One of the most cherished and widely quoted verses in the Bible, John 3:16, or Chapter 3, Verse 16 of the Gospel of John of the New Testament states, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Appreciation for this verse likely has to do with its concise explanation of a key tenet of the Evangelical faith. The verse so efficiently summarizes Evangelical believer teachings that it is often called “the Gospel in a nutshell”: the love of God and the idea that those who believe in Jesus Christ will find salvation. As such, it is one of the earliest introductions that many people have to the Evangelical Faith when learning about it in school.
The verse has entered popular culture on many fronts, from hand-painted posters at sporting events to printed merchandise for popular retail outlets. The restaurant chain In ‘N Out Burger has “John 3:16” printed on the bottom of every single drink cups it sells. It is also referenced in Australian country music star Keith Urban’s song, “John Cougar, John Deere, John 3:16.”
