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) 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) All who have this hope in him purify themselves,(I) just as he is pure.(J)

Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.(K) But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.(L) And in him is no sin.(M) 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)

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) 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) 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.

Children of God, Love One Another

See [a](A)how great a love the Father has given to us, that we would be called (B)children of God; and we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because (C)it did not know Him. (D)Beloved, now we are (E)children of God, and (F)it has not been manifested as yet what we will be. We know that when He (G)is manifested, we will be (H)like Him, because we will (I)see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this (J)hope fixed on Him (K)purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Everyone who does sin also does lawlessness; and (L)sin is lawlessness. And you know that He (M)was manifested in order to (N)take away sins, and (O)in Him there is no sin. No one who abides in Him (P)sins; no one who sins has seen Him or [b](Q)has come to know Him. (R)Little children, let no one (S)deceive you. (T)The one who does righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. The one who does sin is (U)of the devil, because the devil sins from the beginning. (V)The Son of God (W)was manifested for this purpose, (X)to destroy the works of the devil. Everyone who has been [c](Y)born of God (Z)does not sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been [d]born of God. 10 By this the (AA)children of God and the (AB)children of the devil are manifested: everyone who does not do righteousness is not of God, as well as 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 marvel, brothers, if (AK)the world hates you. 14 We know that we have (AL)passed out of death into life, (AM)because we love the brothers. The one 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 By this we have known love, that (AP)He laid down His life for us; and (AQ)we ought to lay down our lives for the (AR)brothers. 17 But (AS)whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and (AT)closes his [e]heart [f]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 And by this we will know that we are (AX)of the truth, and will [g]assure our heart before Him 20 [h]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 [i]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 And this is His commandment, that we [j](BD)believe in (BE)the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as (BF)He gave a commandment to us. 24 And 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 gave us.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:1 Lit what kind of love
  2. 1 John 3:6 Or has known
  3. 1 John 3:9 Or begotten
  4. 1 John 3:9 Or begotten
  5. 1 John 3:17 Lit inward parts
  6. 1 John 3:17 Lit from
  7. 1 John 3:19 Lit persuade
  8. 1 John 3:20 Or that if our heart condemns us, that God...
  9. 1 John 3:21 Lit toward
  10. 1 John 3:23 Or believe the name

Los hijos de Dios

Miren cuán gran amor[a] nos ha otorgado el Padre(A): que seamos llamados hijos de Dios(B). Y eso somos. Por esto el mundo no nos conoce, porque no lo conoció a Él(C). Amados(D), ahora somos hijos de Dios(E) y aún no se ha manifestado lo que habremos de ser(F). Pero sabemos que cuando Cristo se manifieste[b](G), seremos semejantes a Él(H), porque lo veremos como Él es(I). Y todo el que tiene esta esperanza puesta en Él(J), se purifica, así como Él es puro(K).

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). Ustedes saben que Cristo se manifestó(M) a fin de quitar los[f] pecados(N), y en Él no hay pecado(O). Todo el que permanece en Él, no peca(P). Todo el que peca, ni lo ha visto ni lo ha conocido(Q). Hijos míos[g](R), que nadie los engañe(S). El que practica la justicia es justo(T), así como Él es justo. 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).

Ninguno que es nacido de Dios(Y) practica[j] el pecado(Z), porque la simiente de Dios[k] permanece en él. No puede pecar, porque es nacido de Dios. 10 En esto se reconocen[l] 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 ustedes han 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 se maravillen si el mundo los odia(AK). 14 Nosotros sabemos que hemos pasado de muerte a vida(AL) porque amamos a los hermanos(AM). El que no ama[m] permanece en muerte. 15 Todo el que aborrece a su hermano es un asesino(AN), y ustedes saben que ningún asesino 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[n] contra[o] él(AT), ¿cómo puede morar[p] el amor de Dios en él(AU)? 18 Hijos[q](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[r] nuestros corazones delante de Él 20 en cualquier cosa en que nuestro corazón nos condene. Porque Dios[s] es mayor que nuestro corazón y Él sabe todas las cosas. 21 Amados(AY), si nuestro corazón no nos condena, confianza tenemos delante de[t] 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[u](BF). 24 El que guarda Sus mandamientos(BG) permanece en Él(BH) y Dios[v] en él. Y en esto sabemos(BI) que Él permanece en nosotros(BJ): por el Espíritu que nos ha dado.

Footnotes

  1. 3:1 Lit. qué clase de amor.
  2. 3:2 Lit. si se manifiesta.
  3. 3:4 O iniquidad.
  4. 3:4 Lit. y.
  5. 3:4 O iniquidad.
  6. 3:5 Algunos mss. dicen: nuestros.
  7. 3:7 O Hijitos.
  8. 3:8 Lit. peca.
  9. 3:8 O deshacer.
  10. 3:9 Lit. Todo aquel…no practica.
  11. 3:9 Lit. Su simiente.
  12. 3:10 Lit. se manifiestan.
  13. 3:14 Algunos mss. posteriores agregan: a su hermano.
  14. 3:17 Lit. sus entrañas.
  15. 3:17 Lit. de.
  16. 3:17 Lit. ¿cómo mora?
  17. 3:18 O Hijitos.
  18. 3:19 O persuadiremos.
  19. 3:20 Lit. delante de Él; porque si nuestro corazón nos condena, Dios.
  20. 3:21 Lit. hacia.
  21. 3:23 O nos dio mandamiento.
  22. 3:24 Lit. Él.