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1 John 3
New Living Translation

3 See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. 2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. 3 And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure.

4 Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. 5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. 6 Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.

7 Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. 8 But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life[a] is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. 10 So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers[b] does not belong to God.

Love One Another

11 This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another. 12 We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because Cain had been doing what was evil, and his brother had been doing what was righteous. 13 So don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters,[c] if the world hates you.

14 If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers,[d] it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead. 15 Anyone who hates another brother or sister[e] is really a murderer at heart. And you know that murderers don’t have eternal life within them.

16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister[f] in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?

18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. 19 Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God. 20 Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything.

21 Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence. 22 And we will receive from him whatever we ask because we obey him and do the things that please him.

23 And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

Footnotes

  1. 3:9 Greek because his seed.
  2. 3:10 Greek does not love his brother.
  3. 3:13 Greek brothers.
  4. 3:14 Greek the brothers; similarly in 3:16.
  5. 3:15 Greek hates his brother.
  6. 3:17 Greek sees his brother.
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1 John 3
Holman Christian Standard Bible

3 1 Look at how great a 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, 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 also breaks the law;[b] sin is the breaking of law. 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[e] sins 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[h] seed(M) remains in him; he is not able to sin,[i] because he has been born of God. 10 This is how God’s children—and the Devil’s children—are made evident.

The Command to Love

Whoever does not do what is right is not of God, especially the one who does not love his brother.(N) 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[j] his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil, and his brother’s were righteous. 13 Do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates(Q) you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death.(R) 15 Everyone who hates his brother(S) is a murderer,(T) and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.

Love in Action

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.(W) 17 If anyone has this world’s goods(X) and sees his brother in need(Y) but closes his eyes(Z) to his need—how can God’s love reside in him?(AA)

18 Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action.(AB) 19 This is how we will know we belong to the truth(AC) and will convince our conscience in His presence, 20 even if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience, and He knows all things.(AD)

21 Dear friends, if our conscience doesn’t condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and can 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.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:1 Or at what sort of love
  2. 1 John 3:4 Or also commits iniquity
  3. 1 John 3:5 Other mss read our sins
  4. 1 John 3:6 Or not keep on sinning
  5. 1 John 3:6 Or who keeps on sinning
  6. 1 John 3:8 Or practices
  7. 1 John 3:9 Or not practice sin
  8. 1 John 3:9 God’s
  9. 1 John 3:9 Or to keep on sinning
  10. 1 John 3:12 Or slaughtered
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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.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:2 Or when it appears
  2. 1 John 3:9 Greek his
  3. 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
  4. 1 John 3:24 Greek him
  5. 1 John 3:24 Greek he
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1 John 3
New International Version

3 See what great love(A) the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!(B) And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.(C) 2 Dear friends,(D) now we are children of God,(E) and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[a](F) we shall be like him,(G) for we shall see him as he is.(H) 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves,(I) just as he is pure.(J)

4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.(K) 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.(L) And in him is no sin.(M) 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.(N) No one who continues to sin has either seen him(O) or known him.(P)

7 Dear children,(Q) do not let anyone lead you astray.(R) The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.(S) 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil,(T) because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God(U) appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.(V) 9 No one who is born of God(W) will continue to sin,(X) because God’s seed(Y) remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God(Z) are and who the children of the devil(AA) are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love(AB) their brother and sister.(AC)

More on Love and Hatred

11 For this is the message you heard(AD) from the beginning:(AE) We should love one another.(AF) 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one(AG) and murdered his brother.(AH) And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.(AI) 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,[b] if the world hates you.(AJ) 14 We know that we have passed from death to life,(AK) because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.(AL) 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister(AM) is a murderer,(AN) and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.(AO)

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.(AP) And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.(AQ) 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them,(AR) how can the love of God be in that person?(AS) 18 Dear children,(AT) let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.(AU)

19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends,(AV) if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God(AW) 22 and receive from him anything we ask,(AX) because we keep his commands(AY) and do what pleases him.(AZ) 23 And this is his command: to believe(BA) in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,(BB) and to love one another as he commanded us.(BC) 24 The one who keeps God’s commands(BD) lives in him,(BE) and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.(BF)

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:2 Or when it is made known
  2. 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.
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1 John 3
Mounce Reverse Interlinear New Testament

3 See what great potapos love agapē the ho Father patēr has given didōmi to us hēmeis, that hina we should be called kaleō children teknon of God theos— and kai so we are eimi! The reason dia houtos the ho world kosmos does not ou know ginōskō us hēmeis is that hoti it did not ou know ginōskō him autos. 2 Dear friends agapētos, at the present time nyn we are eimi children teknon of God theos, and kai it has not yet oupō been revealed phaneroō what tis we will be eimi. But we do know oida that hoti when ean he is revealed phaneroō we will be eimi like homoios him autos, because hoti we will see horaō him autos just as kathōs he is eimi. 3 And kai everyone pas who ho has echō · ho this houtos hope elpis in epi him autos purifies hagnizō himself heautou, just as kathōs he ekeinos is eimi pure hagnos.

