1 John 3
Contemporary English Version
3 (A) Think how much the Father loves us. He loves us so much that he lets us be called his children, as we truly are. But since the people of this world did not know who Christ[a] is, they don't know who we are. 2 My dear friends, we are already God's children, though what we will be hasn't yet been seen. But we do know when Christ returns, we will be like him, because we will see him as he truly is. 3 This hope makes us keep ourselves holy, just as Christ[b] is holy.
4 Everyone who sins breaks God's law, because sin is the same as breaking God's law. 5 (B) You know Christ came to take away our sins. He isn't sinful, 6 and people who stay one in their hearts with him won't keep on sinning. If they do keep on sinning, they don't know Christ, and they have never seen him.
7 Children, don't be fooled. Anyone who does right is good, just like Christ himself. 8 Anyone who keeps on sinning belongs to the devil. He has sinned from the beginning, but the Son of God came to destroy all that he has done. 9 God's children cannot keep on being sinful. His life-giving power[c] lives in them and makes them his children, so they cannot keep on sinning. 10 You can tell God's children from the devil's children, because those who belong to the devil refuse to do right or to love each other.
Love Each Other
11 (C) From the beginning you were told we must love each other. 12 (D) Don't be like Cain, who belonged to the devil and murdered his own brother. Why did he murder him? He did it because his brother was good, and he was evil. 13 My friends, don't be surprised if the people of this world hate you. 14 (E) Our love for each other proves we have gone from death to life. But if you don't love each other, you are still under the power of death.
15 If you hate each other, you are murderers, and we know murderers do not have eternal life. 16 We know what love is because Jesus gave his life for us. This is why we must give our lives for each other. 17 If we have all we need and see one of our own people in need, we must have pity on that person, or else we cannot say we love God. 18 Children, you show love for others by truly helping them, and not merely by talking about it.
19 When we love others, we know we belong to the truth, and we feel at ease in the presence of God. 20 But even if we don't feel at ease, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if we feel at ease in the presence of God, we will have the courage to come near him. 22 He will give us whatever we ask, because we obey him and do what pleases him. 23 (F) God wants us to have faith in his Son Jesus Christ and to love each other. This is also what Jesus taught us to do. 24 If we obey God's commandments, we will stay one in our hearts with him, and he will stay one with us. The Spirit he has given us is proof that we are one with him.
1 John 3
New Matthew Bible
The singular love of God toward us. How we in response ought to love one another.
3 Behold what love the Father has shown on us, that we should be called the children of God. Because of this, the world does not know you: because it does not know him. 2 Dearly beloveds, now we are the children of God. And yet it does not appear what we will be. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him. For we shall see him as he is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whoever commits sin, commits unrighteousness also. For sin is unrighteousness. 5 And you know that he appeared to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. 6 As many as abide in him do not sin. Whoever sins has not seen him, neither has known him.
7 Babes, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous. 8 He who commits sin is of the devil. For the devil has sinned since the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God appeared: to destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whosoever is born of God does not sin, for his seed remains in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God. 10 In this are the children of God known, and the children of the devil. Whoever does not work righteousness is not of God, neither he who does not love his brother.
11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning: that you should love one another – 12 not like Cain, who was of the wicked one and slew his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s good. 13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we are translated from death to life because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother, abides in death. 15 Whosoever hates his brother is a man-slayer. And you know that no man-slayer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we perceive love: that he gave his life for us. And therefore we also ought to give our lives for the brethren. 17 Whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his compassion from him, how does the love of God dwell in him?
18 My babes, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed and in truth. 19 For by this we know that we are of the truth, and can quiet our hearts before him. 20 But if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts, and knows all things. 21 Beloveds, if our hearts do not condemn us, then we have trust before God – 22 and whatever we ask, we shall receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment: that we believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave commandment. 24 And he who keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And by this we know that there abides in us of the Spirit that he gave us.
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Copyright © 2016 by Ruth Magnusson (Davis). Includes emendations to February 2022. All rights reserved.