please read and let me know your thoughts on it. Also let me know your thoughts about it and if there is anything that I should add to it.
Original New Testament (ONT)
(See Authentic New Testament). Footnote: While much that was in hisdocumentary 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 Ferrar Fenton Bible Translation has the following in bracket indicating
that the verse WAS ADDED BY THE TRANSLATORS 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.
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: Thayer'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 (Romans. 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 interpreting 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.