This cantata for soprano and strings sets the familiar text, 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." The strings are scored for two violins, viola da gamba, and continuo. Sometimes the viola da gamba doubles the bass line, but sometimes it functions as a distinct solo instrument in a polyphonic texture. Because the work has a text suitable for Advent or Christmas performance in the church, it may have been one of the cantatas performed at Buxtehude's famous Abendmusiken performances during the Advent season at St. Mary's in Lübeck.

© Andrus Madsen, All Music Guide