John 3:18

(KJV)   He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

(1611 KJV) He that beleeueth on him, is not condemned: but hee that beleeueth not, is condemned already, because hee hath not beleeued in the Name of the onely begotten Sonne of God.

(1587 Geneva Bible) Hee that beleeueth in him, is not condemned: but hee that beleeueth not, is condemned already, because he hath not beleeued in the Name of that onely begotten Sonne of God.

(1568 Bishops Bible) But he that beleueth not, is condempned alredy, because he hath not beleued in the name of the only begotte sonne of God.

(The Great Bible 1539) He that beleueth on him, is not condemned. But he that beleueth not, is condemned all ready, because he hath not beleued in the name of the onely begotten sonne of God,

Counterfeit Versions

(CSB) Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

(CEB) Whoever believes in him isn’t judged; whoever doesn’t believe in him is already judged, because they don’t believe in the name of God’s only Son.

(CEV) No one who has faith in God’s Son will be condemned. But everyone who doesn’t have faith in him has already been condemned for not having faith in God’s only Son.

(ERV) People who believe in God’s Son are not judged guilty. But people who do not believe are already judged, because they have not believed in God’s only Son.

(ESV) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

(GNB) Those who believe in the Son are not judged; but those who do not believe have already been judged, because they have not believed in God's only Son.

(HCSB) Anyone who believes in Him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the One and Only Son of God.

(ISV) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of God’s uniquely existing Son.

(JB PHILLIPS) Any man who believes in him is not judged at all. It is the one who will not believe who stands already condemned, because he will not believe in the character of God’s only Son.

(LEB) The one who believes in him is not judged, but the one who does not believe has already been judged, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

(LB) “There is no eternal doom awaiting those who trust him to save them. But those who don’t trust him have already been tried and condemned for not believing in the only Son of God.

(THE MESSAGE) “This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

(NABRE) Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

(NCV) People who believe in God’s Son are not judged guilty. Those who do not believe have already been judged guilty, because they have not believed in God’s one and only Son.

(NET) The one who believes in him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

(NIRV) Anyone who believes in him is not judged. But anyone who does not believe is judged already. They have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

(NIV) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

(NLV) Whoever puts his trust in His Son is not guilty. Whoever does not put his trust in Him is guilty already. It is because he does not put his trust in the name of the only Son of God.

(NLT) “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son.

(NRSV) Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

(RSV) He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

(VOICE) No one who believes in Him has to fear condemnation, yet condemnation is already the reality for everyone who refuses to believe because they reject the name of the only Son of God.

Textus Receptus – Traditional Text

ο πιστευων εις αυτον ου κρινεται ο δε μη πιστευων ηδη κεκριται οτι μη πεπιστευκεν εις το ονομα του μονογενους υιου του θεου

Hort-Westcott – Critical Text

ο πιστευων εις αυτον ου κρινεται ο μη πιστευων ηδη κεκριται οτι μη πεπιστευκεν εις το ονομα του μονογενους υιου του θεου

Corrupted Manuscripts

None

Affected Teaching

“begotten” is changed to “one and only” and “only”

The Greek word behind “begotten” is “monogene.”  It is contained in both the Textus Receptus and the Hort Westcott manuscripts. The word carries with it the meaning of “unique or one-of-a-kind.” The word is used to denote the difference between the Lord Jesus Christ who is in unique relationship with the Father and the born again Christian who are also called sons and daughters of God. In the modern versions, we read that Jesus was the “only” Son of God. This is a misnomer because when you change the word to “only” from “begotten,” you are attacking two major teachings in the Scripture. First, the unique relationship the Lord Jesus had with the Father by means of Him coming to Earth and dying for His Elect and paying the complete price for their sins. The second teaching is that when a person becomes truly born again, they become a son or daughter of God. The modern versions make it sound like there are no other sons or daughters and this is proven incorrect by the following Scriptures.

(2 Cor 6:18 KJV) And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

(Isa 43:6 KJV) I will say to the north, Give up; and to the south, Keep not back: bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the ends of the earth;

(1 John 3:1 KJV) Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

(Phil 2:15 KJV) That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

The importance of the word “begotten” shows the difference between those who have become sons and daughters of God by adoption, (Gal 4:5 KJV) To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. and the Lord Jesus Christ who has always been with the Father throughout all eternity. In the Greek, there is a perfectly good word which God could have used if He wanted to convey Jesus as His “only” Son and that word is “monon” (mónon) which is used 67 times in the New Testament and is translated “only or alone.”

(John 17:20 KJV) Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;

(John 11:52 KJV) And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.