10/03/2022 – Day 218 – John 3 – 4 //
Click on the lower right above : There is much speculation concerning Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea but I agree with this article that it is likely that both men became Christians before Jesus’ trial and crucifixtion.
John 3:17 , after the verse we are all familiar with: “For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world that might condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.
Verse 3:17 is not a contradiction with John 5:22 , proclaiming that Jesus had all the judgment entrusted to him. By Evidence Bible points out Matthew 25: 31-46 declaring “that Jesus will function as Judge on the last day, condemning some to hell (e.g. , Matthew 25 : 31-46). Take a look at John Gill’s commentary that I think appropriately bridges these two verses with John 3:17:
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/john-3-17.html
My Evidence Bible adds C.S. Lewis’ words: “There are only two kinds of people in the end; those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done’, and those to whom God says, ‘Thy will be done.’
Let’s look at 3:32: “He (Jesus) testified to what He has seen and heard, het no one accepts his testimony.” My Evidence BIble clarifies: “Here is made it sound as if no one ever accepted Jesus’ testimony. Yet clearly Christ did gsin followers. We must understand these words as a sweeping generalization about the growing reaction of Jesus’ contemporaries. John was probably echoing Jesus’ remark in verse 11 to Nicodemus: ‘ You do not accept Our testimony,’ referring to the majority of the Jewish leaders.”
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Now let’s look at 4:21: “Jesus told her (Samaritan woman at the well), ‘Believe Me, woman, an hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.”
My Evidence Bible comments: “Verse 21 could sound like Jesus was discouraging worship anywhere, when in fact He was encouraging it everywhere. No longer will there be one uniquely holy land or place in God’s kingdom.”
On God as Spirt, John 1:18: “No one has ever seen God. The One and Only Son — the One who is at the Father’s side — He has revealed Him.”
And John Gill, once again, sublimely elaborates:
https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/gills-exposition-of-the-bible/john-1-18.html
Soli Deo Gloria!