Eternal life (Jn 3:36-3:36)

“Whoever believes

In the Son

Has eternal life.

Whoever disobeys

The Son

Shall not see life,

But must endure

God’s wrath.”

ὁ πιστεύων εἰς τὸν Υἱὸν ἔχει ζωὴν αἰώνιον· ὁ δὲ ἀπειθῶν τῷ Υἱῷ οὐκ ὄψεται ζωήν, ἀλλ’ ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ Θεοῦ μένει ἐπ’ αὐτόν.

John uniquely continued with this poetic theological presentation of John the Baptist to his disciples.  John the Baptist concluded this discourse by remarking that whoever believed (ὁ πιστεύων) in the Son (εἰς τὸν Υἱὸν) would have eternal life (ἔχει ζωὴν αἰώνιον).  Whoever refused to believe (ὁ δὲ ἀπειθῶν) in the Son (τῷ Υἱῷ) would not see life (οὐκ ὄψεται ζωήν).  They would die.  However, the wrath of God (ἀλλ’ ἡ ὀργὴ τοῦ Θεοῦ) would remain in them (μένει ἐπ’ αὐτόν).  Belief and unbelief were important.  This was a whole theology of the Son of God, Jesus, rolled into what might be called a mini-gospel of high Christology uttered by John the Baptist to his disciples via the Gospel of John.  Do you believe in the Son of God?