John 3:16
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
John 3:16 (chapter 3, verse 16 of the Gospel of John) is one of the most widely quoted verses from the Christian Bible.[1] It has been called the "Gospel in a nutshell"[2] because it is considered a summary of some of the most central doctrines of traditional Christianity:
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.
– John 3:16 (KJV)
Contents |
[edit] Context
The verse occurs in a narrative in the third chapter of John taking place in Jerusalem. Nicodemus, a member of the ruling council, comes to talk with Jesus, whom he calls Rabbi. Jesus's "miraculous signs" have convinced Nicodemus that Jesus is "from God". In reply, Jesus declares, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again" (verses 5–6). John 3:16 summarizes Jesus's lesson to Nicodemus: that belief in Jesus is the path to eternal life. In this passage, Jesus proclaims himself the Messiah and lays out important aspects of Christian theology. This shows a contrast with the Gospel of Mark, for instance, in which Jesus often tries to keep his divinity secret until his final trip to Jerusalem.
[edit] Translations
The verse in the original Greek is as follows (associated Strong's Number in superscript):
- Οὕτως3779 γὰρ1063 ἠγάπησεν25 ὁ3588 Θεὸς2316 τὸν3588 κόσμον2889, ὥστε5620 τὸν3588 Υἱὸν5207 τὸν3588 μονογενῆ3439 ἔδωκεν1325, ἵνα2443 πᾶς3956 ὁ3588 πιστεύων4100 εἰς1519 Αὐτὸν846[3] μὴ3361 ἀπόληται622 ἀλλ᾽235 ἔχῃ2192 ζωὴν2222 αἰώνιον166
Which could be translated literally to mean:
- For in this way God loved the world: that he gave the unique son, so that all the ones trusting in him would not perish, but have eternal life.
The more familiar King James Version renders it as:
- 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.
| Translation | John 3:16 |
|---|---|
| Greek | Οὕτως γὰρ ἠγάπησεν ὁ Θεὸς τὸν κόσμον, ὥστε τὸν Υἱὸν τὸν μονογενῆ ἔδωκεν, ἵνα πᾶς ὁ πιστεύων εἰς Αὐτὸν μὴ ἀπόληται ἀλλ᾽ ἔχῃ ζωὴν αἰώνιον. |
| Vulgate (Latin) | Sic enim Deus dilexit mundum, ut Filium suum unigenitum daret: ut omnis qui credit in eum, non pereat, sed habeat vitam æternam. |
| American Standard Version | For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. |
| Amplified Bible | For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. |
| A Voice in the Wilderness Holy Scriptures | For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone believing into Him should not perish but have eternal life. |
| Bible in Basic English | For God had such love for the world that He gave His only Son, so that whoever has faith in Him may not come to destruction but have eternal life. |
| Contemporary English Version | God loved the people of this world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who Has faith in Him will have eternal life and never really die. |
| Douai-Rheims Bible, Challoner Revision | For God so loved the world, as to give His only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in Him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting. |
| Easy-to-Read Version | Yes, God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him would not be lost but have eternal life. |
| English Standard Version | For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. |
| Geneva Bible | For God so loved the world, that He hath given His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life. |
| GOD'S WORD | God loved the world this way: He gave His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not die but will have eternal life. |
| Good News Translation | For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life. |
| Holman Christian Standard Bible | For God loved the world in this way: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but have eternal life. |
| International Standard Version | For this is how God loved the world: He gave His unique Son so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. |
| Jerusalem Bible | Yes, God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not be lost but may have eternal life. |
| King James Version | For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. |
| Lolcat Bible | So liek teh Ceiling Cat lieks teh ppl lots and he sez 'Oh hai I givez u me only kitteh and ifs u beleevs in him u wont evr diez no moar, k? |
| HSV | For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. |
| The Living Bible | For God loved the world so much that He gave his only Son so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. |
| 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. |
| New American Bible | For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. |
| New American Standard Bible | For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. |
| New American Standard Bible Update | For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. |
| New Century Version | God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him may not be lost, but have eternal life. |
| New English Bible | God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son, that everyone who has faith in Him may not die but have eternal life. |
| New English Translation | For this is the way God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son that everyone who believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. |
| New International Readers Version | God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son. Anyone who believes in Him will not die but will have eternal life. |
| New International Version | For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. |
| New Jerusalem Bible | For this is how God loved the world: He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life. |
| New King James Version | For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. |
| New Living Translation | For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. |
| New Revised Standard Version | For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but may have eternal life. |
| Recovery Version | For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that everyone who believes into Him would not perish, but would have eternal life. |
| Revised English Bible | God so loved the world that He gave His only son that everyone who has faith in Him may not perish but have eternal life |
| Revised Standard Version | For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. |
| Revised Version | For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life. |
| Today's New International Version | For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. |
| William Tyndale | For God so loveth the world, that He hath given His only son, that none that believe in Him, should perish: but should have everlasting life. |
| Wyclif's Bible (Middle English) | For God louede so the world that He yaf His oon bigetun sone, that ech man that beliueth in Him perische not, but haue euerlastynge lijf. |
[edit] Other information
Translations of this verse into various languages are a familiar part of the front matter of Gideon Bibles.
The text of the verse is also incorporated into the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, eloquent fourth century archbishop of Constantinople, as part of a prayer said by the celebrant. This Divine Liturgy is still commonly used in the Eastern Orthodox Church and in the Byzantine rite of the Roman Catholic Church.
The various translations differ on whether this is a direct quote of Jesus or a comment of the narrator of the Gospel.
The computer scientist Donald Knuth produced an illustrated re-translation of Chapter 3, verse 16 of every book in the Bible, 3:16 Bible Texts Illuminated (ISBN 978-0895792525). 3:16 was chosen because of this key passage in John. Knuth's Things a Computer Scientist Rarely Talks About reproduces a lecture series that he gave at MIT, centred on his process of production of his book on 3:16.
David Pawson challenged the meaning and interpretation of the verse in his 2007 book Is John 3:16 the Gospel? (ISBN 978-1901949551).
[edit] References in popular culture
- The phrase "John 3:16" is very short and can be written inconspicuously in out-of-the-way locations. In the U.S., the In-N-Out Burger chain prints it on the inside of the bottom rim of their paper cups, and clothing chain Forever 21 prints it on the bottom of their shopping bags.
- The citation can also be printed in large letters on small signs. Some people (such as the Rainbow Man) display the reference at sporting events, seeking the attention of fellow fans, the staff controlling the venue's giant video screens, and if the game is televised, the television audience.
- Various real and fictional characters have parodied the phrase by substituting their own name for "John", or pretending that the verse says something else. A prominent example includes wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin who rose to fame following his version, "Austin 3:16".
- Video artist Paul Pfeiffer, who specializes in video installation works, created a piece called "John 3:16" in which he digitally edited footage from a basketball game so that the ball always stays the same size in the center of the frame. This was presented as a two-minute loop on a small LCD screen attached to a mounting arm.
- "John 3:16" is the title of various songs, including Wyclef Jean and DJ Muggs on Muggs' Soul Assassins album; Method Man on album Preemptive Hype Vol 6; and Katiejane Garside on The Ventriloquist.
[edit] References
- ^ TopVerses.com
- ^ Max Lucado Launches John 3:16 Movement, Christian Post, Jan 8, 2008
- ^ The word Αὐτὸν appears in the Textus Receptus and the Byzantine text-type, but not the Alexandrian text-type.
