10 This is how we know who the children of God(A) are and who the children of the devil(B) are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love(C) their brother and sister.(D)

More on Love and Hatred

11 For this is the message you heard(E) from the beginning:(F) We should love one another.(G) 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one(H) and murdered his brother.(I) And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.(J) 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,[a] if the world hates you.(K) 14 We know that we have passed from death to life,(L) because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.(M) 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister(N) is a murderer,(O) and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.(P)

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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.

10 By this the children of God and the children of the devil are clearly identified: anyone who does not practice righteousness [who does not seek God’s will in thought, action, and purpose] is not of God, nor is the one who does not [unselfishly] [a]love his [believing] brother.

11 For this is the message which you [believers] have heard from the beginning [of your relationship with Christ], that we should [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another; 12 and not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother [Abel]. And why did he murder him? Because Cain’s deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.

13 Do not be surprised, believers, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because we love the brothers and sisters. He who does not love remains in [spiritual] death. 15 Everyone who hates (works against) his brother [in Christ] is [at heart] a murderer [by God’s standards]; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.(A)

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:10 See note 2:10.

10 So we can see who God’s children are and who the devil’s children are. These are the ones who are not God’s children: those who don’t do what is right and those who do not love their brothers and sisters in God’s family.

We Must Love One Another

11 This is the teaching you have heard from the beginning: We must love each other. 12 Don’t be like Cain. He belonged to the Evil One. Cain killed his brother. But why did he kill him? Because what Cain did was evil, and what his brother did was good.

13 Brothers and sisters, don’t be surprised when the people of this world hate you. 14 We know that we have left death and have come into life. We know this because we love each other as brothers and sisters. Anyone who does not love is still in death. 15 Anyone who hates a fellow believer is a murderer.[a] And you know that no murderer has eternal life.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:15 Anyone … murderer Those who hate someone have in their mind the same motive that causes murder. So, morally, hating is equal to murder. Jesus taught his followers about this sin. See Mt. 5:21-26.