John 3 - NIV Essentials Study Bible

3:5 kingdom of God. See note on Mt 3:2.

3:8 The Holy Spirit is sovereign. He works as he pleases in his renewal of human hearts.

3:13 Son of Man. Jesus’ favorite self-designation (see notes on Mk 8:31; Lk 19:10).

3:16 God so loved the world. The great truth that motivated God’s plan of salvation (cf. 1Jn 4:9–10). world. All people on earth—or perhaps all creation. gave his one and only Son. Cf. Isa 9:6 (“a son is given,” referring to the Messianic Son of David—who is also God’s Son [see 2Sa 7:14 and note]). See also 1:14, 18 and notes; cf. Ge 22:2, 16 and notes. Although believers are also called “sons” of God (2Co 6:18; Gal 4:5–6), Jesus is God’s Son in a unique sense (see 20:31 and note).

3:22 baptized. According to 4:2 only the disciples actually baptized.

3:36 has. Eternal life is a present possession, not something the believer will only obtain later. God’s wrath. A strong expression, meaning that God is actively opposed to everything evil. The word “wrath” occurs only here in John’s Gospel (see note on Ro 1:18). remains. No one who persists in rejecting the Son of God as Savior and Lord can expect God’s wrath eventually to fade away. God’s opposition to evil is both total and permanent.