The very last word in this verse has a profound difference of translation in the many differing bibles. Some say eternal life, some say everlasting life, some say limitless life, some say whole life, one even says life eonian, whatever that means. My point is this. We the mainstream so called non-believers, dont believe anymore because no denomination can agree on verbiage.
2006-12-26 03:30:42 · 7 answers · asked by Sean 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Most modern translations use "unique Son", "only Son", and the like, because the second root-word of μονογενής is now understood to be γένος ("kind, type") rather than γεννάω ("to beget, to father"); hence "only + kind" rather than "only + begotten"
2006-12-26 03:32:35 · update #1
Even worse is the Bubba Preachers interpretation of "believe in him".
They claim that that means to believe what Paul described to his friends in his "personal" letters to them.
I am sure you know how Paul made up things about the body of Jesus and the blood of Jesus is the way to get to Heaven.
Jesus said no such thing.
What does it mean to believe in someone?
What does it mean to believe in your auto mechanic?
It doesn't mean that you believe he exists, and that his body is magical.
To believe in your auto mechanic means that you believe his advice and his instructions as to what your car needs to operate correctly. If he tells you to change oil every 3000 miles, if you believe in him, that is if you believe his message, you will make an effort to change your oil every 3000 miles.
To believe in your auto mechanic does not mean that you believe when he dies, his blood will keep your car in good repair for all of eternity. However, when he dies, and you remember his advice, and you apply his advice to your car, then you have a chance of keeping your car in good repair. Not by his blood, by applying his messages.
Jesus never spent his life saying, "look at me", he spent his life saying "listen to my messages" . To believe in Jesus is to believe his messages.
enough said ?
2006-12-26 03:40:39 · answer #1 · answered by MrsOcultyThomas 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, actually, I don't believe simply because I don't. The various translation do not lend much credence to the faith, though.
2006-12-26 11:38:25 · answer #2 · answered by Phoenix, Wise Guru 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
whatever the translations are....all of them try to convey the same meaning
2006-12-26 11:46:00 · answer #3 · answered by suzana r 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always thought that it was very clear what John meant.
2006-12-26 11:39:40 · answer #4 · answered by Tawani 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Jesus is not saying these words in the verse, I dont know why christians use it as proof of divinity of Jesus
2006-12-26 11:34:06 · answer #5 · answered by hello 1 · 0⤊ 2⤋
your disbelief has nothing to do with the different translations.
it has everything to do with your lack of faith.
2006-12-26 11:34:05 · answer #6 · answered by jinenglish68 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
to confuse you
2006-12-26 11:40:12 · answer #7 · answered by Michael Kane 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