John 3:16 Meaning

Why is John 3:16 the most famous verse in the Bible?
John 3:16 summarizes the Gospel - the good news of the Bible - in one verse.

Who is “God” in John 3:16?
God the Father.

Who is “His only Son” (John 3:16)?
Jesus, who is God the Son (see John 1 and Son of God).

Is Jesus His only Son or His only 'begotten' son?
See Monogenes.

What is meant by “gave” in John 3:16?
God the Father told Jesus, who is sinless, to die on the cross to pay the death penalty due for our sins, and Jesus obeyed Him (see John 18).

What is meant by “so” in John 3:16?
ουτως (houtos), the original Greek word translated “so,” means “in this manner” and is actually the first word of John 3:16, a more literal translation of which would begin, “In this manner God loved the world ...”

In what manner?
In the manner described in the verse that precedes John 3:16 (see Bronze Snake).

What is meant by “the world” in John 3:16?
Human beings, not the physical earth.

What is meant by “perish” in John 3:16?
It does not mean dying or ceasing to exist. It means paying the penalty for sins in the fire of hell forever.

Who will go to hell?
All sinners who do not believe as above that their sins have been paid for by Jesus.

“What if I don’t feel like a sinner?”
According to the Bible, a sinner isn’t just a murderer or a rapist. It’s everyone who fails to meet God’s standard of perfect holiness. The Bible declares, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), and “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is everlasting life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

According to God's standard of perfect holiness, are you a sinner?
 

Will God judge you by your standard or by His standard?
 

What does “everlasting life” (John 3:16) mean?
See Everlasting life.

Who has “everlasting life”?
“Whoever believes in” (John 3:16) Jesus.

Believes what about Jesus?
That He is God the Son who loves God the Father and us so much that He came and paid the death penalty due for our sins, then rose from the dead to prove His deity, and is our personal Lord and Savior. To have everlasting life, we need to believe THAT about Jesus. Also see Father, forgive them.