Poll: Americans Know What John 3:16 References

January 24, 2012

A new survey suggests that a majority of Americans know what the popular Bible verse John 3:16 is referencing, Baptist Press reports. The poll, conducted by the Barna Group, asked U.S. adults, "When you hear the phrase 'John three-sixteen' in reference to the Bible, what does the 'three' mean?" Sixty-eight percent of adults correctly said it was a chapter in John, with 6 percent saying it was a verse, 2 percent a book and 17 percent saying they weren't sure. Fifty-nine percent of non-Christians understood what the "three" referenced. Much national discussion has surrounded John 3:16 recently, after Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow passed for 316 yards in a playoff win -- leading to John 3:16 becoming the most searched item on Google -- and when Focus on the Family ran a TV ad showing young children reciting the verse. Despite what many might expect, the poll results show that "most Americans have at least some knowledge of the Bible and connection to Christianity," said David Kinnaman, president of the Barna Group.