16 This is how we have come to know love: He laid down his life(A) for us.(B) We should also lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.(C) 17 If anyone has this world’s goods(D) and sees a fellow believer[a] in need(E) but withholds compassion(F) from him—how does God’s love reside in him?(G) 18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.(H)

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Footnotes

  1. 3:17 Lit sees his brother or sister

16 We have come to know love by this: that he[a] laid down his life on behalf of us, and we ought to lay down our lives on behalf of the brothers. 17 But whoever has the world’s material possessions and observes his brother in need[b] and shuts his heart against him, how does the love of God reside in him?

18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 John 3:16 Literally “that one” (referring to Jesus Christ)
  2. 1 John 3:17 Literally “having need”