John 3:16: What’s It All About?

by Murray J. Harris

What is the most famous and influential sentence of all time? Was it spoken or written in Mandarin or German or English--or Greek? And who spoke or recorded this sentence? A case could be made that twenty-five words found in the third chapter of the Gospel of John in the New Testament of the Bible are history's most celebrated and powerful sentence. Writing for laypersons and specialists alike, in this little book Murray J. Harris, a specialist in Greek grammar, analyzes John 3:16 with the sort of care and precision that has marked his fruitful career in New Testament scholarship. "John 3:16 is a key verse epitomizing the message of John's Gospel about God's love being demonstrated in the gift of his one and only Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Here is a wonderfully competent and penetrating analysis of this all-important verse and its invitation to all to believe and have eternal life in Christ. Warmly recommended!" --Andreas J. Kӧstenberger, Founder of Biblical Foundations, Senior Research Professor of New Testament and Biblical Theology, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina "What a wonderful gem this little book is! Murray Harris, renowned for his mastery of the nuances of Greek grammar and exegesis, has produced an exposition of John 3:16 full of illuminating insights. Here is a model of edifying scholarship in the service of Christ and the church. Reading this book leaves one longing for more. We may hope that Harris will do the same for other key New Testament texts." --Donald A. Hagner, George Eldon Ladd Professor Emeritus of New Testament, Fuller Theological Seminary, California "John 3:16 is one of the best known verses of the Bible, and therefore is a challenge for any exegete to expound in a way that is fresh and captivating. Yet Dr. Murray Harris is equal to this challenge and does not disappoint. With an ease of vocabulary and illustration, and a depth of technical knowledge, the reader is presented with a feast of insights from one who both understands and truly believes this sacred text." --Dr. Glenn N. Davies, Archbishop of Sydney, Anglican Diocese of Sydney, Australia Murray J. Harris is Professor Emeritus of New Testament Exegesis and Theology at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Formerly he was director of Tyndale House, a biblical research library in Cambridge, UK, and faculty member of the Divinity School in the University of Cambridge. He has written commentaries on the Greek text of Colossians and Philemon, Second Corinthians, and John's Gospel. He was one of the NIV translators.

Genres: Christian

56 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 30, 2015

Reviews

[Isaac Ampong · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book. I wished it didn't end so quickly. I loved it absolutely.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a helpful, easy to read guide to the best known verse in the Bible. Harris writes with clarity but also with warmth and passion about words that have become all too familiar

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written. Exceptionally researched. Simply put.

Few books have this much brevity, this much simplicity, and this much exceptional information.

If there is a slight against it: it is short, near pamphlet size. One wants something like this to continue on and on and on.

Bravo Dr. Harris!

[Sarah Hopkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

A single verse from the book of John can hardly summarize the entirety of the good news of the Gospel, but the point here is to take a deep dive into arguably one of the most well-known verses in the Bible. This is a great book to read if you're looking to broaden your knowledge on Biblical reading.