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.
1 John 3
New Catholic Bible
Chapter 3
1 See what love
the Father has bestowed on us,
enabling us to be called the children of God,
and that is what we are.
If the world does not recognize us,
that is because it did not know him.
2 Beloved,
we are God’s children now.
What we shall be
has not yet been revealed.
However, we do know that when he appears
we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he really is.
3 Everyone who has this hope in him
keeps himself pure,
just as he is pure.
The Rupture with Sin[a]
4 Everyone who sins breaks the law,
for sin is lawlessness.
5 You know that he appeared
in order to take away sins,
and that there is no sin in him.
6 Whoever remains in him does not sin,[b]
and whoever sins has not seen him
nor known him.
7 Dear children,
do not let anyone deceive you.
Everyone who does what is right is righteous,
just as he is righteous.
8 Everyone who sins comes from the devil,
for the devil has been a sinner
from the very beginning.
The Son of God appeared for this very purpose:
to destroy the work of the devil.
9 Whoever is born of God
does not sin,
because his seed[c] remains in him.
He cannot sin
because he is begotten by God.
10 This is what distinguishes
the children of God from the children of the devil:
anyone who fails to live righteously
does not belong to God;
neither does anyone who fails to love a brother.
The Message of Love[d]
11 For from the beginning
you have heard the message
that we should love one another,
12 unlike Cain who was from the evil one
and slew his brother.
And why did he slay him?
Because his own deeds were evil
while those of his brother were righteous.
13 Do not be surprised, my brethren,
if the world hates you.
14 We know that we have passed
from death to life
because we love our brethren.
Whoever does not love remains in death.
15 Anyone who hates his brother
is a murderer,
and you know that no murderer
has eternal life abiding in him.
16 This is how we know what love is:
he laid down his life for us,
and we in turn must be prepared
to lay down our lives for our brethren.
17 If anyone is rich in worldly possessions
and sees a brother in need
but refuses to open his heart,
how can the love of God abide in him?
18 Dear children,
let us love not in word or speech
but in deed and truth.[e]
19 This is how we know
that we belong to the truth
and reassure our hearts in his presence
20 even if our hearts experience a sense of guilt.
For God is greater than our hearts,
and he knows everything.
21 Beloved,
if our hearts do not condemn us,
we can approach God with confidence
22 and receive from him whatever we ask,
because we obey his commandments
and do whatever is pleasing to him.[f]
23 And this is his commandment:
that we should believe
in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.[g]
24 All those who keep his commandments abide in him,
and he abides in them.
And the proof that he abides in us
is the Spirit that he has given us.
Footnotes
- 1 John 3:4 Breaking away from sin does not take place by delighting in sublime thoughts but by the action of God in Jesus Christ. For it is Christ alone who is without sin (see Jn 8:26). And it is not words but deeds that bear witness to this liberation. To what options or influences does our life cling? Is it in the grip of the devil or does it cling to the word of God? Certainly, sin is part of the daily life of believers (1 Jn 1:8-10), but we are speaking about the fundamental and general choice between sin and righteousness. Which do we choose?
- 1 John 3:6 Whoever remains in him does not sin: the author is not speaking about sinless perfection (see 1 Jn 1:8—2:1). He is simply asserting that the life of believers is dominated not by sin but by doing the right thing.
- 1 John 3:9 His seed: a reference to Christ (see 1 Jn 5:18; Gal 3:16) or to the Holy Spirit (see 1 Jn 2:20-27) or to the seed of Divine life that God introduced into us.
- 1 John 3:11 There are two attitudes toward life—hate and love, murder and the offering of one’s life. Cain is the Biblical prototype of all the homicidal impulses that arise in the human heart (see Gen 4; Heb 11:4); these come together in what the author’s language terms “the world.” This symbolizes death. Christian behavior—which is life, love, and offering of self—draws us away from the world. Christ gives us both the power to do so and the example to follow in the concrete reality of his Passion. Believers must do likewise. They can count on God’s mercy. Verse 23, which expresses the whole intent of the Letter, brings out clearly the mind of the author in regard to the growing Gnosticism.
- 1 John 3:18 Like James, John insists on the value of good works. Love is not a mere matter of lip service; it must be seen and known in actions. Beautiful words are meaningless if they are not accompanied by good deeds.
- 1 John 3:22 Believers who have a good conscience desire nothing that is contrary to God’s honor and glory. They will trust in God, who will give them the good things they request (see Ps 84:12).
- 1 John 3:23 This commandment has two parts: (1) belief in Christ (see Jn 6:29) and (2) love for one another (see Jn 13:34f). The Letter develops part one in 4:1-6 and the second part in 4:7-12.
