in a nutshell

Personally, I prefer a translation of the Bible over a paraphrase.  I use the New American Standard Bible (NASB).  I was thinking about the most quoted verse (?) in the Bible, John 3:16.  I googled it and found many versions, some I have never heard of, as well as some ‘unique’ wording.  I read a lot of different John 3:16s (translations and paraphrased), and bottom line: in only a few words, it simply tells about God’s love for us and how we can be saved.  The best way to tell of God’s message is to let John 3:16 speak for itself.  It’s the Gospel in a nutshell.

John 3:16

New American Standard Bible
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

New International Version
"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.

King James Version
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
"For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.
International Standard Version
"For this is how God loved the world: He gave his unique Son so that everyone who believes in him might not be lost but have eternal life.
The Message
"This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life.
GOD'S WORD® Translation
God loved the world this way: He gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him will not die but will have eternal life.
Weymouth New Testament
For so greatly did God love the world that He gave His only Son, that every one who trusts in Him may not perish but may have the Life of Ages.