Probably the most famous verse in the New Testament, and for that matter in the whole Bible, is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Translations vary, but so far as I can tell in that first phrase they all use the word “world,” which in the original koine Greek is “kosmos.” And the point of this brief blogpost is just to ask, Why “world” — and not “His people” or “faithful people,” or even not just “mankind” or “people” — that is, why not something a little less inclusive?
I think we have to be wary of putting too much weight on one word but, after all, this is the Gospels, and this is Jesus talking, and as He spoke the words in this verse to Nicodemus (and/or recounted them to John) you’d think He’d choose them carefully. So isn’t in interesting that Jesus the Son tells us that God the Father really, really loves his whole Creation, and loves it so much that He wants those who believe in Him to have everlasting life?
There are at least two very reassuring takeaways here. First, He is a greatly loving God, since He loves all the world — animal, vegetable, and mineral. Second, He seems to view human beings with special affection, since it is those who believe — and what entities besides human beings can “believe”? — who are offered eternal life.
I hope this brightens your month!
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Addendum: It is true that, if one reads on in this passage from John, the word “world” continues to be used and in ways that suggest Jesus is, in those latter instances at least, talking just about God loving people. But perhaps the discussion had just narrowed, and in all events it remains that God certainly loves all mankind, at least, and in a special way.