1 John 3
Disciples’ Literal New Testament
3 1 See what-kind-of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called children of God! And we are! For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet appeared[a]. We know that if He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3 And everyone having this hope in[b] Him is purifying himself, just as that One is pure. 4 Everyone doing sin also is doing lawlessness. Indeed sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that that One appeared in order that He might take-away sins. And there is no sin in Him. 6 Everyone abiding in Him is not sinning[c]. Everyone sinning has not seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little-children, let no one be deceiving you— the one doing righteousness is righteous, just as that One is righteous. 8 The one doing sin is of the devil, because the devil is sinning[d] from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this: that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Everyone having been born[e] from God is not doing sin— because His seed[f] is abiding in him, and he is not able to be sinning[g] because he has been born from God. 10 By this, the children of God and the children of the devil are evident.
Abiding Means Loving In Deed And Truth, As Jesus Commanded Us
Everyone not doing[h] righteousness is not from God— and the one not loving his brother! 11 Because this is the message which you heard from the beginning: that we should be loving one another. 12 Not as Cain. He was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because his works were evil, but the ones of his brother were righteous. 13 And do not be marveling, brothers, if the world hates you! 14 We know that we have passed from death into life because we are loving the brothers. The one not loving is abiding[i] in death. 15 Everyone hating his brother is a murderer, and you know that every murderer does not have eternal life abiding in him. 16 By this we have come-to-know love: because that One laid-down His life for us. And we ought to lay-down our lives for the brothers. 17 But whoever has the goods of the world and sees his brother having a need and shuts his deep-feelings from him, how is the love of God abiding in him? 18 Little children, let us not be loving with word nor tongue, but in deed and truth. 19 And by this, we will know that we are of [j] the truth, and we will persuade[k] our heart before Him. 20 Because[l] if our heart is condemning[m] us, we know that God is greater[n] than our hearts, and He knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart is not condemning us, we have confidence[o] before God. 22 And whatever we are asking, we are receiving from Him, because we are keeping His commandments and doing the pleasing things in His sight. 23 And this is His commandment: that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and that we be loving one another, just as He gave us the commandment. 24 And the one keeping His commandments is abiding in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He is abiding in us: from the Spirit Whom He gave to us.
Footnotes
- 1 John 3:2 Or, been revealed, been made known.
- 1 John 3:3 That is, fixed on Him.
- 1 John 3:6 Or, continuing to sin.
- 1 John 3:8 Or, continuing to sin since.
- 1 John 3:9 Or, fathered.
- 1 John 3:9 That is, His nature, His life. It is transforming us from within, growing into His likeness.
- 1 John 3:9 That is, to be continuing in sin as a pattern of life. We all still sin, 1:8-10.
- 1 John 3:10 What John said positively in 2:29, he says negatively here.
- 1 John 3:14 Or, remaining.
- 1 John 3:19 That is, belonging to or originating from the truth.
- 1 John 3:19 Or, conciliate, set at ease.
- 1 John 3:20 before Him. Because if... we know that God. Or, before Him— whatever thing our heart is condemning— because God.
- 1 John 3:20 Or, blaming, laying a charge against, convicting.
- 1 John 3:20 We persuade ourselves by our love in action, because it proves we are His in spite of some failure our heart may be throwing up to us. God knows our hearts and our pattern of life.
- 1 John 3:21 That is, the confidence sought in 2:28.
1 John 3
Amplified Bible, Classic Edition
3 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.
2 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.
3 And everyone who has this hope [resting] on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless).
4 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).
5 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].
6 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].
7 [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.
8 [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].
9 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 John 3:1 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- 1 John 3:2 Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown, A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments.
- 1 John 3:2 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- 1 John 3:5 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- 1 John 3:6 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- 1 John 3:6 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- 1 John 3:7 G. Abbott-Smith, Manual Greek Lexicon.
- 1 John 3:9 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- 1 John 3:10 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
- 1 John 3:14 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
- 1 John 3:15 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
- 1 John 3:16 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
- 1 John 3:17 Joseph Thayer, A Greek-English Lexicon.
- 1 John 3:20 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- 1 John 3:20 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- 1 John 3:22 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- 1 John 3:22 Marvin Vincent, Word Studies.
- 1 John 3:24 Bede, a translator of portions of the Bible from the Latin into Old English.
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.
Disciples' Literal New Testament: Serving Modern Disciples by More Fully Reflecting the Writing Style of the Ancient Disciples, Copyright © 2011 Michael J. Magill. All Rights Reserved. Published by Reyma Publishing
Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation
