FUNCTIONAL FAITH
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The Pioneer Translation Rendering

John 3:16–17

God So Loved the World

16For God loved the world in this way: he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

*Monogenes* is rendered "only-begotten" rather than the flattened "one and only," preserving the generative relationship between the Father and the Son — the Son derives his existence from the Father, which is distinct from the Father himself. *Apolesēi* ("perish") is translated at full strength; the contrast is between destruction and *zōēn aiōnion* ("eternal life"), not merely separation. The phrase "in this way" renders *houtōs* accurately, indicating the manner of God's love rather than merely its degree.

17For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but so that the world might be saved through him.

"Sent" translates ἀπέστειλεν (apostellō), preserving the clear sender/sent distinction — God is the one who acts by sending; the Son is the one sent. The purpose clause introduced by ἵνα is rendered "so that" to capture its final force. "Through him" (διʼ αὐτοῦ) keeps the Son in his proper role as instrument of salvation rather than its source.

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16

For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that everyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.

For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that no one who believes in him should be lost, but that they should all have eternal life.

17

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

For God did not send his Son into the world to pass judgment upon the world, but that through him the world might be saved.

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Sources

SBL Greek New Testament (SBLGNT)License

The Greek New Testament: SBL Edition

Copyright 2010 Society of Biblical Literature and Logos Bible Software.

Licensed CC BY 4.0.

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