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Education|Wed, Oct. 31 2007 11:48 AM EDT

Most Popular Bible Verses Revealed

By Jennifer Riley|Christian Post Reporter

Some 37 million online Bible references were surveyed and then ranked by popularity to create a website that makes searching for scriptures easier.

TopVerses.com ranked every Bible verse by popularity and published the results on its website, which launched this month. Instead of starting in Genesis, the ranked search shows popular verses first. It found that 87 of the top 100 verses are from the New Testament.

“Putting the most popular verses first makes the Bible much more accessible. All sorts of people are visiting the site and seeing the Bible in a new way,” said Peter B. Chapman, the creator of the TopVerses.com. “I love finding old favorites in Psalms. You can see the top 10 Proverbs by simply clicking on Proverbs.”

The most popular verse was John 3:16, with over twice the reference as the second most popular verse – John 1.1.

Although the book of John was the most popular Gospel, it was ranked sixth overall with the book of Ephesians taking first place.

Shorter books tended to score better with the book of Malachi being the most popular book from the Old Testament and ranked 19th overall. It had five verses in the top 1,000 most popular verses.

“You no longer have to search through a hundred verses to find the one you have in mind. Most of the time, I find it on the first page,” said Pastor Jason Hubbart of Every Nation Church in Sydney, in a report.

Top 10 Verses

1. 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.

2. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

3. John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".

4. Matthew 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

5. Romans 3:23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

6. Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.

7. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

8. Acts 1:8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

9. 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.

10. Romans 10:9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Top 10 Books

1. Ephesians
2. James
3. Titus
4. 1 John
5. 2 Peter
6. John
7. Philippians
8. Colossians
9. Romans
10. 1 Peter

Top 10 Chapters

1. 2 Peter 1
2. Psalm 1
3. John 2
4. James 4
5. Romans 12
6. Isaiah 53
7. John 3
8. Romans 1
9. James 1
10. Acts 1

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All comments on this page are subject to our Terms of Use and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Christian Post or its staff.
  • Wed Nov 07, 2007 4:48 am Agree: 3   Disagree: 0

    Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn are all being investigated by a Senate Investigation into their money practices. Hopefully we will see justice finally dolled out on these lavish hypocrites.

    http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/11/06/cbsnews_investigates/main3456977.shtml?source=mostpop_story

  • Tue Nov 06, 2007 2:15 pm Agree: 1   Disagree: 7

    amatheson: And you try to smear me again! You aren't fooling anyone, you know. What's that verse about taking the plank out of your own eye? I think the main message is "don't be a hypocrite." You might want to look into that before playing "holier than thou."

  • Tue Nov 06, 2007 9:07 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 1

    You need help to deal with all that hurt and anger, Citizen, life's too short. True Bible believing Christians don't hate you or anyone else - it seems like it's you that has the hate problem. But only God can help you to see that, so I'll leave it there.

  • Tue Nov 06, 2007 7:14 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    amatheson: Or, you know, it could be a justified response to you saying something foolish and hateful, but hey, taking responsibility is so inconvenient when you are trying to smear someone, right?

  • Tue Nov 06, 2007 5:13 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 3

    Hey Citizen, I am a Bible loving Christian and I just read your contribution. I don't mind admitting that I laughed. Then it occurred to me that if I had thrown in some jibe about the murkier side of certain 'liberated' lifestyles, you'd have been straight up onto your soap box. Why? Because you are the very thing you hate - a fever pitch fundamentalist ! Guys like you sometimes become born again Christians. If you do, please go easy on the rest of us !

  • Tue Nov 06, 2007 4:06 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 0

    Songs of Songs is a very open look into a biblical sexual relationship (marriage). God never said sex was for procreation only, it was made for our pleasure. Only over the past 100+ years has the protestants and fundamentalists recreated sex to be some sort of chore when in reality, it is one of the greatest treasures and pleasures man has ever been given.

  • Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:32 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 4

    I just love the irony of evangelicals and fundamentalists getting hysterical about sexuality when their own bible is so very kinky!

  • Mon Nov 05, 2007 9:24 am Agree: 1   Disagree: 1

    You're a mess, citizen.I told a preacher friend about that verse being in the Bible and he thought I was making it up.Anyway, I've said enough about it already.

  • Mon Nov 05, 2007 4:55 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 1

    So you enjoy the condemnation of Israel Citizen?

  • Sun Nov 04, 2007 11:46 am Agree: 5   Disagree: 1

    Where was Ezekiel 23:20 ranked? That's my favorite verse! ;-)

  • RBB »
    Thu Nov 01, 2007 7:56 am Agree: 2   Disagree: 0

    That is a very important passage (Matthew 16:18). Peter's declaration of Jesus being the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and Peter's faith and God's grace in revealing it to him, are indeed what God's church is built on. God's grace, and faith in Jesus are the cornerstone of the Christian Church.

  • Wed Oct 31, 2007 7:44 pm Agree: 8   Disagree: 7

    Matthew 16:18

    The Council of Ephesus, 431 AD
    No one doubts, in fact, it is obvious to all ages that the holy and most Blessed Peter, head and Prince of the Apostles, the pillar of faith, and the foundation of the Catholic Church, received the keys of the kingdom from our Lord Jesus Christ, the savior and redeemer of the human race.

  • RBB »
    Wed Oct 31, 2007 3:12 pm Agree: 2   Disagree: 0

    Joshua 24:15 "But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD".

  • Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:39 pm Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Interesting list. I'm surprised that the Sermon on the Mount didn't come up. Matthew 5:3-12.

  • Wed Oct 31, 2007 9:58 am Agree: 0   Disagree: 0

    Very interesting.I like Psalm 46, which influenced Martin Luther to write the song "A Mighty Fortress".It is my favorite chapter, and I like verse 10."Be still and know that I am God".I like this list, though.

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