The Context

John 3:1-21 

“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.” 3:14-17 

The most quoted verse in the Bible is John 3:16. It is a beautiful verse of God’s love for the world and his power to save His children when they believe and accept Him by faith.  However, have you ever wondered about the context of John 3:16?  

When Bible verses are quoted in isolation, there is the danger that they could be misunderstood or mis-applied. Often, people isolate phrases in the Bible without considering the meaning within the context. Most times it’s done without ill intent. People often want to make a point on a certain topic and so they find a verse that appears to make their point. They will use Bible verses to prove a point they are trying to make. This is called proof-texting.  

I see this happening a lot. A familiar example is the use of the verse, “for where two or three are gathered in My name, I am there in their midst,” Matthew 18:20. This verse has nothing to do with prayer meetings, worship services, small group gatherings or home group Bible studies. Read the previous five verses to understand the context. As I wrote, proof-texting is usually done without ill intent but we need to be careful. It can lead to confusion, mis-interpretation and even false teaching.  

Nevertheless, stated in a more positive way, wouldn’t it be better to understand the context so that the fullness of the verse could be understood in the manner that God intended it? Right? YES! Fortunately, when it comes to John 3:16, it has a simplicity that is winsome and beautiful on its own. But understanding it within the context of Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus opens its full meaning. Let’s exert just a little extra effort to unlock the beauty of this verse within the narrative that God gave it to us through the gospel of John. We’ll dig into it next time. 

Lord, whether we study your Word for our own spiritual growth or study it to teach others, help us to put in just a little more effort to do what Paul taught us to do; “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth,” 2 Timothy 2:15. May we be people of the Word and may the Word of Christ richly dwell within us. Amen