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Read the Bible

New Revised Standard

John 3:15

that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Brazen Serpent;   Faith;   Immortality;   Jesus, the Christ;   Life;   Righteous;   Salvation;   Types;   Wicked (People);   Scofield Reference Index - Flesh;   Thompson Chain Reference - Believers;   Blindness-Vision;   Deathless;   Eternal;   Everlasting;   God's;   Indispensable, Christ;   Life;   Life, Eternal;   Life-Death;   Only Saviour;   Promises, Divine;   Saviour, Christ Our;   Sin-Saviour;   Vision;   The Topic Concordance - Belief;   Eternal Life;   Perishing;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Anger of God, the;   Faith;   Life, Eternal;   Salvation;   Serpents;   Types of Christ;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Brazen Serpent;   Faith;   Nehushtan;   Nicodemus;   Serpents;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Eternity;   John, gospel of;   Kingdom of god;   Snake;   Son of god;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Fulfillment;   King, Christ as;   Life;   Time;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Episcopacy;   Joy of God;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Brass;   Call;   Life;   Moses;   Nicodemus;   Serpent, Fiery;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Jesus Christ;   Serpent, Brazen;   Zechariah, the Book of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Children (Sons) of God;   Eternal Life;   Holy Spirit;   Hour;   Life;   Ordinances;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Gospels;   John, Gospel of;   John, Theology of;   Logos;   Love, Lover, Lovely, Beloved;   Mss;   Nicodemus;   Redeemer, Redemption;   Scribes;   Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - Character;   Death of Christ;   Discourse;   Eternal Punishment;   Eternal Sin;   Faith ;   Holy Spirit;   Immortality (2);   Impotence;   Individuality;   Love (2);   Mental Characteristics;   Ministry;   Mission;   Name (2);   Property (2);   Quotations (2);   Reconciliation;   Redemption (2);   Regeneration;   Repentance (2);   Righteous, Righteousness;   Sacrifice (2);   Salvation;   Sin (2);   Teaching of Jesus;   Vicarious Sacrifice;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Believer;   Eternal;   Numbers, Book of;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Regeneration;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Numbers book of;   Serpent;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Brazen Serpent;   Calling;   Type;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - On to Canaan;   Jesus of Nazareth;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Justification;   Life;   Nicodemus;   Papyrus;   Restoration;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Brotherly Love;   Hatred;   Nicodemus;  

Devotionals:

- Daily Light on the Daily Path - Devotion for April 17;   Every Day Light - Devotion for December 4;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
so that everyone who believes in him may
King James Version (1611)
That whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue eternall life.
King James Version
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
English Standard Version
that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.
New American Standard Bible
so that everyone who believes will have eternal life in Him.
New Century Version
So that everyone who believes can have eternal life in him.
Amplified Bible
so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life [after physical death, and will actually live forever].
New American Standard Bible (1995)
so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
Legacy Standard Bible
so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
Berean Standard Bible
that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.
Contemporary English Version
Then everyone who has faith in the Son of Man will have eternal life.
Complete Jewish Bible
so that everyone who trusts in him may have eternal life.
Darby Translation
that every one who believes on him may [not perish, but] have life eternal.
Easy-to-Read Version
Then everyone who believes in him can have eternal life."
Geneva Bible (1587)
That whosoeuer beleeueth in him, shoulde not perish, but haue eternall life.
George Lamsa Translation
So that every man who believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Good News Translation
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.
Lexham English Bible
so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life."
Literal Translation
that everyone believing into Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
American Standard Version
that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life.
Bible in Basic English
So that whoever has faith may have in him eternal life.
Hebrew Names Version
that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
International Standard Version
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.[fn]John 3:36; 6:47;">[xr]
Etheridge Translation
that every man who believeth in him might not perish, but have the life which is eternal.
Murdock Translation
that every one who believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life eternal.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
That whosoeuer beleueth in hym, perishe not, but haue eternall lyfe.
English Revised Version
that whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life.
World English Bible
that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Wesley's New Testament (1755)
so must the Son of man be lifted up, That whosoever believeth on him, may not perish, but have everlasting life.
Weymouth's New Testament
in order that every one who trusts in Him may have the Life of the Ages."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
that ech man that bileueth in hym, perische not, but haue euerlastynge lijf.
Update Bible Version
that whoever believes may in him have eternal life.
Webster's Bible Translation
That whoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
New English Translation
so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life."
New King James Version
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but [fn] have eternal life.
New Living Translation
so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.
New Life Bible
Then whoever puts his trust in Him will have life that lasts forever.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
That, whosoever believeth in him, may have life age-abiding.
Douay-Rheims Bible
That whosoever believeth in him may not perish, but may have life everlasting.
Revised Standard Version
that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."
Tyndale New Testament (1525)
that none that beleveth in him perisshe: but have eternall lyfe.
Young's Literal Translation
that every one who is believing in him may not perish, but may have life age-during,
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
that who so euer beleueth in him, shulde not perish, but haue euerlastinge life.
Mace New Testament (1729)
that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have eternal life.
Simplified Cowboy Version
And everyone who sees and believes in him will live forever on God's outfit."

