My Textual Criticism of John 3:36 on Believe vs. Obey

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While reading through John 3 side by side with the ESV and the KJV, one could notice the variations of John 3:36. The whole chapter is devoted to the need to be born again or born from above.

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (KJV)

Meanwhile, other translations use "obey" over "believe" such as:

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (ESV)

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not have life, but will remain under God's punishment. (GNT)

He who believes in the Son has eternal life; he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God rests upon him. (RSV)

This is one of the criticisms done by the KJV Only crowd. Again, I used to be in the KJV crowd though I feel something is wrong with it. Charles H. Spurgeon later used the RSV (which is the basis for today's ESV) as a secondary translation. It's criticized by the KJV Only crowd that the other modern renditions put in salvation by works. Meanwhile, the NIV says it as:

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.

However, we read Hebrews 5:9 in the KJV say the following:

And being made perfect, He (Jesus) became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him;

 John 15:14 in the KJV also says:

Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Who is Jesus the Author of eternal salvation into according to the KJV? To all who obey Him. While obedience is not what leads to salvation - it's still the inevitable result of salvation.

John 10:27-28 says this in the KJV version:

27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.

We can see Jesus gives the distinctions of His sheep. The sheep hear the voice of Jesus and they follow Him. He gives them eternal life. It's not that eternal life is gained by obedience. Rather, obedience is evidence of eternal life. 

Dr. John F. MacArthur in his book "The Gospel According to Jesus" also mentions this on pages 190-191:

Clearly, the biblical concept of faith is inseparable from obedience. "Believe" is treated as if it were synonymous with "obey" in John 3:36. "He who believes in the Sin has eternal life but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life." Acts 6:7 shows how salvation was understood in the early church: "A great many... were becoming obedient to the faith." Obedience is so closely related to saving faith that Hebrews 5:9 uses it as a synonym: "Having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation." Hebrews 11, the great treatise of faith, presents obedience and faith as inseparable "By faith... Abraham... obeyed" (v. 8) - and not just Abraham. ALl the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11 shwoed their faith by obedience.

Obedience is the inevitable manifestation of true faith. Paul recognized this when he wrote to Titus about "thsoe whoa re defiled and unbelieving... They profess to know God but tby their deeds they deny Him (Titus 2:11-15-16). To Paul their perpetual disobedience proved their disbelief. Their actions denied God more loudly than their words proclaimed Him. This is characteristic of unbelief, not faith, for true faith always embodies righteous works. As the Reformers were fond of saying, we are justified by faith alone, but justifying faith is never alone. Spurgeon said, "Although we are sure that men are not saved for their sake of their works, yet we are equally sure that no man will be saved witout them." True faith is manifest only in obedience. 

Pretty much, some manuscripts place the word obey instead. Does John 3:36 in the other translations nullify salvation by grace through faith? A careful analysis will tell you that obedience is a result of salvation and continued disobedience is evidence of false salvation.  

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