This introductory verse is often called “the gospel in a nutshell”. Throughout the nineteen eighties, often behind the goal posts or the backboard or home plate, you would see the citation John 3:16 either as a homemade sign or emblazoned on a T-shirt. The verse’s implication is a foundational element of the Christian faith that those who believe in Christ have a proven path to Heaven. Variously translated as either ‘God gave his son’ or with the descriptive phrase “Only-begotten”, either version declares that Jesus is the only Son of the eternal Father. The words Father, Son, and begetting are human metaphors for the mysterious dynamic of the Blessed Trinity.
In Greek, the language of the New Testament, there are many tenses for verbs. The Aorist tense describes one point in time or punctiliar action occurring at a specific point in time, so without regard to past, present or future. Though no English equivalent exists, the common practice of rendering an aorist by a simple English past tense suffices in most cases. Then, the present tense is used for current, ongoing action or progress. John 3:16 is an important verse with an interesting twist that does not immediately appear in its English translation. The Greek verbs shift from Aorist as a past point in time and, then, the present tense is used when the evangelist refers to having eternal life. The answer for the change in tenses is that Jesus makes it utterly clear what He is really trying to say. Namely, that this belief in eternal life is an acting, continual belief, and not just a past act of faith. The key action words stand out with stark clarity: loved, gave, believe, perish, and have.
This ultimate loving act of God in history, then, opened an otherwise locked and bolted door, providing those who believe with an escape from damnation, offering eternal life. Thus, belief in Christ and in the prospect of salvation is not a once-for-all past act, but is an ongoing reality. The word translated believe does not only cover mere mental assent. The word belief, in biblical times, carried with it the concept of obedience and reliance. In Johannine theology, it is impossible to rely on our five senses of vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch to lead us to God. Instead, we need to rely on the spiritual senses that we are endowed with by God, but supplemented with the theological virtues, if we wish to “see” God with the sharper, more profound eyes of faith.
Nature and dignity 