12-13 We must not be like Cain, who joined the Evil One and then killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because he was deep in the practice of evil, while the acts of his brother were righteous. So don’t be surprised, friends, when the world hates you. This has been going on a long time.

14-15 The way we know we’ve been transferred from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters. Anyone who doesn’t love is as good as dead. Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don’t go together.

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13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,[a] if the world hates you.(A) 14 We know that we have passed from death to life,(B) because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.(C) 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister(D) is a murderer,(E) and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.(F)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:13 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 16.