你们看,父所赐给我们的是何等的爱,为要使我们被称为“神的儿女”,而我们就是神的儿女[a]。世人之所以不认识我们,是因为不认识父[b] 各位蒙爱的人哪,现在我们是神的儿女,将来会怎样,尚未显明。[c]我们已经知道的是:基督[d]显现的时候,我们就会像他,因为我们将看见他的本相。 每一个对基督[e]怀有这盼望的,都会使自己纯洁,正如基督[f]是纯洁的。

凡是犯罪的,也是行恶[g]的;罪就是恶[h] 你们知道,基督[i]曾经显现,是为了除去罪孽[j];在他里面并没有罪。 凡是住在基督[k]里面的,就不继续犯罪;凡是继续犯罪的,就未曾看到他,也未曾认识他。

孩子们哪,不要让任何人迷惑你们。行义的人是公义的,正如基督[l]是公义的。 继续犯罪的人属于魔鬼,因为魔鬼从起初就一直犯罪。为此,神的儿子显现了,是为了废除魔鬼的作为。 凡是由神所生的,不继续犯罪,因为神的种子住在他里面;他也不能继续犯罪,因为他是由神所生的。 10 从这一点,谁是神的儿女,谁是魔鬼的儿女就清清楚楚了。

爱的命令

凡是不行公义的,就不属于神;不爱自己弟兄的,也不属于神。 11 因为你们从起初所听见的信息是这样的:我们要彼此相爱。 12 不要像该隐,他属于那恶者,杀了自己的弟弟[m]。他为什么杀弟弟呢?因为他自己的行为是恶的,而他弟弟的行为是义的。 13 弟兄们,如果世界恨你们,不要感到惊奇。 14 我们知道,因为我们爱弟兄,我们就已经出死入生了;那不爱弟兄的,就住在死亡中。 15 凡是恨自己弟兄的,就是杀人的,而你们知道:凡是杀人的,就没有永恒的生命住在他里面。

彼此相爱

16 我们从这一点就知道了爱:基督[n]为我们舍弃了自己的生命,我们也应该为弟兄舍弃生命。 17 但如果有人拥有世界的财产,看见自己的弟兄有需要,却封闭情感,那么,属神的爱怎么能住在他里面呢?

18 孩子们哪,让我们不在语言或口头上相爱,而在行为和真理中相爱, 19 从这一点我们就会知道我们属于真理。 20 就算我们的心责备自己,我们在神面前也可以安心,因为神比我们的心更大,并且他知道一切。

21 各位蒙爱的人哪,如果我们的心不责备我们,我们在神面前就可以坦然无惧, 22 这样,凡是我们所求的,就会从他得着;因为我们遵守他的命令,行他看为可喜悦的事。 23 而神的命令是这样的:我们要信他儿子耶稣基督的名,并且照着他所赐给我们的命令彼此相爱。 24 遵守神[o]命令的,就住在神[p]里面,神[q]也住在他里面;而且我们从这一点就知道神[r]住在我们里面,是藉着他所赐给我们的圣灵。

Footnotes

  1. 约翰一书 3:1 有古抄本没有“而我们就是神的儿女”。
  2. 约翰一书 3:1 父——原文直译“他”。
  3. 约翰一书 3:2 有古抄本附“但”。
  4. 约翰一书 3:2 基督——原文直译“他”。
  5. 约翰一书 3:3 基督——原文直译“他”。
  6. 约翰一书 3:3 基督——原文直译“那一位”。
  7. 约翰一书 3:4 恶——原文直译“不法”。
  8. 约翰一书 3:4 恶——原文直译“不法”。
  9. 约翰一书 3:5 基督——原文直译“那一位”。
  10. 约翰一书 3:5 罪孽——有古抄本作“我们的罪孽”。
  11. 约翰一书 3:6 基督——原文直译“他”。
  12. 约翰一书 3:7 基督——原文直译“那一位”。
  13. 约翰一书 3:12 弟弟——原文直译“兄弟”。
  14. 约翰一书 3:16 基督——原文直译“那一位”。
  15. 约翰一书 3:24 神——原文直译“他”。
  16. 约翰一书 3:24 神——原文直译“他”。
  17. 约翰一书 3:24 神——原文直译“他”。
  18. 约翰一书 3:24 神——原文直译“他”。

上帝的儿女

你们看,父上帝何等爱我们,称我们为祂的儿女!我们也实在是祂的儿女,世人之所以不认识我们,是因为他们不认识父上帝。 亲爱的弟兄姊妹,我们现在是上帝的儿女,将来如何还未显明。但我们知道,当主显现的时候,我们必会像祂,因为我们必见到祂的本体。 凡心存这种盼望的人都会自洁,因为主是圣洁的。

犯罪的人都违背上帝的律法,违背上帝的律法就是罪。 你们知道,耶稣降世是为了除掉人的罪,祂自己并没有罪。 住在祂里面的人不会一直犯罪;一直犯罪的人既没见过祂也不认识祂。

