by Burke McKay

Created on: October 22, 2008

Isolating John 3:16
from the context of the rest of the chapter yields the various interpretations that so many "preach". I was not raised in the Rabbinic Tradition, nor do I believe that God is somehow required to honor whatever interpretation(s) some majority may hold as the Rabbinic Tradition teaches. Scripture should always be read/studied in balance and in context, not through proof-texts {isolating verses from the contextual body}.

I strongly encourage reading the entire episode between Jesus and Nicodemus, as you read this, as only the high points will be addressed here.

Nicodemus, as verse 1 indicates, was a Pharisee, raised and educated in the Rabbinic Tradition and the Second Torah, the source of the Rabbinic Tradition. A good source for information on the Rabbinic Tradition is "Hebrew Yeshua vs. Greek Jesus" by Nehemia Gordon. His recognition of Jesus' authority, and source, was an acknowledgement that God was working through Jesus {a minority} in ways He wasn't working through the Pharisees {the majority}, hence the threat they perceived to their authority over the people.

In John 3:3 10, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus about being reborn/born from above. In verse 8 He describes how the Spirit comes and goes as He will, and how Nicodemus hears His voice, but even he doesn't know where the Spirit has come from, nor where He's going to, only when He is present. In verse 10 Jesus chides him because he hears the Spirit, but also pays attention to the Pharisees, which tends to keep him paralyzed inside, preventing the growth he is capable of. As is so often the case, Jesus is utilizing a double entendre to teach Nicodemus that the Spirit uses different people, different talents, and can manifest in many different ways, so he should always be open to where He leads regardless of what those around him may perceive, according to the voice of the Spirit he hears.

In verses 11 14 Jesus continues to chide Nicodemus, this time about his doubt. Jesus is preparing the ground for the real lesson He wants him to learn and understand. In verse 13 Jesus tells Nicodemus that the Son of Man came from Heaven, and is IN Heaven, establishing His own authority for what He is about to teach him.

Verse 14 15 reminds Nicodemus of Moses lifting up the serpent in the wilderness to heal the Children of Israel to establish the historical, present, future, and Spiritual context to follow.

Verses 15 17 provide a transition with a promise, but the promise is secondary {though no less important}

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>