John 3:16 English Standard Version (ESV) For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

I hear you.

Yes, but are you listening?

This is the most used evangelist passage in the world. Everyone knows what it is and you don’t have to say anything beyond John 3:16 and others know what it says. But beyond that is anything heard? We know what it is but just how much meaning does mentioning John 3:16 to anyone contain? After all they are just words.

First one has to believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. There has to be a relevant understanding of that truth in order to make the rest of it meaningful.

In order for any scripture to hold relevant meaning there is a need for foundational truths to be established. The basis for John 3:16 is contained in the ordered procession of a whole conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus. Jesus spoke these words to Nick first and the issue of relevant meaning begins with who they were to each other.

Verse one tells us; Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

While we might understand what a ruler of Jews might mean, do we understand what it meant for Nick to have been a Pharisee? According to BLB.ORG bible outline they were a sect that seems to have started after the Jewish exile. In addition to OT books the Pharisees recognised in oral tradition a standard of belief and life. They sought for distinction and praise by outward observance of external rites and by outward forms of piety, and such as ceremonial washings, fastings, prayers, and alms giving; and, comparatively negligent of genuine piety, they prided themselves on their fancied good works.

Pride was at the center of a Pharisee’s life and it is seen that Nick came alone at night, secretly, away from judgment by his peers. He put everything at risk to come to Jesus.

Are the hearers of John 3:16 aware of the risks of hearing Jesus out?

1 Timothy 6:20 English Standard Version (ESV) O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,”

Placing the word science into the Biblegateway search bar resulted in this passage. Words that are not in the bible are often represented by passages with close context. So let us explore how 1 Timothy and science are related.

Science is defined as observation and experimentation to understand the nature of a subject. Observation must be pure and untainted without influence of outside agendas. That is where respect for the process has to be unbiased. It is the reverence that is important.

Knowledge of God, observing and experimenting must be done with reverence for the subject matter, God. If we do not revere Him we will not see Him by our observations. God will not honor disrespect. 

Science requires equipment to conduct observations. Microscopes, telescopes, cameras, recorders, and instructions required to make sense of the language and math used to record and analyze our findings.

What was entrusted to Timothy was a deposit of the equipment required to observe God. The first was faith and the second was his lab partner, the Holy Spirit. A dedicated lab partner is required in all good science to ensure that what is observed is not a figment of the observer’s imagination. Those two things are required to run any scientific observation and experimentation in our search for knowledge of God.

Any good scientist will have already studied the works of previous scientists to see what was recorded and repeat those experiments to determine the validity of the reports and conclusions associated with their findings.

When it comes to studying previous observations of God, the same equipment must be used to produce accurate results. In this case, reading the bible without reverence for faith and the Holy Spirit will not produce successful results.

What happens if we should use other research materials not contained in the bible will render false observations and false findings which should be considered babble and contradictions.

Jeremiah 29:13 English Standard Version (ESV) You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

If you don’t love Him, your results will be tainted.