There are many Bible verses and passages that have become popular in modern culture.But no single verse has impacted the world as much as John 3:16. Here it is in the NIV translation: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. On the surface, one of the reasons John 3:16 has become so popular is that it represents a simple summary of a profound truth.