Most people have heard of John 3:16. Many can even quote it from heart. But did you know that there are at least three other famous 3:16s in the New Testament?

Colossians 3:16. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” This verse is parallel with Eph 5:18. The way in which you are filled with the Spirit (i.e., Spiritual) is by “let[ting] the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” Transformation of life comes as the Holy Spirit renews our minds (Rom 12:2; 2 Cor 3:18).

2 Timothy 3:16. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness…” This is the most often cited verse on inspiration of the Bible. The Bible is God-breathed (Theopneustos).

1 John 3:16. “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” This is the other John 3:16. It does not speak of the free gift of everlasting life to whoever believes in Jesus. Instead, it is addressed to believers and is calling us to follow Christ’s example. He laid down His life for us, and so we ought to lay down our lives for fellow believers. Each believer is to use “the world’s goods” to help “his brother in need” (1 John 3:17). The example view of the atonement is the idea that we follow Christ’s example in order to gain eternal salvation. That is absolutely wrong (John 5:39-40; 6:28-29; Rom 4:4-5; Eph 2:8-9). But the true example view of the atonement concerns sanctification, not justification. We indeed follow our Savior in order to please Him and lay up eternal rewards (e.g., Matt 16:24-27).

I remember lots of Scriptural references by numbers. For example, 2 Pet 3:9 is easy to remember since three squared is nine. Also 2 Tim 2:2 is a three-fold repetition of two (and it is a ballet verse, the tutu verse). Acts 16:31 is easy to remember since the verse (31) is one less than the chapter (16) times two. How about John 8:56 where the Lord Jesus said, “Abraham rejoiced to see My day”). Can you think of an easy way to remember it? (Hint: 8 times 7 is 56.) What about Heb 4:16? See how numbers sometimes make it easy to remember important Bible addresses?

And all of these 3:16 verses are easy to remember because of John 3:16.

Use you own creativity to come up with ways to remember where various key verses are found. It is helpful to know not only what a text says, but also where it is found.