Remove defintion (8a) and (8b) for "kosmos" in your Strong's Electronic Lexicon
I have just learned that the NET study site has an alarming error respecting the Greek for Jn 3:16 (http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=2889).
In Jn 3:16, it seems to me that the NET notes (http://classic.net.bible.org/verse.php? ... 3&verse=16, footnote 1),and please correct me if I am wrong, suggests that world refers to all mankind, all men. Also, the study, God So Loved The World, by: Richard D. Patterson, also asserts, "Just as God’s love encompasses the entire world, so Jesus made atonement for the sins of the whole world.”
Yet, when I go to the Greek (http://classic.net.bible.org/strong.php?id=2889), it defines world or kosmos as "of believers only", citing (among other verses), John 3:16. On defintion #8, we read, "8) any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort (8a) the Gentiles as contrasted to the Jews (Ro 11:12 etc); (8b) of believers only, John 1:29; 3:16; 3:17; 6:33; 12:471Co 4:9; 2Co 5:19."
Both 8a and 8b are untenable and fabricated definitions. Untenable because no reputable Greek scholar or Greek lexicon will support it. As a matter of fact, I have yet to see a lexicon that adheres to such a defintion. It is a fabrication because it is a definition copied exactly as worded with the exact same Bible texts cited in AW Pink's studies (see:http://www.pbministries.org/books/pink/Miscellaneous/kosmos.htm).
Section 8a and 8b (in bold above) need to be removeded not only because they are erroneous and fabricated definitions (seemingly for the purpose of giving greater weight to a particular form of doctrine) but because it causes confusion when studying the text in netbible.org. Or, is it that netbible.org is confused at which defintion is the correct one? Or, worse yet, maybe they had included this electronic lexion without really paying attention to what was being was in it.
I own a NET Bible in book form and appreciate it very much. However, this is one reason why I do not use the internet - not even netbible.org - for serious Bible study, because things can be so easily manipulated when put in electronic form, as your website demonstrates.
I have been doing much research on how and why this defintion for kosmos appeared and I see it in many Bible study websites and, apparently, it seems many "teachers" of the Bible (who obviously have not done their homework) in the youtube and blogs use this definition to support their particular doctrinal position and purport it as something Thayer or Strong had written (which is utterly false).
I even brought this to the attention of the bible.org forum in the hopes of finding someone who can help correct this inexcusable language error. I received 100% support for my claims that the use of these definitions, especially 8b, are fabrications (see: http://forum.bible.org/viewtopic.php?f=84&t=18437&p=172806&hilit=thayer#p172806).
I contacted another website and informed them of this problem. After investigating it in consultation with a Greek scholar, the administrators of the website removed 8b from their website (see: http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lex ... 889&t=KJV (but not 8a. Unfortunately, I concentrated on 8b and made no objection at the time to 8a. It was only afterwards that I learned 8a is untenable, also.)
Unfortunately, many websites still use the same exact electronic lexicon as bible.org carrying the same false definitions for dessimination worldwide to new or unsuspecting Christians (see: http://ww.globalharmony.biz/lex/grk/gwview.cgi?n=2889 and http://www.studylight.org/lex/grk/view.cgi?number=2889).
When I first noticed the blatant error, it was attributed to Thayer. As such, I had argued that Thayer never defined kosmos as "believers only". Yet, even Christian sites hold a different thelogical view, other than those who espouse such definitions of kosmos for Jn 3:16, do not realize that it is a fabrication; that neither Thayer nor Strong ever included it in their respective language references, at least, there is no evidence to my knowledge (see: http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVansw ... 01-27.html).
I would request that a thorough research be made as to the validity of defining kosmos in Jn 3:16 as "Gentiles in contrast to Jews" or, and especially, "of believers only", and taking the appropriate action if it is found to be untenable and false (as I am sure it will be).
If Bible.org agrees with Tenny (as quoted by Patterson) that Jn 3:16 "sets the theological framework for the teaching of the whole Gospel", then this is something that cannot be ignored.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions or additional information needed.
Thanking you for your prompt attention to this matter.
This forum is for Logos Bible Software, not for bible.org.
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Brian H. Wagner commented
What many don't realize is that Strong's Greek and Hebrew Dictionaries were update in a revised edition that has these added Calvinistic flavorings unfortunately. And I believe it is HELPS Word Studies that distributes the electronic version, but I am not sure.
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tim commented
I do not want Logos to edit any source!