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Is John 3:16 The Gospel?
There is currently tremendous and growing interest in the impact of the familiar verse John 3:16. This new and radical book exposes misguided teaching, clearing up many common misunderstandings and providing an extremely helpful and detailed explanation of the verse in its context. The relevance of the surrounding verses is explored, and many fascinating insights equip the reader to understand the true meaning and significance of the passage and its proper application. Difficult and controversial issues are not avoided, and we are shown how powerful this passage is. A major challenge for today s Christians. 'John 3:16 is often referred to as the gospel in a nutshell . I believe it is one of the most mistranslated and misapplied verses in the Bible. Like most Christians, I totally misunderstood the verse. So I am warning you now that I may spoil John 3:16 for you for the rest of your life. But I hope that this book will also gibe you the true meaning of what is a wonderful message, and a very important one, especially for Christians.' D. Pawson
80 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2008
32 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
April 18, 2024
Highly recommend to any Christian, new or old, and to test what the author is saying against scripture. He sheds light on so many misconceptions and the negative results of using this out of context and as an evangelical tool towards unbelievers. This will challenge you.
April 28, 2025
Pawson argues that since John was writing to believers, John 3:16 is not appropriate to share with unbelievers as part of a gospel presentation because it doesn't include other aspects of the gospel message such as repentance. He also states that, "neither Jesus nor any of the apostles ever preached about the love of God in public." and, "in the whole of Acts there is not a single mention of the love of God."
Pawson, David. Is John 3:16 the Gospel? (p. 4). Anchor Recordings Ltd. Kindle Edition.
Elsewhere, Pawson writes, "when we really begin to study what the Bible actually does say about the love of God, we find that it is not unconditional. We are told that God loves those who fear him. God loves those who keep his commandments (see, for example, John 15:10). There are many, many conditions attached to the love of God in the statements we do have."
Pawson, David. Is John 3:16 the Gospel? (p. 9). Anchor Recordings Ltd. Kindle Edition.
I normally appreciate Pawson's writing, but in this case I take issue with his conclusions. John says that "God is love" and Paul wrote that, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." While God hates sin, I maintain that he loves the sinner (as Paul just stated) until it's time for the judgment.
Normally I would delete this book but I'm going to keep it around for now and possibly revisit it when I run across a scripture that contributes something to this issue.
Pawson, David. Is John 3:16 the Gospel? (p. 4). Anchor Recordings Ltd. Kindle Edition.
Elsewhere, Pawson writes, "when we really begin to study what the Bible actually does say about the love of God, we find that it is not unconditional. We are told that God loves those who fear him. God loves those who keep his commandments (see, for example, John 15:10). There are many, many conditions attached to the love of God in the statements we do have."
Pawson, David. Is John 3:16 the Gospel? (p. 9). Anchor Recordings Ltd. Kindle Edition.
I normally appreciate Pawson's writing, but in this case I take issue with his conclusions. John says that "God is love" and Paul wrote that, "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." While God hates sin, I maintain that he loves the sinner (as Paul just stated) until it's time for the judgment.
Normally I would delete this book but I'm going to keep it around for now and possibly revisit it when I run across a scripture that contributes something to this issue.
June 15, 2022
Challenging and provocative as the author lays out literary, grammatical, contextual analysis of this verse. One might still argue that an explanation of the verse can create a conversation about the Good News that Christ preached. I still have many questions regarding whether Parson’s assumptions are correct. For example, that the love of God is only mentioned 35 times in the entire Bible. Does he include all the passages that describe love towards His children such as the parable of the Prodigal Son? I counted, and then stopped, nearly 30 passages in the Greek scriptures (NT) alone. Certainly when we include the covenants in the Hebrew Scriptures to fit Pawson’s definition of “agape” (like the Hebraic “hesed”?) then we would certainly get a more complete picture of God’s love for His people and how it might differ from His love of the world. And thus have a better answer to the eponymous question.
May 17, 2019
This book will change your understanding of 3:16
I really admire David Pawson, he is a wonderful teacher and author.
In this book, he carefully examines each word- precondition, postcondition and context. Then, he brilliantly explain each word in terms of Greek/English translations.
He discusses this verse in detail with the help of other bible verses.
I personally was not aware of many details, it is an eye-opener.
This book definitely changed my understanding of John 3:16
I really admire David Pawson, he is a wonderful teacher and author.
In this book, he carefully examines each word- precondition, postcondition and context. Then, he brilliantly explain each word in terms of Greek/English translations.
He discusses this verse in detail with the help of other bible verses.
I personally was not aware of many details, it is an eye-opener.
