Where is it in the Bible?
John 3:16
16For 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.
In other translations
- ESV
- 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
- NLT
- 16For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
- CSB
- 16For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
- KJV
- 16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The surrounding passage
John 3:14–18, King James Version
14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
18He 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.
Context
Jesus is speaking with Nicodemus, a Pharisee and member of the Jewish ruling council who came to him at night (John 3:1–2). After explaining that a person must be born again (or "from above") to see the kingdom of God, Jesus points to Moses lifting up the bronze serpent in the wilderness (Numbers 21) as a picture of the Son of Man being lifted up. Some interpreters end Jesus' words at verse 15 and read verses 16–21 as the Gospel writer's own reflection.
About the book of John
The Word made flesh: signs, “I am” sayings, and life.
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