John 3:16a

"For Placer so loved the system, that he gave his uniquely-becoming son..."  The beginning of this favorite verse, in the Etymological New Testament, speaks of Placer loving the system!  This Greek word, KOSMOS, is an organized system, whether of people or culture or even, as in 1 Peter, of clothing.  Most often, the system refers to the organized cultural, religious, political structure that is the background of our lives.  Often, in the New Testament, it is something to be resisted.  But, in this verse it is the system of human beings...who are loved by Placer.  In fact this love is so great that the uniquely becoming son, MONOGENES, is given.  The uniqueness of Jesus and of his becoming are crystal clear in scripture and, here, with this word.  The biblical message is that, yes, there are many sons and daughters of Placer, but Jesus stands uniquely as a gift to the system of all humanity.  More on John 3:16 in the next post.