Definite Atonement in John: World & All

Of all the Gospels, John’s gospel is the most theological, and presents the doctrines of grace in stark relief. John also poses a challenge to interpreters with his extensive use of the word world (kosmos), which appears in his gospel seventy-eight times, compared to fourteen times in the synoptics combined. John uses world in several different ways, and the student must be careful to understand each use correctly in its context. Steve Lawson lists ten different uses:*

1. Entire Universe (John 1:9, 10; 17:5).
2. Physical Earth (John 13:1; 16:33; 21:25).
3. World System (John 1:10; 12:31; 14:30; 15:18–21; 16:11; 17:14).
4. Humanity Minus Believers (John 7:7; 15:18).
5. Large Group (John 12:19).
6. General Public (John 7:4; 14:22).
7. Jews and Gentiles, all groups of people, as opposed to the Jewish people only (John 1:29; 4:42).
8. Human Realm, contrasted with the realm of heaven and angelic beings (John 1:10; 3:12–16).
9. Non-Elect (John 17:9).
10. Elect Only (John 3:17; 6:33; 12:47).

Lawson summarizes:  Continue at Thirsty Theologian