Archive for June, 2007

While driving around the other day, I saw a spate of end-o-the-world signs and related religious personal street signs — the original blogs — all of which included a reference to John 3:16, the marvelous summation of Christianity in a handful of words. So it’s understandable that it would receive its high profile, from sporting events to church marquees to street-roaming nutjobs. But I was curious what some of the other 3:16′s said, just in case the world is missing out by focusing on the Gospel of John.
Let’s start with the New Testament:
Matthew 3:16: “And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him.” Very uplifting, a wonderful image.
Mark 3:16: “Simon, whom he surnamed Peter” Part of a list.
Luke 3:16: “John answered them all, ‘I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier that I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.” A little foreshadowing there.
John 3:16 we know.
Acts 3:16: “And his name, by faith in his name, has made this man strong whom you see and know; and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.”
Romans 3:16: “in their paths are ruin and misery” A nice nod to the O.T.
1 Corinthians 3:16: “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” A little rhetorical question.
2 Corinthians 3:16: “but when a man turns to the Lord, the veil is removed.” Sounds like some fashion advice.

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