孩子们,不要受人迷惑,要知道行义的才是义人,正如主是公义的。 一直犯罪的人是属魔鬼的,因为魔鬼从起初便犯罪,但上帝儿子的显现是为了摧毁魔鬼的工作。 从上帝生的人不会继续犯罪,因为他里面有上帝的生命[a]。他不能犯罪,因为他是从上帝生的。 10 这样,就可以看出谁是上帝的儿女,谁是魔鬼的儿女。凡不按公义行事、不爱弟兄姊妹的,都不是上帝的儿女。

彼此相爱

11 我们应当彼此相爱,这是你们起初听见的信息。 12 不要步该隐的后尘。他属于那恶者,杀害了自己的弟弟。他为什么要杀害自己的弟弟呢?因为他的行为邪恶,而他弟弟秉行公义。

13 弟兄姊妹,世人若恨你们,不要惊奇。 14 我们因爱弟兄姊妹,便知道自己已经出死入生了。不爱弟兄姊妹的,仍然陷在死亡中。 15 恨弟兄姊妹的就是杀人的,你们知道杀人的没有永生。 16 主耶稣为我们舍命,我们由此便知道什么是爱,我们也应当为弟兄姊妹舍命。 17 如果一个丰衣足食的人看见贫穷的弟兄姊妹,却毫无怜悯之心,怎能说他爱上帝呢? 18 所以,孩子们啊,不要单在口头上说爱人,总要以真诚的行动表现出来。

19-20 这样,我们必知道自己属于真理,即使我们心中自责,也可以在上帝面前心安,因为上帝比我们的心大,祂知道一切。

21 亲爱的弟兄姊妹,我们若能凡事问心无愧,就可以在上帝面前坦然无惧。 22 这样,我们无论向上帝祈求什么,都必得到,因为我们遵守祂的命令,做祂喜悦的事。 23 其实上帝的命令是:我们要信祂儿子耶稣基督的名,遵照祂的命令彼此相爱。 24 遵行上帝命令的人就住在上帝里面,上帝也住在他里面。我们借着上帝赐给我们的圣灵知道:祂住在我们里面。

Footnotes

  1. 3:9 上帝的生命”希腊文是“上帝的种子”。

上帝的兒女

你們看,父上帝何等愛我們,稱我們為祂的兒女!我們也實在是祂的兒女,世人之所以不認識我們,是因為他們不認識父上帝。 親愛的弟兄姊妹,我們現在是上帝的兒女,將來如何還未顯明。但我們知道,當主顯現的時候,我們必會像祂,因為我們必見到祂的本體。 凡心存這種盼望的人都會自潔,因為主是聖潔的。

犯罪的人都違背上帝的律法,違背上帝的律法就是罪。 你們知道,耶穌降世是為了除掉人的罪,祂自己並沒有罪。 住在祂裡面的人不會一直犯罪;一直犯罪的人既沒見過祂也不認識祂。

孩子們,不要受人迷惑,要知道行義的才是義人,正如主是公義的。 一直犯罪的人是屬魔鬼的,因為魔鬼從起初便犯罪,但上帝兒子的顯現是為了摧毀魔鬼的工作。 從上帝生的人不會繼續犯罪,因為他裡面有上帝的生命[a]。他不能犯罪,因為他是從上帝生的。 10 這樣,就可以看出誰是上帝的兒女,誰是魔鬼的兒女。凡不按公義行事、不愛弟兄姊妹的,都不是上帝的兒女。

彼此相愛

11 我們應當彼此相愛,這是你們起初聽見的信息。 12 不要步該隱的後塵。他屬於那惡者,殺害了自己的弟弟。他為什麼要殺害自己的弟弟呢?因為他的行為邪惡,而他弟弟秉行公義。

13 弟兄姊妹,世人若恨你們,不要驚奇。 14 我們因愛弟兄姊妹,便知道自己已經出死入生了。不愛弟兄姊妹的,仍然陷在死亡中。 15 恨弟兄姊妹的就是殺人的,你們知道殺人的沒有永生。 16 主耶穌為我們捨命,我們由此便知道什麼是愛,我們也應當為弟兄姊妹捨命。 17 如果一個豐衣足食的人看見貧窮的弟兄姊妹,卻毫無憐憫之心,怎能說他愛上帝呢? 18 所以,孩子們啊,不要單在口頭上說愛人,總要以真誠的行動表現出來。

19-20 這樣,我們必知道自己屬於真理,即使我們心中自責,也可以在上帝面前心安,因為上帝比我們的心大,祂知道一切。

21 親愛的弟兄姊妹,我們若能凡事問心無愧,就可以在上帝面前坦然無懼。 22 這樣,我們無論向上帝祈求什麼,都必得到,因為我們遵守祂的命令,做祂喜悅的事。 23 其實上帝的命令是:我們要信祂兒子耶穌基督的名,遵照祂的命令彼此相愛。 24 遵行上帝命令的人就住在上帝裡面,上帝也住在他裡面。我們藉著上帝賜給我們的聖靈知道:祂住在我們裡面。

Footnotes

  1. 3·9 上帝的生命」希臘文是「上帝的種子」。

See what [[a]an incredible] quality of love the Father has given (shown, bestowed on) us, that we should [be permitted to] be named and called and counted the children of God! And so we are! The reason that the world does not know (recognize, acknowledge) us is that it does not know (recognize, acknowledge) Him.

