John 3:16

==== Christian commentary ====
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 | quote  = "The reward for faith is beyond our comprehension ... For if the Father has given everything he has to the Son, and the Father has eternal life, then he has given to the Son to be eternal life ... Whoever believes in the Son has that toward which he tends, that is, the Son, in whom he believes. But the Son is eternal life; therefore, whoever believes in him has eternal life."
 | author =—[[Thomas Aquinas]], a Catholic philosopher{{sfn|Aquinas|2010|p=204}}
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}}

John 3:16 has been popular for theology comments.<ref>{{Cite journal |title=Die liefde van god as aanknopingspunt vir 'n gesprek met moslems: Die rol van Joh. 3:16 |trans-title=The love of god as point of contact in the dialogue with muslims: The role of John 3:16 |last=Verster |first=P. |date=December 2009 |journal=[[Acta Theologica]] |volume=29 |issue=2 |issn=2309-9089 }}</ref> In evangelist [[Andreas J. Köstenberger]]'s opinion, the verse summarizes central teachings in [[Christianity]] that are to put beliefs in Jesus,{{sfn|Köstenberger|2020|p=383}} and "there is no middle ground: believing in the Son (resulting in eternal life) or refusing to believe (resulting in destruction) are the only options."{{sfn|Köstenberger|2004|pp=129–130}} Christian philosopher [[William Lane Craig]] said the verse denotes salvation through Jesus only.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.reasonablefaith.org/media/reasonable-faith-podcast/five-steps-to-atheism |title=Five Steps to Atheism |date=15 July 2016 |website=[[Reasonable Faith]] |access-date=9 March 2022 |last1=Harris |first1=Kevin |last2=Craig |first2=William Lane |author-link2=William Lane Craig |archive-date=9 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220309120923/https://www.reasonablefaith.org/media/reasonable-faith-podcast/five-steps-to-atheism |url-status=live }}</ref> According to theologian Paul T. Butler: "God, motivated by infinite love, sent His only son ... not to condemn but to save everyone who believes in His Son ... This text shows God loving us, not for His sake alone, but for our sakes."{{sfn|Butler|1961|p=111}}

Biblical scholar [[F. F. Bruce]] interpreted John 3:16 that God has a limitless and universal love to all humans.{{sfn|Bruce|1983|p=90}} Barrett noted that the salvation would only be advantageous whenever there is a belief in Jesus.{{sfn|Barrett|1956|p=180}} [[Calvinism|Calvinist]] theologian [[D. A. Carson]] said the verse "makes it clear that, as applied to human beings, the love of God is not the consequence of their loveliness but of the sublime truth that 'God is love'."{{sfn|Carson|1991|p=205}} Theologian [[Robert E. Webber]] described it as "an invitation to embrace a sweeping story that encompassed the whole of history".{{sfn|Webber|2003|pp=137–138}} Bible commentator [[J. Ramsey Michaels]] wrote: "God's intent is a saving intent, and the scope of his salvation is worldwide. His love for the whole human race expressed itself in the giving of his only Son [who would] die on the cross."{{sfn|Michaels|1995|p=59}}

[[Bruce Vawter]], a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]] priest, stated: "The only explanation that we shall ever have of the gift of eternal life made possible for us in the redemption achieved in Christ is the incredible love of God for the world."{{sfn|Vawter|1968|p=430}} [[Anglicanism|Anglican]] priest [[Leon Morris]] compared the idea of God's universal love with [[Jews as the chosen people|God's exclusive love to Jews]],{{sfn|Morris|1971|p=229}} which is frequently mentioned in the [[Old Testament]].<ref>{{Cite journal |title=A Chosen People in a Pluralist Nation: Horace Kallen and the Jewish-American Experience |journal=[[Religion and American Culture]] |date=Summer 2006 |last=Greene |first=Daniel |doi=10.1525/rac.2006.16.2.161 |volume=16 |issue=2 |pages=161–194 |s2cid=143487935 }}</ref> He then concluded that "it is a distinctively Christian idea that God's love is wide enough to embrace all mankind. His love is not confined to any national group or any spiritual elite. It is a love which proceeds from the fact that He is love."{{sfn|Morris|1971|p=229}} [[Presbyterianism|Presbyterian]] pastor Lamar Williamson found that John 3:16 emphasises the significance of Jesus in Christianity as God the Son.{{sfn|Williamson|2004|p=37}} Catholic theologian Neal M. Flanagan said that the verse is pivotal to the [[Johannine theology]].{{sfn|Flanagan|1992|p=986}}