John 3:16

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.

Nothing compares in all of history!

The prophets foretold Him, The gospels reveal Him, The epistles explain Him, All of scripture exalts Him.

"Him" refers to Jesus Christ, the God-Man who lived among us. Each reference is chosen to demonstrate how the book contributes to the statement, focusing on prophecies, revelations, explanations, or exaltations of Jesus Christ.

The references are organized by the traditional 66 books of the Protestant Bible, grouped by Old Testament (Law, History, Poetry, Major Prophets, Minor Prophets) and New Testament (Gospels, History, Pauline Epistles, General Epistles, Apocalyptic).

Old Testament

The Law (Pentateuch)

• Genesis: Gen3:15 – The protoevangelium; the seed of the woman will crush the serpent’s head, foretelling Christ’s victory.

• Exodus: Ex12:5-6 – The Passover lamb, a type of Christ’s sacrificial death.

• Leviticus: Lev16:15-17 – The Day of Atonement, prefiguring Christ’s atoning sacrifice.

• Numbers: Num21:8-9 – The bronze serpent lifted up, a type of Christ’s crucifixion (Jn3:14).

• Deuteronomy: Dt18:15 – The prophet like Moses, foretelling Christ’s prophetic role.

Historical Books

• Joshua: Jos5:13-15 – The commander of the Lord’s army, a Christophany exalting Christ’s authority.

• Judges: Jdg13:18 – The angel of the Lord, whose name is “Wonderful,” prefiguring Christ (Isa9:6).

• Ruth: Ru4:9-10 – Boaz as kinsman-redeemer, a type of Christ’s redemptive work.

• 1 Samuel: 1Sam2:10 – The Lord’s anointed king, foretelling Christ’s kingship.

• 2 Samuel: 2Sam7:12-13 – The Davidic covenant, promising Christ’s eternal throne.

• 1 Kings: 1Ki8:10-11 – The glory of the Lord filling the temple, pointing to Christ as God’s presence (Jn1:14).

• 2 Kings: 2Ki2:11 – Elijah’s ascension, foreshadowing Christ’s ascension.

• 1 Chronicles: 1Chr17:11-14 – The Davidic covenant reiterated, pointing to Christ’s eternal reign.

• 2 Chronicles: 2Chr7:14 – God’s promise to forgive, fulfilled in Christ’s mediation.

• Ezra: Ezr7:10 – The study of God’s law, preparing hearts for Christ’s teaching.

• Nehemiah: Neh8:8 – The reading of the law, pointing to Christ as its fulfillment (Mt5:17).

• Esther: Est4:14 – God’s providence through Esther, reflecting Christ’s deliverance.

Poetic Books

• Job: Job19:25-26 – The Redeemer who lives, foretelling Christ’s resurrection.

• Psalms: Ps22:1,16-18 – The suffering Messiah, prophesying Christ’s crucifixion.

• Proverbs: Pr8:22-31 – Wisdom personified, prefiguring Christ as God’s wisdom (1Cor1:24).

• Ecclesiastes: Ecc3:17 – God’s judgment, fulfilled in Christ as judge (Jn5:22).

• Song of Solomon: Song2:1 – The rose of Sharon, a poetic allusion to Christ’s beauty.

Major Prophets

• Isaiah: Isa7:14;9:6;53:5 – The virgin-born child, Wonderful Counselor, and suffering servant, foretelling Christ.

• Jeremiah: Jer23:5-6 – The righteous Branch, prophesying Christ’s kingship and righteousness.

• Lamentations: Lam3:22-23 – God’s steadfast love, embodied in Christ’s mercy.

• Ezekiel: Eze34:23-24 – The shepherd David, foretelling Christ as the Good Shepherd (Jn10:11).

• Daniel: Dan7:13-14 – The Son of Man, prophesying Christ’s divine authority.

Minor Prophets

• Hosea: Hos11:1 – God’s son called out of Egypt, fulfilled in Christ (Mt2:15).

• Joel: Jl2:28-32 – The outpouring of the Spirit, fulfilled through Christ’s work (Ac2:16-21).

• Amos: Am9:11-12 – The restoration of David’s tent, pointing to Christ’s kingdom.

