Did Jesus really say?

Question

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 New International Version

Am I taking this out of context?

Answer 1

No, the bible actually sets forth what you quoted--so if you take John 3:16 as an actual quote of Jesus, you are taking it in context and Jesus actually said it.

But that said, the Gospel according to John was written at least 2-3 generations after Christ died (Estimated Range of Dating: 90-120 AD) and as far as we know it was written down not by copying another document but writing down an oral tradition--stories passed down from one to another over those 2-3 generations. We are not even sure who John is, but we know from the date of his gospel that he was not an original disciple of Jesus and likely was not around to witness anything he was writing about. Are we even sure that the John this gospel is ascribed to wrote it?

Ever hear of the game called "let's play telephone"? When a message starts at the beginning of a line of people and is whispered in the ear of each person in turn, the message often comes out very different at the end of the line! So who is to say that what was written in John is even accurate? Perhaps also its just a legend or a myth. Kind of like alligators living in the New York City sewers--that never happened either.

You also have to admit that its pretty arrogant of a man to claim he's the son of God (unless of course by some chance he is), without a shred of proof. Remember that some think his immaculate conception (the Christmas story) was added to the bible later than the story of the crucifixion in order to prove his divinity and to explain why Joseph was not his father. This instead of the more likely story that Jesus was conceived out of wedlock and Joseph married his mother perhaps out of pity for the social outcast she would have become or because he was the actual father. Remember that we know Jesus had half brother's and sisters-Joseph's children by his first wife.

I personally believe that the bible is a work of men and not divinely inspired....I also believe that the bible has been "edited" and "amended" to suit some people's religious purposes. So I have my doubts that Jesus ever said a lot of things attributed to him....you have to decide for yourself however. Religion is a matter of faith not of fact.

Answer 2

That was written by the compiler of the Gospel of John, probably in about 90 AD. All of the gospels are the end result of an extremely complex process of the collection and redaction of oral traditions about Jesus which circulated in various early Christian communities.

In context, it's difficult to say whether the words are being ascribed to Jesus or not -- in the ancient texts, there are no quotation marks! Different translations make different assumptions about this.

In general, the question of whether a given statement ascribed to Jesus in the gospels was actually said by him is an extremely difficult one. There are all sorts of opinions. Some scholars think virtually everything was put in his mouth by the compilers of the gospels (the earliest of which, the Gospel of Mark, was only compiled a generation after Jesus' death). Others think that a great deal of Jesus' sayings in the gospel do authentically represent his teaching, even if they are probably not his exact words. One thing to bear in mind is that the Gospel of John is much later than the other three gospels (called the "synoptic" gospels), and shows a much greater influence of the reflection of the Christian community on Jesus' life and teaching; remember, it was written two generations after his death.

If you want to reach a decision for yourself, you have no choice but to examine the scholarship and make up your mind as best you can -- in other words, study the New Testament seriously with the best tools of modern scholarship. Try starting with Joachim Jeremias' book "New Testament Theology: The Proclamation of Jesus." Steer clear of the popular stuff, like the Jesus Seminar, which is more sensationalism than real scholarship. Also try reading "On Being a Christian" by Hans Kung. Good luck, and God bless you!

Answer 3

God did give his only Son to death " For God so Loved the world, that he gave his only begotton Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have every lasting Life."
Jesus was talking to Nicodemus who was a Pharisee. I don't recommend reading the NIV due to it leaves things out of the Bible and the Bible says not to add or take away from the scriptures.

Answer 4

Yes, it is out of context. Jesus is speaking in verses 11-15. John the writer is speaking in verses 16-21.

Answer 5

What ever it says in the Bible you must believe. Once a educated person asked a old grandma, "do you really believe that a whale actually swallowed Jonah becuase a whale has such a little mouth opening" or something like that. the Grandma said "even it it said that Jonah swallowed a whale i would believe it because what ever it says in the Bible is the truth.

Answer 6

Yes.

John 3
10"You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. 14Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. 19This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."

Some interpreters hold that the quotation holds through verse 36, it is verses 22-36 that are the debate.

Answer 7

John 3:16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life."
you really need to see the Greek word translated typically to believes,(here exercises faith), to know how adamant it is.
John wrote this under inspiration circa 96 C.E.

Answer 8

Jesus said it. May I refer you to Biblegateway.com - an excellent online source. If you search for John 3:16 and then ask for it in context you can see the context for yourself.

Answer 9

Jesus really said that. You're not taking it out of context. In fact, read the entire book of John... the context clearly shows that He really did mean what He said.

Answer 10

People set up religion so that you are not a moron. seriously the best thing to do find interesting things to do. when you die and the first chance you get to see Jesus then ask him the question. People can't remember what they do. how is someone so Holy (someone who practices religion) actually going to find the right understanding when they only have a book. by the time a professional actually gets it right, you will already have asked Jesus.