Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on John 3:16
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
For God so loved the world, etc.] The Persic version reads “men”: but not every man in the world is here meant, or all the individuals of human nature; for all are not the objects of God’s special love, which is here designed, as appears from the instance and evidence of it, the gift of his Son: nor is Christ God’s gift to every one; for to whomsoever he gives his Son, he gives all things freely with him; which is not the case of every man. Nor is human nature here intended, in opposition to, and distinction from, the angelic nature; for though God has showed a regard to fallen men, and not to fallen angels, and has provided a Saviour for the one, and not for the other; and Christ has assumed the nature of men, and not angels; yet not for the sake of all men, but the spiritual seed of Abraham; and besides, it will not be easily proved, that human nature is ever called the world: nor is the whole body of the chosen ones, as consisting of Jews and Gentiles, here designed; for though these are called the world, (<430633>John 6:33,51); and are the objects of God’s special love, and to them Christ is given, and they are brought to believe in him, and shall never perish, but shall be saved with an everlasting salvation; yet rather the Gentiles particularly, and God’s elect among them, are meant; who are often called “the world”, and “the whole world”, and “the nations of the world”, as distinct from the Jews; (see <451112>Romans 11:12,15 <620202>1 John 2:2) (<421230>Luke 12:30), compared with (<400632>Matthew 6:32). The Jews had the same distinction we have now, the church and the world; the former they took to themselves, and the latter they gave to all the nations around: hence we often meet with this distinction, Israel, and the nations of the world; on those words, ““let them bring forth their witness”, that they may be justified, (<234309>Isaiah 43:9) (say f144 the doctors) these are Israel; “or let them hear and say it is truth”, these are “the nations of the world”.” And again f145, “the holy, blessed God said to Israel, when I judge Israel, I do not judge them as “the nations of the world”:” and so in a multitude of places: and it should be observed, that our Lord was now discoursing with a Jewish Rabbi, and that he is opposing a commonly received notion of theirs, that when the Messiah came, the Gentiles should have no benefit or advantage by him, only the Israelites; so far should they be from it, that, according to their sense, the most dreadful judgments, calamities, and curses, should befall them; yea, hell and eternal damnation. “There is a place (they say f146,) the name of which is “Hadrach”, (<380901>Zechariah 9:1). This is the King Messiah, who is, Ærw dj, “sharp and tender”; sharp to “the nations”, and tender to “Israel”.” And so of the “sun of righteousness”, in (<390402>Malachi 4:2), they say f147, “there is healing for the Israelites in it: but the idolatrous nations shall be burnt by it.” And that f148 “there is mercy for Israel, but judgment for the rest of the nations.” And on those words in (<232112>Isaiah 21:12), “the morning cometh”, and also the night, they observe f149, “the morning is for the righteous, and the night for the wicked; the morning is for Israel, and the night for “the nations of the world”.” And again f150, “in the time to come, (the times of the Messiah,) the holy, blessed God will bring “darkness” upon “the nations”, and will enlighten Israel, as it is said, (<236002>Isaiah 60:2).” Once more f…
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