John 3:16: Tebow stat line evokes biblical verse
Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow (15) kneels on the sidelines during the third quarter of an NFL wild card playoff football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012, in Denver.
/ AP Photo/Joe MahoneyTebow time is back in the spotlight - and inevitably so is the Denver Bronco quarterback's faith.
After throwing for a season-high 316 yards against the Steelers in a playoff win Sunday night, the religious symbolism was too much for the Twittersphere to resist.
John 3:16 is the biblical verse most associated with Tebow, primarily because he routinely wrote it on his eye black during his collegiate career at Florida. (The verse reads: "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.")
And Tebow's stat line - 316 yards passing and 31.6 yards per completion - was no coincidence to many of his fans.
Among the observations: "It's a little crazy that Tebows' favorite verse is John 3:16 and he threw for 316 yards & a couple of his bosses are named John. #faith"
Of course there were many detractors fed up with divine connection: "The fact that Tebow threw for 316 yards means only one thing. He threw for 316 yards. Come on, people!"
Still, it's amazing that in one season Tim Tebow can give more PR to John 3:16 than Rollen (Rainbow Head) Stewart could do in two decades - he was the guy famous for wearing a rainbow wig and holding up John 3:16 signs at sporting events in the 70s and 80s.
Tebow missed the US version of religion, by being a missionary kid and seeing people as they are in their destitution.
When the father of the faithful, Abraham, started his journey, it was by an unctioning of the divine to leave his home (civilization) and start anew in solitude.