Shining a light on the weekly Bible Lessons published in the Christian Science Quarterly®
Doctrine of Atonement
God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world would be saved through him.
—International Standard Version®
In recording Christ Jesus’ words to Nicodemus, the Gospel writer introduces his theme of God’s love for humanity. World (Greek, kosmos) represents the entire human race, including both Jews and Gentiles. For the Pharisee Nicodemus, the Master’s declaration challenges the conviction that only Jews are God’s chosen and merit His love. Jesus’ announcement confirms the universal availability of salvation.
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Resources cited in this issue
GT, RR: International Standard Version®, copyright © 1996–forever by The ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission.
RR, cit. 13: NLT Study Bible. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2017.
Cit. 9: Attridge, Harold W., ed. The HarperCollins Study Bible. Rev. ed. New York: HarperCollins, 2006; The Message, copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.
Cit. 11: Buttrick, George Arthur, Nolan B. Harmon, et al., eds. The Interpreter’s Bible: A Commentary in Twelve Volumes. Vol. 8, Luke, John. Nashville: Abingdon, 1951–57; Keck, Leander E., et al., eds. The New Interpreter’s Bible Commentary. Vol. 8, Luke, John. Nashville: Abingdon, 2015.
COPYRIGHT
Scriptural quotations marked New Century Version® are taken from the New Century Version®. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scriptural quotations marked New Living Translation are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scriptural quotations marked Contemporary English Version are taken from the Contemporary English Version, copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
Scriptural quotations marked Good News Translation are taken from the Good News Translation in Today’s English Version—Second Edition, copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.
© 2024 The Christian Science Publishing Society. The design of the Cross and Crown is a trademark owned by the Christian Science Board of Directors and is used by permission. Bible Lens and Christian Science Quarterly are trademarks owned by The Christian Science Publishing Society. Unless otherwise indicated, all scriptural quotations are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.
