When appraoching the Bible, I can easily see the teachings of Bahá’u'lláh in a lot of its words. The only book I have trouble understanding is John. It has a lot of mystical passages that I can't help but understand in a Christian sense. I've looked online and quite a few passages of John are cited and interpreted, but this is one I can't find an interpretation to:


John 3:16-17, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved"

This is one of those passages that, previously being Christian, I seek help to interpret. Jesus being saviour is acceptable, because if we live up to his message we are saved, just like if we live up to Bahá’u'lláh's message. I have only come across mention of John 3:16 once on Ocean, but it clumped it up with a bunch of other passages, which, no offense to the author of whatever article I read, took the words so far out of context or interpreted them so radically that I couldn't believe we we're reading the same thing.

If anyone has any words regarding the interpretation of the passage, I'd be grateful. :)

Thank you WC. Yes, my main concern was with 'Begotten', and I appreciate the info. :)

That's the only part of the New Testament where I seem to have any trouble. I've read the end of the four gospels and I don't see how Jesus' death was anything more than a tragedy to the movement he brought. I can't find any direct reference to the Cross bringing salvation.

[QUOTE=world citizen;767936]Kalzera ~

Sorry for the delay in responding.  Some days/nights just aren't long enough to get from one forum to another.

[COLOR="DarkRed"]I can't find any direct reference to the Cross bringing salvation.[/COLOR]

This is a Christian teaching that is heard often and Jesus' "sacrifice" on the cross seems to be the central theme for "salvation" of our sins.  I agree with you that this appears to be a Church interpretational teaching, because even Paul (whom most Christians follow) had a different view...
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No problem WC, I see the many forums you're in, and every one of us has a life. Mine has been busy for the past few days. I've learned patience.

And I admire you view. Romans, and Paul for that matter, were the few books I dreaded to read in my bible. "They'll say things contrary to my faith" I thought. But no, I read them, and I was amazed. The Church has added too much thought to them; many years down the road, I won't be surprised if churches started springing up saying faith comes from thought alone, not revelation. Then again, I think a few religions already teach this...

hi all im new to this place but i still want to put in my 2 cents worth.

concerning the quote God sending his only son...
Could this be just something to emphasize the importance of the station of Jesus as the son of God?
As Bahais we know son of God is just a title (as Bahaullah even calls Jesus the son) but all the messengers of God possess all of these names and attributes.

The cross thing would relate to perhaps how Jesus was forshadowing that his disciples must be prepared to take up their own cross if they want to serve. ie must endure all hardships as Jesus did if they want to follow him.

I don't know Kalzera if I suggested what several of the verses in scripture mean to me it would have much significance..

We Baha'is don't have commentaries on all the verses of the Bible..  Abdul-Baha commented though on some of them.

As far as Romans 3:23  "all have sinned.." is maybe one of the scriptures support original sin and Baha'is don't accept that view you may know.

Colossians 2:8-9 "[8] Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. [9] For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily"

Baha'is are not philosophers as such nor would we be deceitful ..  but we do accept that science and religion should be in harmony and we would accept that Christ was a Manifestation of God and as such fully reflected the attributes of God

Titus 2:13 "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ"

As Baha'is we would not say Jesus was God but we would accept His promised Return in the glorius appearance of Baha'u'llah.

About beasts in the Book of Revelation read what Abdul-Baha said about that:

"The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them": [1] this beast means the Umayyads who attacked them from the pit of error, and who rose against the religion of Muhammad and against the reality of Ali -- in other words, the love of God.
[1 Cf. Rev. 11:7.]

    (Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 51)

It is said, "The beast made war against these two witnesses"[1] -- that is to say, a spiritual war, meaning that the beast would act in entire opposition to the teachings, customs and institutions of these two witnesses, to such an extent that the virtues and perfections which were diffused by the power of those two witnesses among the peoples and tribes would be entirely dispelled, and the animal nature and carnal desires would conquer. Therefore, this beast making war against them would gain the victory -- meaning that the darkness of error coming from this beast was to have ascendency over the horizons of the world, and kill those two witnesses -- in other words, that it would destroy the spiritual life which they spread abroad in the midst of the nation, and entirely remove the divine laws and teachings, treading under foot the Religion of God. Nothing would thereafter remain but a lifeless body without spirit.
[1 Cf. Rev. 11:7.

    (Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 51)

"And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where   also our Lord was crucified."[1] "Their bodies" means the Religion of God, and "the street" means in public view. The meaning of "Sodom and Egypt," the place "where also our Lord was crucified," is this region of Syria, and especially Jerusalem, where the Umayyads then had their dominions; and it was here that the Religion of God and the divine teachings first disappeared, and a body without spirit remained. "Their bodies" represents the Religion of God, which remained like a dead body without spirit.
[1 Rev. 11:8.]

    (Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 51)

As Baha'is we're to read the writings and meditatate on them morning and evening.. I have a lot of reading to do!

- Art