Lost in Translation - John 3:16 "Believe"

We run into a problem when we read Scripture in a different language other than the original text. This, however, is a reality for most of us simple folk, who are not trained in ancient Aramaic, Hebrew and Koine Greek (the languages that the books of the Bible were written in). The problem is though, that we tend to develop our own understanding of certain particular verses from the English translation. What we don't always notice, is that the meaning is sometimes lost in translation.

For example, in Greek, there are four different words for "love" (agápe, éros, philía, and storge), with varying meanings and degrees. In English there is one, "love". We can "love" our spouse and kids with all our heart. We can also, "love" cheeseburgers, Star Wars and Katy Perry (OK, maybe not that last one)...

"For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only son, that whoever BELIEVES in Him will not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16)".

Many modern day Christians interpret John 3:16 as a proof text for a one point in time assertion of faith. If you just believe once, you are "saved", past tense (ie. I made a profession of faith when I was a teen, so I'm all set). All we need to do is just believe, and we're good to go. I can go on and sin, murder, slander, idolize, fornicate, etc. but as long as I have believed, as it states in John 3:16, I will be "saved"! Alleluia.

Well here's the problem with using John 3:16 to try and support that. The word used in Greek for "believe", "pisteuōn" is not past tense, but rather present tense. Present test indicates that it is ongoing and continual. So what does this mean? The verse could be better translated as:

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that THE BELIEVING ONES in him will not perish but have everlasting life"

This transliteration from Greek preserves the intended meaning. Those who ongoing and continually keep on believing in him, they will be saved. This is echoed in Matt 10:22:

"You will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved (Matt 10:22)".

This one tiny example is the very problem with developing doctrine from an English translation, 2000 years removed from a collection of books written in three different languages, none of which we speak today, over the course of 1,500 years, using idioms and figures of speech not known to us, written in the context of cultures we do not understand...

Let's believe, not just once, but every day, continually striving for our eternal reward.