Bible Study on John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world")
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (NIV)
Welcome to the Bible Study Guide for John 3:16, which leverages questions from the CHARA Bible Study Guide when studying this verse. Below are the questions the Chara team chose to ask, in the order they chose to ask them, but feel free to use other questions or change up the order as you dive into this passage.
CONTEXT
Immediate: What is the theme or main idea found in John 3:14-18? How does that help determine what the verse means?
Bible: Does the text quote or allude to another passage in the Bible and what understanding does that give? Use cross references that will likely point to Numbers 21:4-9 to understand the history of “just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness” in John 3:14.
HISTORY
Who was it written about? How does the Bible describe them? Read John 3:1 & 10 to learn more about who Jesus was speaking to.
How would the original audience have heard this message? Nicodemus would’ve been familiar with the story of Moses and the snake. What parallel did Jesus want him to see in John 3:14-15? (Hint: How does the snake lifted up on the pole foreshadow Jesus being lifted up on the cross?)
AUTHOR
Patterns: What is highlighted through the use of repetition in John 3:14-18?
Person/Purpose: Who was the author and what was the author's purpose? Check out what John emphasized at the beginning and end of his gospel in John 1:1-3 and John 20:30-31 to get a better understanding of his purpose. (Hint: you can also refer to the intro of the book of John in a Study Bible)
RESEARCH
Translations: Does another Bible translation (or version) add perspective or clarity on what the original language was trying to communicate in John 3:16? If your translation uses the word “begotten” (like KJV, NKJV, NASB) be sure to look up the verse in NIV (New International Version) or CSB (Christian Standard Bible).
Resources: What insights do you learn from Biblical scholars provided in Study Bibles, commentaries, and credible online resources? The CSB Study Bible includes a Greek word study on “one and only” meaning the only one of its kind. And clarifies that Jesus is unique as “God’s one and only Son in that his essential nature is the same as the Father’s.” How does this help provide clarity on what John 3:16 means?
Observations & Questions: What observations or questions do you have? What stands out to you when you reread the passage?
APPLY
Ask: What do you learn about God - His character, attributes, or desires?
Pray: “Lord, what do you want me to learn and how should I apply this to my life?”
Join the Chara Project team as they study John 3:16 and see their ANSWERS to the questions asked from the CHARA Bible Study Guide.