John 3:16

[dtofdh]

Someone recently told me that in John 3:16 that the word (world) means the church and not the world. Anyone hear this before? Does anyone have access to greek tranlsations?

Thanks, Doug

[Benedict]

[url="http://www.greekbible.com"]http://www.greekbible.com[/url]

[Mateo el Feo]

I looked at the Greek Bible website (great resource!) and it had this information:

[quote]ΚΟΣΜΟΣ,n  {kos'-mos}
1) an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order,  government  2) ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. the arrangement of the stars,  'the heavenly hosts', as the ornament of the heavens. 1 Pet. 3:3  3) the world, the universe  4) the circle of the earth, the earth  5) the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family  6) the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God,  and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ  7) world affairs, the aggregate of things earthly  7a) 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  8) any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort  8a) the Gentiles as contrasted to the Jews (Rom. 11:12 etc)  [b]8b) of believers only[/b], [b]John [/b]1:29; [b]3:16[/b]; 3:17; 6:33; 12:47  1 Cor. 4:9; 2 Cor. 5:19 [/quote]

The final definition (8b) is said to be used in John 3:16. I'm just a layman, so I'm a bit confused about why the "believers only" definition would apply to John 3:16. Looking at John 3:16 in light of Romans 5:8 makes things clear that He died for the love He has for us all, not just love for those in the Church.

[quote name='Romans 5:6-8']For Christ, while we were still helpless, yet died at the appointed time for the ungodly.  Indeed, only with difficulty does one die for a just person, though perhaps for a good person one might even find courage to die.  But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.[/quote]

It's interesting to see how much can be learned by drilling into the meaning of the words used in Holy Scripture. I'm really in awe of those who have such a detailed knowledge of this stuff.

God bless!