Contextual Overview

1 Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2 He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." 3 Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." 4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" 5 Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6 What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.' 8 The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." 9 Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things?

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

whosoever: John 3:16, John 3:36, John 1:12, John 6:40, John 6:47, John 11:25, John 11:26, John 12:44-46, John 20:31, Isaiah 45:22, Mark 16:16, Acts 8:37, Acts 16:30, Acts 16:31, Romans 5:1, Romans 5:2, Romans 10:9-14, Galatians 2:16, Galatians 2:20, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 10:39, 1 John 5:1, 1 John 5:11-13

not: John 5:24, John 10:28-30, Matthew 18:11, Luke 19:10, Acts 13:41, 1 Corinthians 1:18, 2 Corinthians 4:3

eternal: John 17:2, John 17:3, Romans 5:21, Romans 6:22, Romans 6:23, 1 John 2:25, 1 John 5:13, 1 John 5:20

Reciprocal: Numbers 21:9 - A serpent of 2 Kings 18:4 - the brazen serpent Isaiah 11:10 - which shall Isaiah 51:6 - my salvation Matthew 19:16 - eternal Matthew 25:46 - the righteous Luke 6:19 - sought John 8:51 - If John 9:35 - Dost Acts 20:21 - faith Acts 26:22 - the prophets Acts 28:5 - felt Romans 3:21 - being Romans 4:11 - father 2 Corinthians 5:15 - that they Galatians 3:22 - to 1 Timothy 1:16 - believe 1 Timothy 2:4 - will 1 Timothy 4:10 - the saviour Titus 1:2 - eternal

Cross-References

Genesis 3:1
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other wild animal that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden'?"
Genesis 3:3
but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden, nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.'"
Genesis 3:4
But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die;
Genesis 3:6
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate.
Genesis 3:7
Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
Genesis 3:8
They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.
Genesis 3:10
He said, "I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."
Genesis 3:13
Then the Lord God said to the woman, "What is this that you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent tricked me, and I ate."
Genesis 3:14
The Lord God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you among all animals and among all wild creatures; upon your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life.
Genesis 3:15
I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

That whosoever believeth in him,.... Whether Jew or Gentile, a greater, or a lesser sinner, and of whatsoever state and condition, age or sex; and though ever so weak a believer, provided his faith, is of the right kind: not an historical or temporary one, a mere assent to the truth of things respecting his person, office, and work; but such a faith, by which a soul sees a glory, fulness, and suitableness in him as a Saviour; goes to him, ventures on him, commits itself to him, lays hold on him, and receives him, leans and relies upon him, and trusts in him, and lives upon him; and which is the faith of God's elect; a gift of his grace, and the operation of his Spirit; and which works by love, and is attended with the fruits of righteousness: now the end of Christ's crucifixion and death is, that such an one

should not perish; though he is in a lost and perishing condition in Adam, and by nature, and sees himself to be so, and comes to Christ as such; and though his frames and comforts are perishing, and he sometimes fears he shall be utterly lost; and though he is subject to slips and falls, and great spiritual decays; and shall perish as to the outward man by death; yet he shall never perish eternally, or be punished with everlasting destruction, as the wicked will:

but have eternal life; not by his works, but as the gift of God: and which he that truly believes; has already in the covenant of grace, in Christ his head, in faith and hope; and has the earnest and pledge of it, the Spirit of God; and the beginning of it, which is the knowledge of God in Christ; and shall hereafter possess it fully, and in person, to all eternity: even a life of perfect holiness and knowledge; a life of never ending pleasure; a life free from all the sorrows, distresses, and imperfections of this; and which will always continue.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

That whosoever - This shows the fulness and freeness of the gospel. All may come and be saved.Believeth in him - Whosoever puts confidence in him as able and willing to save. All who feel that they are sinners, that they have no righteousness of their own, and are willing to look to him as their only Saviour.

Should not perish - They are in danger, by nature, of perishing - that is, of sinking down to the pains of hell; of being “punished with everlasting destruction” from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power, 2 Thessalonians 1:9. All who believe on Jesus shall be saved from this condemnation and be raised up to eternal life. And from this we learn:

1.That there is salvation in no other.

2.That salvation is here full and free for all who will come.

3.That it is easy. What was more easy for a poor, wounded, dying Israelite, bitten by a poisonous serpent, than to look up to a brass serpent? So with the poor, lost, dying sinner. And what more foolish than for such a wounded, dying man to refuse to look on a remedy so easy and effectual? So nothing is more foolish man for a lost and dying sinner to “refuse” to look on God’s only Son, exalted on a cross to die for the sins of men, and able to save to the uttermost “all” who come to God by him.



Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse John 3:15. That whosoever believeth — Bp. Pearce supposes that this verse is only the conclusion of the 16th, and that it has been inserted in this place by mistake. The words contain the reason of the subject in the following verse, and seem to break in upon our Lord's argument before he had fully stated it. The words, μη αποληται αλλα, may not perish but, are omitted by some very ancient MSS. and versions.


 
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