1 Juan 3
La Biblia de las Américas
Los hijos de Dios
3 Mirad cuán gran amor[a] nos ha otorgado el Padre(A), para que seamos llamados hijos de Dios(B); y eso somos. Por esto el mundo no nos conoce, porque no le conoció a Él(C). 2 Amados(D), ahora somos hijos de Dios(E) y aún no se ha manifestado lo que habremos de ser(F). Pero sabemos que cuando Él se manifieste[b](G), seremos semejantes a Él(H) porque le veremos como Él es(I). 3 Y todo el que tiene esta esperanza puesta en Él(J), se purifica, así como Él es puro(K). 4 Todo el que practica el pecado, practica también la infracción de la ley[c], pues[d] el pecado es infracción de la ley[e](L). 5 Y vosotros sabéis que Él se manifestó(M) a fin de quitar los[f] pecados(N), y en Él no hay pecado(O). 6 Todo el que permanece en Él, no peca(P); todo el que peca, ni le ha visto ni le ha conocido(Q). 7 Hijos míos[g](R), que nadie os engañe(S); el que practica la justicia es justo(T), así como Él es justo. 8 El que practica el pecado es del diablo(U), porque el diablo ha pecado[h] desde el principio. El Hijo de Dios(V) se manifestó con este propósito(W): para destruir[i] las obras del diablo(X). 9 Ninguno que es nacido[j] de Dios(Y) practica[k] el pecado(Z), porque la simiente de Dios[l] permanece en él; y no puede pecar, porque es nacido[m] de Dios. 10 En esto se reconocen[n] los hijos de Dios(AA) y los hijos del diablo(AB): todo aquel que no practica la justicia, no es de Dios; tampoco aquel que no ama(AC) a su hermano(AD). 11 Porque este es el mensaje(AE) que habéis oído desde el principio(AF): que nos amemos unos a otros(AG); 12 no como Caín(AH) que era del maligno(AI), y mató a su hermano. ¿Y por qué causa lo mató? Porque sus obras eran malas, y las de su hermano justas(AJ).
Amemos de hecho, no de palabra
13 Hermanos, no os maravilléis si el mundo os odia(AK). 14 Nosotros sabemos que hemos pasado de muerte a vida(AL) porque amamos a los hermanos(AM). El que no ama[o] permanece en muerte. 15 Todo el que aborrece a su hermano es homicida(AN), y vosotros sabéis que ningún homicida tiene vida eterna permanente en él(AO). 16 En esto conocemos el amor: en que Él puso su vida por nosotros(AP); también nosotros debemos poner nuestras vidas(AQ) por los hermanos(AR). 17 Pero el que tiene bienes de este mundo(AS), y ve a su hermano en necesidad y cierra su corazón[p] contra[q] él(AT), ¿cómo puede morar[r] el amor de Dios en él(AU)? 18 Hijos[s](AV), no amemos de palabra ni de lengua, sino de hecho y en verdad(AW). 19 En esto sabremos que somos de la verdad(AX), y aseguraremos[t] nuestros corazones delante de Él 20 en cualquier cosa en que nuestro corazón nos condene; porque Dios[u] es mayor que nuestro corazón y sabe todas las cosas. 21 Amados(AY), si nuestro corazón no nos condena, confianza tenemos delante de[v] Dios(AZ); 22 y todo lo que pidamos lo recibimos de Él(BA), porque guardamos sus mandamientos(BB) y hacemos las cosas que son agradables delante de Él(BC). 23 Y este es su mandamiento: que creamos(BD) en el nombre de su Hijo Jesucristo(BE), y que nos amemos unos a otros como Él nos ha mandado[w](BF). 24 El que guarda sus mandamientos(BG) permanece en Él(BH) y Dios[x] en él. Y en esto sabemos(BI) que Él permanece en nosotros(BJ): por el Espíritu que nos ha dado.
Footnotes
- 1 Juan 3:1 Lit., qué clase de amor
- 1 Juan 3:2 Lit., si se manifiesta
- 1 Juan 3:4 O, iniquidad
- 1 Juan 3:4 Lit., y
- 1 Juan 3:4 O, iniquidad
- 1 Juan 3:5 Algunos mss. dicen: nuestros
- 1 Juan 3:7 O, Hijitos
- 1 Juan 3:8 Lit., peca
- 1 Juan 3:8 O, deshacer
- 1 Juan 3:9 O, engendrado
- 1 Juan 3:9 Lit., Todo aquél...no practica
- 1 Juan 3:9 Lit., su simiente
- 1 Juan 3:9 O, engendrado
- 1 Juan 3:10 Lit., se manifiestan
- 1 Juan 3:14 Algunos mss. posteriores agregan: a su hermano
- 1 Juan 3:17 Lit., sus entrañas
- 1 Juan 3:17 Lit., de
- 1 Juan 3:17 Lit., ¿cómo mora?
- 1 Juan 3:18 O, Hijitos
- 1 Juan 3:19 O, persuadiremos
- 1 Juan 3:20 Lit., delante de Él; porque si nuestro corazón nos condena, Dios
- 1 Juan 3:21 Lit., hacia
- 1 Juan 3:23 O, nos dio mandamiento
- 1 Juan 3:24 Lit., El

