Scripture References:
st. 1 = John 3:14-15
st. 2 =John 3:16
st. 3 = John 3:17
st. 4 = John 3:16

John 3:14-17, part of Jesus' nighttime discourse with Nicodemus, forms the basis of this song and includes that famous profession of faith "God so loved the world. . . ," one of the best-known and most frequently memorized verses in the entire Bible. In this setting that profession is used virtually as a refrain but is numbered as stanzas 2 and 4 for emphasis. Marie J. Post (PHH 5) prepared the versification in 1985 for use with the tune O WALY WALY in the Psalter Hymnal. She said this versification was one of her easiest assignments: “The lines simply fell into the music!”

Liturgical Use:
During the Lord's Supper; as a response to the preached Word; as a communal confession of faith, possibly in an evangelistic setting.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook