Joh 3:17-18 | RWP | e4.org | For God sent not the Son ( ου γαρ απεστειλεν ο θεος τον υιον ). Explanation ( γαρ ) of God's sending the Son into the world. First aorist active indicative of αποστελλω . John uses both αποστελλω from which comes αποστολος ( ; , , etc.) and πεμπω ( ; , , , etc.) for God's sending the Son and πεμπω more frequently, but with no real difference in meaning. All the Gospels use ο υιος in the absolute sense in contrast with the Father ( ; ; ). To judge ( ινα κρινη ). Final clause with ινα and the present (or aorist) active subjunctive of κρινω . The Messiah does judge the world as Jesus taught ( .; ), but this was not the primary or the only purpose of his coming. See on for κρινω , to pick out, select, approve, condemn, used so often and in so many varying contexts in the N.T. But that the world should be saved through him ( αλλ ινα σωθη ο κοσμος δι' αυτου ). First aorist passive subjunctive of σωζω , the common verb to save (from σως , safe and sound), from which σωτηρ (Saviour) comes (the Saviour of the world, ; ) and σωτηρια (salvation, here only in John). The verb σωζω is often used for physical health ( ), but here of the spiritual salvation as in .

‏ John 3:17-18

For God sent not the Son ( ου γαρ απεστειλεν ο θεος τον υιον ). Explanation ( γαρ ) of God's sending the Son into the world. First aorist active indicative of αποστελλω. John uses both αποστελλω from which comes αποστολος (3:34; 5:36, 38, etc.) and πεμπω (4:34; 5:23, 24, 30, etc.) for God's sending the Son and πεμπω more frequently, but with no real difference in meaning. All the Gospels use ο υιος in the absolute sense in contrast with the Father (Mr 13:32; Mt 11:27; Lu 10:22).

To judge ( ινα κρινη ). Final clause with ινα and the present (or aorist) active subjunctive of κρινω. The Messiah does judge the world as Jesus taught (Mt 25:31f.; Joh 5:27), but this was not the primary or the only purpose of his coming. See on Mt 7:1 for κρινω, to pick out, select, approve, condemn, used so often and in so many varying contexts in the N.T.

But that the world should be saved through him ( αλλ ινα σωθη ο κοσμος δι' αυτου ). First aorist passive subjunctive of σωζω, the common verb to save (from σως, safe and sound), from which σωτηρ (Saviour) comes (the Saviour of the world, 4:42; 1Jo 4:14) and σωτηρια (salvation, 4:22 here only in John). The verb σωζω is often used for physical health (Mr 5:28), but here of the spiritual salvation as in 5:34.

Is not judged ( ου κρινετα ). Present passive indicative. Trust in Christ prevents condemnation, for he takes our place and pays the penalty for sin for all who put their case in his hands (Ro 8:32f.). The believer in Christ as Saviour does not come into judgment (Joh 5:24).

Hath been judged already ( ηδη κεκριτα ). Perfect passive indicative of κρινω. Judgment has already been passed on the one who refuses to believe in Christ as the Saviour sent by the Father, the man who is not willing to come to Christ for life (5:40).

Because he hath not believed ( οτ μη πεπιστευκεν ). Perfect active indicative of πιστευω, has taken a permanent attitude of refusal. Here οτ μη states the reason subjectively as the judgment of the Judge in any such case ( ο μη πιστευων already mentioned) while in 1Jo 5:10 οτ ου πεπιστευκεν gives the reason objectively ( ου instead of μη ) conceived as an actual case and no longer hypothetical. See 1:12 for εις το ονομα with πιστευω (believing on the name) and 1:14 for μονογενους (only begotten) and also 3:16.