Beloved, we are [even here and] now God’s children; it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be [hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is manifested, we shall [[b]as God’s children] resemble and be like Him, for we shall see Him [c]just as He [really] is.

And everyone who has this hope [resting] on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless).

Everyone who commits (practices) sin is guilty of lawlessness; for [that is what] sin is, lawlessness (the breaking, violating of God’s law by transgression or neglect—being unrestrained and unregulated by His commands and His will).

You know that He appeared in visible form and became Man to take away [upon Himself] sins, and in Him there is no sin [[d]essentially and forever].

No one who abides in Him [who lives and remains [e]in communion with and in obedience to Him—deliberately, knowingly, and [f]habitually] commits (practices) sin. No one who [habitually] sins has either seen or known Him [recognized, perceived, or understood Him, or has had an experiential acquaintance with Him].

[g]Boys (lads), let no one deceive and lead you astray. He who practices righteousness [who is upright, conforming to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action, living a consistently conscientious life] is righteous, even as He is righteous.

[But] he who commits sin [who practices evildoing] is of the devil [takes his character from the evil one], for the devil has sinned (violated the divine law) from the beginning. The reason the Son of God was made manifest (visible) was to undo (destroy, loosen, and dissolve) the works the devil [has done].

No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and [h]habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]; and he cannot practice sinning because he is born (begotten) of God.

10 By this it is made clear who take their nature from God and are His children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children: no one who does not practice righteousness [who does not conform to God’s will in purpose, thought, and action] is of God; neither is anyone who does not love his brother (his fellow [i]believer in Christ).

11 For this is the message (the announcement) which you have heard from the first, that we should love one another,

12 [And] not be like Cain who [took his nature and got his motivation] from the evil one and slew his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his deeds (activities, works) were wicked and malicious and his brother’s were righteous (virtuous).

13 Do not be surprised and wonder, brethren, that the world detests and pursues you with hatred.

14 We know that we have passed over out of death into Life by the fact that we love the brethren (our fellow Christians). He who does not love abides (remains, is [j]held and kept continually) in [spiritual] death.

15 Anyone who hates (abominates, detests) his brother [in Christ] is [at heart] a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding ([k]persevering) within him.

16 By this we come to know (progressively to recognize, to perceive, to understand) the [essential] love: that He laid down His [own] life for us; and we ought to lay [our] lives down for [those who are our] brothers [[l]in Him].

17 But if anyone has this world’s goods (resources for sustaining life) and sees his brother and [m]fellow believer in need, yet closes his heart of compassion against him, how can the love of God live and remain in him?

18 Little children, let us not love [merely] in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth (in practice and in sincerity).

19 By this we shall come to know (perceive, recognize, and understand) that we are of the Truth, and can reassure (quiet, conciliate, and pacify) our hearts in His presence,

20 Whenever our hearts in [[n]tormenting] self-accusation make us feel guilty and condemn us. [For [o]we are in God’s hands.] For He is above and greater than our consciences (our hearts), and He knows (perceives and understands) everything [nothing is hidden from Him].

21 And, beloved, if our consciences (our hearts) do not accuse us [if they do not make us feel guilty and condemn us], we have confidence (complete assurance and boldness) before God,

22 And we receive from Him whatever we ask, because we [[p]watchfully] obey His orders [observe His suggestions and injunctions, follow His plan for us] and [[q]habitually] practice what is pleasing to Him.

23 And this is His order (His command, His injunction): that we should believe in (put our faith and trust in and adhere to and rely on) the name of His Son Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and that we should love one another, just as He has commanded us.

24 All who keep His commandments [who obey His orders and follow His plan, live and continue to live, to stay and] abide in Him, and He in them. [[r]They let Christ be a home to them and they are the home of Christ.] And by this we know and understand and have the proof that He [really] lives and makes His home in us: by the [Holy] Spirit Whom He has given us.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:1 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  2. 1 John 3:2 Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown, A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments.
  3. 1 John 3:2 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  4. 1 John 3:5 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  5. 1 John 3:6 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  6. 1 John 3:6 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  7. 1 John 3:7 G. Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon.
  8. 1 John 3:9 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  9. 1 John 3:10 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  10. 1 John 3:14 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  11. 1 John 3:15 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  12. 1 John 3:16 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  13. 1 John 3:17 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
  14. 1 John 3:20 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  15. 1 John 3:20 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  16. 1 John 3:22 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  17. 1 John 3:22 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
  18. 1 John 3:24 Bede, a translator of portions of the Bible from the Latin into Old English.