This book definitely changed my understanding of John 3:16
October 28, 2018
Must Read for Believers
Pawson is an excellent teacher and breaks down the very important verse the majority of we believers misuse for evangelism, and then incorrectly. 3:16 is part of a greater text directed specifically to believers. He also gives an excellent overview of the gospels, what they’re about and who they’re intended for. Highly recommend.
Pawson is an excellent teacher and breaks down the very important verse the majority of we believers misuse for evangelism, and then incorrectly. 3:16 is part of a greater text directed specifically to believers. He also gives an excellent overview of the gospels, what they’re about and who they’re intended for. Highly recommend.
January 4, 2020
Though the entirety of the book is focused on one verse, David gives you a lot to think about in this short read. He also explains the meaning of each word from John 3:16 in the original Greek language in a way that anyone — even those who aren’t familiar with Greek — can understand. Another one of those books you’d like to revisit!
August 20, 2025
God is love
Well written, and I understand that God shall reward His and the Devil shall reward his. The book of Job opens the issue surrounding Hell and the end. It makes us see the misunderstanding of God in the whole Bible… So I disagree with his understanding of God and death and killing God, as mentioned in the book Revelation, but a mere knowledge of God, just as the servants of Job announced..The fire from heaven burnt his animals”. And so the writer, seeing visions, assumed the obvious. It's challenging to understand, but when the Bible is read through the lens of a God hanging on a cross, a loving God becomes obvious
Well written, and I understand that God shall reward His and the Devil shall reward his. The book of Job opens the issue surrounding Hell and the end. It makes us see the misunderstanding of God in the whole Bible… So I disagree with his understanding of God and death and killing God, as mentioned in the book Revelation, but a mere knowledge of God, just as the servants of Job announced..The fire from heaven burnt his animals”. And so the writer, seeing visions, assumed the obvious. It's challenging to understand, but when the Bible is read through the lens of a God hanging on a cross, a loving God becomes obvious
June 7, 2019
A must read
This is an excellent book that clearly explains John 316 in context. Every Christian should read it. It goes back to the Greek and looks at the verse as it was meant to be read, not as an evangelical tool but as an exhortation to Christians to keep their faith.
This is an excellent book that clearly explains John 316 in context. Every Christian should read it. It goes back to the Greek and looks at the verse as it was meant to be read, not as an evangelical tool but as an exhortation to Christians to keep their faith.
January 29, 2018
It is a good book that give you a new perspective.
August 12, 2018
Eye opening.! Will re-read this book many times . Highly recommended !!
December 7, 2021
Did you know that Jesus never explicitly spoke about His Father's love to the crowds who followed Him around? Nor to any others except his Learners / Followers already destined ffor His Kingdom?
Nor, when you check it out, will you find even ONE time in all of Acts where ANY Apostle evangelized using God's love as the main, or any, benefit of Following Jesus. As you will not and any other New Covenant book.
Did you also know that some scholars suggest that John, not Jesus said John 3:16? Mr. Pawson offers 5 compelling reasons to believe other than we're typically taught.
In addition, our Master definitely commands His disciple-makers "not to cast pearls among swine". Regarding the latter, Pastor Pawson wonders if Jesus might have meant this re making converts by wrongly talking about God's love for everyone, still.
Is not the way many misuse John 3:16 just 'selling' God's love to a world hungry for love? Why do so many Christians no longer use the evangelism tools Jesus' New Covenant commands ...faith, and Jesus' second coming (John 14:1-3)?
David Pawson says "the unconditional love of God" ...which Jesus Followers are popularly now taught... is a concept that is nowhere in the New Covenant. (I carefully checked. He's correct!)
And before you counter with John 3:16, please read it again noting the tense of the verbs. You also might be wise to ponder why one of the most well-known verses in the Bible is seldom quoted along with contextual, companion verses 17 and 18. Did you notice that every one of their verbs is past, NOT present, tense.)
You'll be shocked when you discover the other myths Mr. Pawson exposes in this book: "Is John 3:16 The Gospel?". After reading it and, then re-reading parts, I found that he demolished, Biblically, much of what I had been taught,and believed, about sharing Jesus with non-believers.
"Neither Jesus nor any of the Apostles every preached about God's love to non-Christians. So why do we do it?" ~ gfp '42™
Enjoy being shocked about the lies taught from many pulpits about the Gospel!
Blessings, love, and shalom, Gary
Nor, when you check it out, will you find even ONE time in all of Acts where ANY Apostle evangelized using God's love as the main, or any, benefit of Following Jesus. As you will not and any other New Covenant book.
Did you also know that some scholars suggest that John, not Jesus said John 3:16? Mr. Pawson offers 5 compelling reasons to believe other than we're typically taught.
In addition, our Master definitely commands His disciple-makers "not to cast pearls among swine". Regarding the latter, Pastor Pawson wonders if Jesus might have meant this re making converts by wrongly talking about God's love for everyone, still.
