John 3:19 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

NIV: This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

NASB: And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil.

CSB: This is the judgment: The light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.

NLT: And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

KJV: And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

NKJV: And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

The opening verses of the gospel of John refer to Jesus as "the Light," an important concept in Hebrew culture (John 1:4–9). Light reveals truth and exposes what was hidden. According to this verse, that is the ultimate reason many people reject Jesus. His life and teachings expose every single person as a sinner (Romans 3:10) and proves the things we do to be morally wrong (Romans 4:7). Many people would prefer to hide in darkness, rather than be exposed by the light (John 1:5; 8:12).

It's crucial to remember that those who are saved are not "better" than those who reject Christ; they are simply sinners who confess and believe (1 John 1:6–7). Each person is "condemned already" for sin (John 3:18) and can hope for rescue only by turning to Jesus (John 14:6).

The word translated as "evil" here is the Greek ponēra. This term implies both evil and a sense of drudgery, labor, and effort. Mankind is not just immoral, but we work hard at being immoral! A life of sin is a hard life (John 10:10; Isaiah 14:3; Matthew 11:28).

John 3:16–21 begins with the most easily recognized portion of any holy book on Earth: John 3:16. This is a one-sentence summary of the entire gospel. Still, the verses which follow are just as critical for understanding the Christian message. Christ wasn't sent to judge the world, but to bring salvation. This is an expression of God's incredible love. However, those who do not believe in Jesus Christ are condemned in the eyes of God. Human preference for sin causes many to choose darkness over the Light.

John chapter 3 is one of the most important passages in the entire gospel. Many crucial ideas are explained here, including the role of Jesus as Savior. After the loud, public commotion at the temple, John transitions to a quiet, nighttime discussion. The speakers are Jesus and a Pharisee, Nicodemus, who is sincerely interested in understanding Jesus' ministry. These verses make it clear that Christ—and Christ alone—is the means of salvation for the entire world. This text also states that those who reject Jesus are rejecting God.

The gospel of John intends to prove that Jesus is God. Chapter 3 contains some of the most direct, most important concepts in Christianity. The ideas of spiritual rebirth and the necessity of belief in Christ are reinforced by the rest of the information in this gospel. John continues to use contrast, moving from the loud and public temple cleansing to the quiet of this conversation. After Jesus injects humility into a powerful leader, chapter 4 will transition again, as Jesus gives dignity to an outcast stranger.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.

Accessed 7/27/2024 11:49:09 AM