I've been enjoying myself this week. I only had to work on Monday, and am taking the rest of the week off. Its nice having some time off.
This afternoon I was reading the first couple chapters of John. When I got to John 3, I kind of parked there and started looking at those verses around John 3:16. I'm paraphasing my impression of how this passage is commonly taught, but its like "God loved the world so much, they were just so special, that He sent Jesus to die on the cross for them. Although He loves everybody, He wouldn't impose His will on them. So, if anybody believes, they'll be saved. The choice is up to them".
I wanted to stop and focus on that passage and solidify in my mind what I believe the passage teaches and why. I don't think it teaches what my paraphrase teaches, but I want to make myself more convinced.
I'm sure I'll have more questions as I continue looking, but here's one that just popped into my mind. Its regarding the word "so" in John 3:16.
Joh 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Joh 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Joh 3:16 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.
My impression from some is that its kind of warm/cozy thing - God loves the world sooooo much, that...
The word "For" at the beginning of the verse connects the verse to the previous verse, in the same as in verses 17 and 20. Its a continuation of what was being said in the previous verse.
Here's where my thought about the word "so" came in that I wanted to ask about. I don't recall ever hearing this interpretation of the word, so admittedly I'm probably wrong. I was just wondering if somebody could tell me why its wrong.
Here's what it says about the word "so"
G3779
houtō
From G3778; in this way (referring to what precedes or follows): - after that, after (in) this manner, as, even (so), for all that, like (-wise), no more, on this fashion (-wise), so (in like manner), thus, what.
What makes sense to me is that the word "so", like the word "For", is referring to the previous verse. Similarly to how God had Moses lift up the serpent in the wilderness and whoever believed didn't perish, in the same way God loved the world and gave his son.
As I said, I don't recall the word "so" in that passage being interpretted that way, so I take my thoughts with a grain of salt. Does/could the word "so" be referring to the previous passage, instead of describing how much God loved the world?