• Obadiah: Ob1:21 – The kingdom belonging to the Lord, exalting Christ’s sovereignty.

• Jonah: Jon1:17 – Jonah’s three days in the fish, a type of Christ’s resurrection (Mt12:40).

• Micah: Mic5:2 – The ruler from Bethlehem, prophesying Christ’s birthplace.

• Nahum: Na1:15 – The good news of peace, fulfilled in Christ’s gospel.

• Habakkuk: Hab2:14 – The earth filled with God’s glory, realized in Christ’s reign.

• Zephaniah: Zep3:15 – The Lord as king in Israel, pointing to Christ’s presence.

• Haggai: Hag2:9 – The glory of the latter temple, fulfilled in Christ’s coming.

• Zechariah: Zec9:9 – The king riding on a donkey, prophesying Christ’s triumphal entry.

• Malachi: Mal3:1 – The messenger of the covenant, foretelling Christ’s coming.

New Testament

Gospels

• Matthew: Mt1:23 – Jesus as Immanuel, revealing God with us.

• Mark: Mk1:11 – God’s beloved Son, revealing Christ’s divine sonship.

• Luke: Lk2:11 – The Savior born in Bethlehem, revealing Christ’s mission.

• John: Jn1:14 – The Word became flesh, revealing Christ’s incarnation.

History

• Acts: Ac2:36 – Jesus as Lord and Christ, proclaimed through the apostles’ witness.

Pauline Epistles

• Romans: Rom5:8 – Christ’s death for sinners, explaining His atoning love.

• 1 Corinthians: 1Cor15:3-4 – Christ’s death and resurrection, explaining the gospel.

• 2 Corinthians: 2Cor5:21 – Christ made sin for us, explaining reconciliation.

• Galatians: Gal3:13 – Christ’s curse-bearing redemption, explaining justification.

• Ephesians: Eph2:8-9 – Salvation through Christ’s grace, explaining faith.

• Philippians: Phil2:6-11 – Christ’s humility and exaltation, explaining His nature.

• Colossians: Col1:15-17 – Christ as the image of God, explaining His preeminence.

• 1 Thessalonians: 1Th4:16-17 – Christ’s return, explaining the hope of resurrection.

• 2 Thessalonians: 2Th1:7-8 – Christ’s judgment, explaining His justice.

• 1 Timothy: 1Tim2:5 – Christ as mediator, explaining His role.

• 2 Timothy: 2Tim1:10 – Christ abolishing death, explaining eternal life.

• Titus: Tit2:13 – Christ as our great God and Savior, explaining His deity.

• Philemon: Phm1:18 – Christ’s imputed righteousness, explaining forgiveness.

General Epistles

• Hebrews: Heb1:3 – Christ as the radiance of God’s glory, explaining His supremacy.

• James: Jas2:1 – Faith in Christ, explaining practical godliness.

• 1 Peter: 1Pe2:24 – Christ bearing our sins, explaining atonement.

• 2 Peter: 2Pe1:16-17 – Christ’s majesty, explaining His divine glory.

• 1 John: 1Jn4:9 – God’s love through Christ, explaining incarnation.

• 2 John: 2Jn1:7 – Christ coming in the flesh, explaining His humanity.

• 3 John: 3Jn1:7 – Serving in Christ’s name, explaining devotion.

• Jude: Jude1:24-25 – Christ’s keeping power, explaining His glory.

Apocalyptic

• Revelation: Rev19:16 – Jesus as King of kings, exalting His ultimate triumph.

Summary

• The prophets foretold Him: The Old Testament (Gen-Mal) contains prophecies and types pointing to Christ’s coming, character, and work (e.g., Gen3:15; Isa53:5; Mic5:2).

• The gospels reveal Him: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John unveil Jesus as the incarnate God-Man, fulfilling prophecies (e.g., Mt1:23; Jn1:14).

• The epistles explain Him: The epistles (Rom-Jude) expound Christ’s person, work, and implications for salvation (e.g., Rom5:8; Heb1:3).

• All of scripture exalts Him: Every book, from Genesis to Revelation, contributes to glorifying Christ as the God-Man (e.g., Ps22:1; Rev19:16).

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