Is not the way many misuse John 3:16 just 'selling' God's love to a world hungry for love? Why do so many Christians no longer use the evangelism tools Jesus' New Covenant commands ...faith, and Jesus' second coming (John 14:1-3)?
David Pawson says "the unconditional love of God" ...which Jesus Followers are popularly now taught... is a concept that is nowhere in the New Covenant. (I carefully checked. He's correct!)
And before you counter with John 3:16, please read it again noting the tense of the verbs. You also might be wise to ponder why one of the most well-known verses in the Bible is seldom quoted along with contextual, companion verses 17 and 18. Did you notice that every one of their verbs is past, NOT present, tense.)
You'll be shocked when you discover the other myths Mr. Pawson exposes in this book: "Is John 3:16 The Gospel?". After reading it and, then re-reading parts, I found that he demolished, Biblically, much of what I had been taught,and believed, about sharing Jesus with non-believers.
"Neither Jesus nor any of the Apostles every preached about God's love to non-Christians. So why do we do it?" ~ gfp '42™
Enjoy being shocked about the lies taught from many pulpits about the Gospel!
Blessings, love, and shalom, Gary
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2017
Dr. David Pawson presents synergistic soteriology in his book "Is John 3:16 the Gospel?" and his analysis of the passage in question.
His overarching point--that we shouldn't use John 3:16 to tell unbelievers "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life"--is commendable, but unfortunately in making his point he goes off on a string of tangents that seem more focused on decrying monergism than evaluating Scripture. In fact, I would say that Dr. Pawson takes synergism to a whole new level in this book, as he makes the claim that salvation is only secured when one remains in the vine (cf. John 15) throughout one's life (thus placing the responsibility of salvation squarely on man's faithfulness to God, not God's faithfulness to man). I suspect even some synergists would recoil uneasily at some of the eisegesis he offers. Roman Catholics, I suspect, would read this book and say, "Cool, Dr. Pawson, I'll see you at mass on Sunday." This is Catholic prevenient-grace salvation in another skin.
The best I can say about this book is that it will make you think, and force you to study Scripture for yourself. But if you do that--study for yourself, rather than just taking Dr. Pawson's word for it--you will quickly find that his soteriology just doesn't mesh with Scripture as a whole. Really, he makes the claim that we shouldn't build a theology based solely on one verse (John 3:16), but then this entire book--and every point he makes--revolves around his dissected definitions of words in the verse itself. He does exactly what he says other people shouldn't do.
His overarching point--that we shouldn't use John 3:16 to tell unbelievers "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life"--is commendable, but unfortunately in making his point he goes off on a string of tangents that seem more focused on decrying monergism than evaluating Scripture. In fact, I would say that Dr. Pawson takes synergism to a whole new level in this book, as he makes the claim that salvation is only secured when one remains in the vine (cf. John 15) throughout one's life (thus placing the responsibility of salvation squarely on man's faithfulness to God, not God's faithfulness to man). I suspect even some synergists would recoil uneasily at some of the eisegesis he offers. Roman Catholics, I suspect, would read this book and say, "Cool, Dr. Pawson, I'll see you at mass on Sunday." This is Catholic prevenient-grace salvation in another skin.
The best I can say about this book is that it will make you think, and force you to study Scripture for yourself. But if you do that--study for yourself, rather than just taking Dr. Pawson's word for it--you will quickly find that his soteriology just doesn't mesh with Scripture as a whole. Really, he makes the claim that we shouldn't build a theology based solely on one verse (John 3:16), but then this entire book--and every point he makes--revolves around his dissected definitions of words in the verse itself. He does exactly what he says other people shouldn't do.
September 14, 2013
In this book David Pawson explores the real meaning of the most quoted verse in the Bible: John 3:16. As author suggested I checked verbs tenses in Greek. (I used the theWord software with the Tischendorf's 8th edition Greek NT with morphological tags, both free for download and use). English and many other languages can't represent exactly some Greek tenses, so books like this are eye opening for many people.
Another problem in some translations is misplaced word "so" as in "God so loved the world", which must be put at the beginning of the verse. Then is the question which words are these, of Jesus or John. All in all a very interesting read which puts us on track with the real meaning of John 3:16 (including its context).
I read the Kindle edition. ASIN: B004S7FWLS
Another problem in some translations is misplaced word "so" as in "God so loved the world", which must be put at the beginning of the verse. Then is the question which words are these, of Jesus or John. All in all a very interesting read which puts us on track with the real meaning of John 3:16 (including its context).
I read the Kindle edition. ASIN: B004S7FWLS
May 13, 2013
Firstly listened his message in mp3 format. Loved it, and bought this book. The book is transcript basically which allows me to digest his message.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews