Does the Greek word, kosmos (κοσμος), translated as "world" in our English Bibles, mean "all men without exception"? That is the interpretation that some Christians would force upon the Bible, but is that the Bible's interpretation? For those of us who actually study our Bibles, we will see that the word translated as "world" has more than 6 different interpretations. This is verified and supported by every Greek Concordance, Greek Dictionary, Greek Lexicon, etc. Sometimes the word refers to the entire universe; sometimes it refers to the Earth itself; sometimes it refers to each and every person; sometimes it refers to believers only; sometimes it refers to non-believers only. Context, context, context!!! In knowing this fact, what does John 3:16 actually teach? Certain Christians would have it mean "all men without exception," but this is heresy--especially when one reads their entire Bible and believes what it says. Let's look at some examples that prove these Christians' beliefs to be unsupported by Scripture's interpretation.
John 1:29—"Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world." Did Christ, by His death, take away the sin of "all men without exception"? No, He did not! If He did, then "all men without exception" will be saved. This is Universalism.
John 6:33—"For the bread of God is he which comes down from heaven, and gives life unto the world." Does Jesus give life (not ineffectually offer life, but efficaciously give life) to "all men without exception"? No, He does not! If He does, then "all men without exception" have eternal life. This is Universalism.
John 17:9—"I pray not for the world." Does Jesus refuse to pray for "all men without exception"? No, He does not!
All these texts prove that the word "world" does not always have the same meaning. Anyone who forces it to do so is doing so against Scripture, trying to force their erroneous beliefs onto the Bible rather than accepting the Bible as it is. They are following their favourite ear tickling teachers and authors rather than believing what the Bible teaches. There are 203 verses in the New Testament containing the word "world," which prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the word "world" does not mean "all men without exception." Grab a concordance and look each of them up, examining their context. Anyone who believes that the word "world" means "all men without exception" has created a god in their own image, an idol to suit their own personal feelings and opinions, rather than embracing the true God of the Bible and what He has clearly revealed.
The definitions of the word kosmos (κοσμος) are as follows:
John 1:29—"Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world." Did Christ, by His death, take away the sin of "all men without exception"? No, He did not! If He did, then "all men without exception" will be saved. This is Universalism.
John 6:33—"For the bread of God is he which comes down from heaven, and gives life unto the world." Does Jesus give life (not ineffectually offer life, but efficaciously give life) to "all men without exception"? No, He does not! If He does, then "all men without exception" have eternal life. This is Universalism.
John 17:9—"I pray not for the world." Does Jesus refuse to pray for "all men without exception"? No, He does not!
All these texts prove that the word "world" does not always have the same meaning. Anyone who forces it to do so is doing so against Scripture, trying to force their erroneous beliefs onto the Bible rather than accepting the Bible as it is. They are following their favourite ear tickling teachers and authors rather than believing what the Bible teaches. There are 203 verses in the New Testament containing the word "world," which prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the word "world" does not mean "all men without exception." Grab a concordance and look each of them up, examining their context. Anyone who believes that the word "world" means "all men without exception" has created a god in their own image, an idol to suit their own personal feelings and opinions, rather than embracing the true God of the Bible and what He has clearly revealed.
The definitions of the word kosmos (κοσμος) are as follows:
- an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government.
- ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. the arrangement of the stars, 'the heavenly hosts', as the ornament of the heavens.
- the world, the universe.
- the circle of the earth, the earth.
- the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family.
- the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ.
- 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.
- any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort.
- the Gentiles as contrasted to the Jews (Rom. 11:12 etc).
- of believers only, John 1:29; 3:16; 3:17; 6:33; 12:47; 1 Cor. 4:9; 2 Cor. 5:19.
Nahum 1:5 (Septuagint) - all of creation
Matthew 13:38 - all men; some who are children of God, and some who are children of Satan
Matthew 24:14 - all nations
John 7:7 - unbelievers
John 12:19 - many men...though not all men...of a certain region
John 14:15 - hardened unbelievers
John 15:19 - everyone besides believers
Acts 17:6 - the civilized world
Romans 10:18 - all parts of the earth, but not every single individual
1 Corinthians 4:9 - everyone who saw the disciples
Galatians 6:14 - the earthly, sensual pleasures of life
James 3:6 - a variety of all kinds
1 Peter 5:9 - the general population
2 Peter 2:5 - the ungodly
1 John 3:1 - unbelievers
Revelation 13:3 - some from every nation (but not any believers)