John 3:16 ESV … Interlinear…  ►

► πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων … translated “whosoever believeth” is better translated “all those that believe”

► The section of “pas ho pisteuōn” (transliteration) is very interesting. Most Bibles translate this to “that whosoever believes”. But the word “whosoever” isn’t actually there. Hostis is the word for whosoever. It is found in John 8:52, John 8:53, John 21:25, and 1 John 1:2. The phrase “pas ho pisteuōn” is used in John 3:15, John 12:46, Acts 13:39, Romans 10:11, and 1 John 5:1. The word “pas” means “all” or “the whole”, or “every kind off and it modifies “ho pisteuōn”. Thus, “pas ho pisteuōn” more accurately means “all the believing” or “all the believing ones”.

► Comment: from the Greek one could say “all who believe in Him” which better matches the flow of thought and context of what Jesus was saving to Nicodemus who perhaps thought obedience to the Pharisee’s law would gain him eternal life. Jesus was saying eternal life is for those who believe in Him (ie, in the case Of the Jewish religious system, believe that Jesus was the Messiah). This verse (John 3:16) is a statement of fact, it does not show how one becomes a believer — the verses preceding this statement tell how. Jesus has just previously said to Nicodemus “Unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom Of God” meaning a spiritual birth. Then He says “unless one is born of water and the Spirit. he cannot enter the kingdom Of God.” John 3:6-7, 8 indicate that man’s belief in Jesus comes after the work of the Holy Spirit to create the belief in man, and when that happens, the believing men (ie. mankind) can receive eternal life. John 3:16 Sums up the result of what Jesus has just said to Nicodemus showing how God via the Holy Spirit (John 3:6-7, 8), causes one to become a believer.

► The Holy Spirit generally starts with John 16:8-9, 10-11 (1John 2:15, 16) and John 6:63 says the Spirit gives life (eternal) as God works on men (John 6:44, 65). This eternal life is in Heaven and the process of meeting God’s requirements to get there (salvation) includes two events:

   1)  the installment of the Holy Spirit within a human which provides the capacity to believe (2Cor 5:5) and
   2)  the human is given a faith which is a belief and trust in who Jesus is, what He has done (2Cor 5:19, 21), and will do.

► This life (salvation from Hell and eventually from the Lake of Fire) is totally a God given gift to those whom He chooses to give it to (Jer 10:23, 1Cor 1:30, Rom 9:15-16, 18). Man can not do anything except to receive this gift because he is not able to do anything himself to save himself (1Cor 2:14, Rom 8:7, Eph 2:8-9, 10).

► But God, via the Holy Spirit, brings the conviction of sin (John 16:8-9, 10-11) preparing man’s heart for God’s gift (Eph 2:8-9, 10) of believing and trusting (faith) in Jesus’ death to satisfy God’s requirement for consequences of our sin (disobeying is the world’s biggest issue and the consequences are humungous (Rom 3:23, 6:23… ‘you do the crime, you do the time’), its eternity in terrible torment (Matt 25:46; 2Thes 1:8-9; ). God is absolutely just so the crime of sin demands punishment but God is also love so He sent His Son, Jesus, to take that punishment. And, God is willing through grace and mercy, to apply Jesus’ death to men’s account in which He forgives man’s sin and allows Jesus’ righteousness to be applied to man’s account (2Cor 5:19, 21). Jesus’ death can pay for your sins and you can have Jesus’s righteousness which allows entrance into Heaven. If you are experiencing events in your life, guilty thoughts in your conscience, recognizing your sinfulness, and the evil in the world (Rom 3:10-12, 13-14, 16-18), do not neglect the Holy Spirit’s promptings and seek what God offers. Contact a believer who can help lead you through facts from the Bible and help you respond to God, there is no greater, no more important action you can do — ever — while alive on the earth (there is no other time this offer from God will be available), with this gift of salvation. God will ask that you change your lifestyle to match Jesus’ and tell others about this offer.