1 John 3
King James Version
3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.
13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.
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1 John 3
English Standard Version
3 See (A)what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called (B)children of God; and so we are. The reason why (C)the world does not know us is that (D)it did not know him. 2 Beloved, we are (E)God's children (F)now, and what we will be (G)has not yet appeared; but we know that (H)when he appears[a] (I)we shall be like him, because (J)we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who (K)thus hopes in him (L)purifies himself as he is pure.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; (M)sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that (N)he appeared in order to (O)take away sins, and (P)in him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; (Q)no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, (R)let no one deceive you. (S)Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 (T)Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was (U)to destroy the works of the devil. 9 (V)No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's[b] seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, (W)nor is the one who (X)does not love his brother.
Love One Another
11 For (Y)this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, (Z)that we should love one another. 12 We should not be like (AA)Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? (AB)Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers,[c] (AC)that the world hates you. 14 We know that (AD)we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. 15 (AE)Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that (AF)no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we know love, that (AG)he laid down his life for us, and (AH)we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But (AI)if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet (AJ)closes his heart against him, (AK)how does God's love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not (AL)love in word or talk but in deed and (AM)in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; 20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, (AN)if our heart does not condemn us, (AO)we have confidence before God; 22 and (AP)whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and (AQ)do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, (AR)that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and (AS)love one another, (AT)just as he has commanded us. 24 (AU)Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God,[d] and God[e] in him. And (AV)by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
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- 1 John 3:2 Or when it appears
- 1 John 3:9 Greek his
- 1 John 3:13 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters; also verses 14, 16
- 1 John 3:24 Greek him
- 1 John 3:24 Greek he
1 John 3
Christian Standard Bible
3 See what great love[a] the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children—and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him. 2 Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed.(A) We know that when he appears,[b] we will be like him(B) because we will see him as he is.(C) 3 And everyone who has this hope(D) in him purifies himself just as he is pure.(E)
4 Everyone who commits sin practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that he was revealed so that he might take away sins,[c](F) and there is no sin in him.(G) 6 Everyone who remains in him(H) does not sin;[d](I) everyone who sins[e] has not seen him or known him.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 The one who commits[f] sin is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God(J) was revealed(K) for this purpose: to destroy the devil’s works. 9 Everyone who has been born of God(L) does not sin,[g] because his seed(M) remains in him; he is not able to sin,[h] because he has been born of God. 10 This is how God’s children and the devil’s children become obvious. Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother or sister.(N)
Love in Action
11 For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another, 12 unlike Cain,(O) who was of the evil one(P) and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.
13 Do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates(Q) you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death.(R) 15 Everyone who hates his brother or sister(S) is a murderer,(T) and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. 16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life(U) for us.(V) We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.(W) 17 If anyone has this world’s goods(X) and sees a fellow believer[i] in need(Y) but withholds compassion(Z) from him—how does God’s love reside in him?(AA) 18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.(AB)
19 This is how we will know that we belong to the truth(AC) and will reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows all things.(AD)
21 Dear friends, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive whatever we ask from him because we keep his commands(AE) and do what is pleasing in his sight. 23 Now this is his command: that we believe in the name(AF) of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps his commands remains in him,(AG) and he in him. And the way we know that he remains in us(AH) is from the Spirit(AI) he has given us.
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1 John 3
New American Standard Bible 1995
Children of God Love One Another
3 See [a](A)how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called (B)children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because (C)it did not know Him. 2 (D)Beloved, now we are (E)children of God, and (F)it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He (G)appears, we will be (H)like Him, because we will (I)see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone who has this (J)hope fixed on Him (K)purifies himself, just as He is pure.
4 Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and (L)sin is lawlessness. 5 You know that He (M)appeared in order to (N)take away sins; and (O)in Him there is no sin. 6 No one who abides in Him (P)sins; no one who sins has seen Him or [b](Q)knows Him. 7 (R)Little children, make sure no one (S)deceives you; (T)the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is (U)of the devil; for the devil [c]has sinned from the beginning. (V)The Son of God (W)appeared for this purpose, (X)to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one who is [d](Y)born of God (Z)practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is [e]born of God. 10 By this the (AA)children of God and the (AB)children of the devil are obvious: [f]anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who (AC)does not love his (AD)brother.
11 (AE)For this is the message (AF)which you have heard from the beginning, (AG)that we should love one another; 12 not as (AH)Cain, who was of (AI)the evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because (AJ)his deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.
13 Do not be surprised, brethren, if (AK)the world hates you. 14 We know that we have (AL)passed out of death into life, (AM)because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. 15 Everyone who (AN)hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that (AO)no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 We know love by this, that (AP)He laid down His life for us; and (AQ)we ought to lay down our lives for the (AR)brethren. 17 But (AS)whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and (AT)closes his [g]heart [h]against him, (AU)how does the love of God abide in him? 18 (AV)Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and (AW)truth. 19 We will know by this that we are (AX)of the truth, and will [i]assure our heart before Him 20 [j]in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. 21 (AY)Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have (AZ)confidence [k]before God; 22 and (BA)whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we (BB)keep His commandments and do (BC)the things that are pleasing in His sight.
23 This is His commandment, that we [l](BD)believe in (BE)the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as (BF)He [m]commanded us. 24 The one who (BG)keeps His commandments (BH)abides in Him, and He in him. (BI)We know by this that (BJ)He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
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- 1 John 3:1 Lit what kind of love
- 1 John 3:6 Or has known
- 1 John 3:8 Lit sins
- 1 John 3:9 Or begotten
- 1 John 3:9 Or begotten
- 1 John 3:10 Lit everyone
- 1 John 3:17 Lit inward parts
- 1 John 3:17 Lit from
- 1 John 3:19 Lit persuade
- 1 John 3:20 Or that if our heart condemns us, that God...
- 1 John 3:21 Lit toward
- 1 John 3:23 Or believe the name
- 1 John 3:23 Lit gave us a commandment
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
The Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.