4 Everyone pas who ho makes poieō a practice of · ho sinning hamartia is poieō also kai breaking poieō the ho law anomia; indeed kai, · ho sin hamartia is eimi · ho lawlessness anomia. 5 And kai you know oida that hoti he ekeinos appeared phaneroō to hina take away airō our ho sins hamartia, and kai that there is eimi no ou sin hamartia in en him autos. 6 No ou one pas who ho abides menō in en him autos keeps on sinning hamartanō; no ou one pas who ho continues to sin hamartanō has either seen horaō him autos or oude known ginōskō him autos. 7 Little children teknion, let no one mēdeis deceive planaō you hymeis. Whoever ho makes poieō it a practice to do what ho is right dikaiosynē is eimi righteous dikaios, just as kathōs he ekeinos is eimi righteous dikaios. 8 The ho one who continues poieō to · ho sin hamartia is eimi of ek the ho devil diabolos, because hoti the ho devil diabolos has been sinning hamartanō from apo the beginning archē. The ho Son hyios of ho God theos appeared phaneroō for eis this houtos purpose — that hina he might destroy lyō the ho works ergon of the ho devil diabolos. 9 No ou one pas · ho born gennaō of ek · ho God theos makes a practice of poieō sinning hamartia, because hoti God’ s autos seed sperma abides menō in en him autos. · kai He cannot ou keep on sinning hamartanō, because hoti he has been born gennaō of ek · ho God theos. 10 By en this houtos the ho children teknon of ho God theos and kai the ho children teknon of the ho devil diabolos are eimi revealed phaneros: whoever pas · ho does not mē practice poieō righteousness dikaiosynē is eimi not ou of ek · ho God theos, nor kai is the ho one who does not mē love agapaō · ho his autos brother adelphos.

11 For hoti this houtos is eimi the ho message angelia that hos you heard akouō from apo the beginning archē: that hina we should love agapaō one another allēlōn. 12 We are not ou to be like kathōs Cain Kain who was eimi of ek the ho evil ponēros one and kai murdered sphazō · ho his autos brother adelphos. And kai why charin tis did he murder sphazō him autos? Because hoti · ho his own autos deeds ergon were eimi evil ponēros and de those ho of ho his autos brother adelphos were righteous dikaios. 13 So kai do not mē be surprised thaumazō, brothers adelphos, if ei the ho world kosmos hates miseō you hymeis. 14 We hēmeis know oida that hoti we have crossed over metabainō from ek · ho death thanatos to eis · ho life zōē, because hoti we love agapaō the ho brothers adelphos. Whoever ho does not mē love agapaō remains menō in en the ho realm of death thanatos. 15 Everyone pas who ho hates miseō · ho his autos brother adelphos is eimi a murderer anthrōpoktonos, and kai you know oida that hoti no ou murderer anthrōpoktonos has echō eternal aiōnios life zōē abiding menō in en him autos. 16 By en this houtos we have come to know ginōskō · ho love agapē: that hoti he ekeinos laid down tithēmi his autos life psychē on hyper our hēmeis behalf. · ho And kai we hēmeis are obligated opheilō to lay down tithēmi our ho lives psychē for hyper the ho brothers adelphos. 17 But de whoever hos has echō this ho world’ s kosmos · ho resources bios and kai sees theōreō · ho his autos fellow Christian adelphos in echō need chreia yet kai closes kleiō · ho his autos heart splanchnon against apo him autos, how pōs does the ho love agapē of ho God theos abide menō in en him autos?

18 Little children teknion, let us love agapaō, not mē in word logos or mēde · ho speech glōssa but alla in en action ergon and kai truth alētheia. 19 And kai by en this houtos we will know ginōskō that hoti we are eimi of ek the ho truth alētheia and kai will set peithō our hēmeis conscience kardia at rest peithō in emprosthen his autos presence, · ho 20 that hoti if ean our ho conscience kardia condemns kataginōskō us hēmeis, that hoti God theos is eimi greater megas · ho than ho our hēmeis conscience kardia and kai knows ginōskō all things pas. 21 Dear friends agapētos, if ean · ho our hēmeis conscience kardia does not mē condemn kataginōskō us, we have echō confidence parrēsia in the presence of pros · ho God theos, 22 and kai whatever hos ean we ask aiteō we receive lambanō from apo him autos, because hoti we keep tēreō · ho his autos commandments entolē and kai do poieō what ho is pleasing arestos in enōpion his autos sight.

23 And kai this houtos is eimi · ho his autos commandment entolē: that hina we believe pisteuō in the ho name onoma of ho his autos Son hyios Jesus Iēsous Christ Christos and kai love agapaō one another allēlōn, just as kathōs he gave didōmi us hēmeis the commandment entolē. 24 And kai the ho one who keeps tēreō · ho his autos commandments entolē resides menō in en him autos, and kai he autos in en him autos. And kai by en this houtos we know ginōskō that hoti he abides menō in en us hēmeis: by ek the ho Spirit pneuma whom hos he has given didōmi to us hēmeis.

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