1st Peter 3:15
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Some great choices here. And I suppose everyone knows that not all of the verses quoted here came from the lips of Jesus during his time on earth. And scholars do not agree on whether Jesus actually spoke the words in John 3:16-17. Some think that the words of Jesus end with verse 15 and verses 16-21 are John's comments after the night time meeting between Nicodemus and Jesus. "Red letter versions" continue the red type through to verse 21, although there is no indication in the original language whether the speech of Jesus stops with verse 15 or verse 21.
But then, not a big deal. There is a sense in which the whole Bible, the written Word of God, came to us through the creative second person of the Trinity, the living Word of God. When we read the Bible,
not just the red verses but all of it, the living Lord who pre-dated the creation itself is speaking if we will listen.
With that in mind, my favorite might be, "I tell you the truth; before Abraham was born, I am" (John 8:58). But there are way too many for me to pick a personal favorite.
Steve
