# 1 John 3 **Book:** [1 John](/codex/1-john/) · NASB95 ## Immediate context (±2 verses) **ASV** ([ASV](/codex/asv/)) > 1. Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2. Beloved, now are we children of God, and it is not yet made manifest what we shall be. We know that, if he shall be manifested, we shall be like him; for we shall see him even as he is. 3. And every one that hath this hope set on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4. Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness. 5. And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin. 6. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither knoweth him. 7. My little children, let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous: 8. he that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9. Whosoever is begotten of God doeth no sin, because his seed abideth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is begotten 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 which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another: 12. not as Cain was of the evil one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his works were evil, and his brother's righteous. 13. Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you. 14. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not 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 know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17. But whoso hath the world's goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him? 18. My little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth. 19. Hereby shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before him: 20. because if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. 21. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God; 22. and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. 23. And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment. 24. And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us. (1 John 3:1-24, ASV) **WEB** ([WEB](/codex/web/)) > 1. See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him. 2. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it is not yet revealed what we will be. But we know that, when he is revealed, we will be like him; for we will see him just as he is. 3. Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure. 4. Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness. 5. You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and in him is no sin. 6. Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him and doesn’t know him. 7. Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8. He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed: that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9. Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him; and he can’t sin, because he is born of God. 10. In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother. 11. For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another; 12. unlike Cain, who was of the evil one, and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s righteous. 13. Don’t be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you. 14. We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death. 15. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. 16. By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17. But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him? 18. My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth. 19. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him, 20. because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 21. Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God; 22. and whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight. 23. This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded. 24. He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us. (1 John 3:1-24, WEB) **KJV** ([KJV](/codex/kjv/)) > 1. 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. message: or, commandment 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. assure: Gr. persuade 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 3:1-24, KJV) **YLT** ([YLT](/codex/ylt/)) > 1. See ye what love the Father hath given to us, that children of God we may be called; because of this the world doth not know us, because it did not know Him; 2. beloved, now, children of God are we, and it was not yet manifested what we shall be, and we have known that if he may be manifested, like him we shall be, because we shall see him as he is; 3. and every one who is having this hope on him, doth purify himself, even as he is pure. 4. Every one who is doing the sin, the lawlessness also he doth do, and the sin is the lawlessness, 5. and ye have known that he was manifested that our sins he may take away, and sin is not in him; 6. every one who is remaining in him doth not sin; every one who is sinning, hath not seen him, nor known him. 7. Little children, let no one lead you astray; he who is doing the righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous, 8. he who is doing the sin, of the devil he is, because from the beginning the devil doth sin; for this was the Son of God manifested, that he may break up the works of the devil; 9. every one who hath been begotten of God, sin he doth not, because his seed in him doth remain, and he is not able to sin, because of God he hath been begotten. 10. In this manifest are the children of God, and the children of the devil; every one who is not doing righteousness, is not of God, and he who is not loving his brother, 11. because this is the message that ye did hear from the beginning, that we may love one another, 12. not as Cain, of the evil one he was, and he did slay his brother, and wherefore did he slay him? because his works were evil, and those of his brother righteous. 13. Do not wonder, my brethren, if the world doth hate you; 14. we, we have known that we have passed out of the death to the life, because we love the brethren; he who is not loving the brother doth remain in the death. 15. Every one who is hating his brother, a man-killer he is, and ye have known that no man-killer hath life age-during in him remaining, 16. in this we have known the love, because he for us his life did lay down, and we ought for the brethren the lives to lay down; 17. and whoever may have the goods of the world, and may view his brother having need, and may shut up his bowels from him, how doth the love of God remain in him? 18. My little children, may we not love in word nor in tongue, but in word and in truth! 19. and in this we know that of the truth we are, and before Him we shall assure our hearts, 20. because if our heart may condemn, because greater is God than our heart, and He doth know all things. 21. Beloved, if our heart may not condemn us, we have boldness toward God, 22. and whatever we may ask, we receive from Him, because His commands we keep, and the things pleasing before Him we do, 23. and this is His command, that we may believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and may love one another, even as He did give command to us, 24. and he who is keeping His commands, in Him he doth remain, and He in him; and in this we know that He doth remain in us, from the Spirit that He gave us. (1 John 3:1-24, YLT) ## Setting - **Speaker:** _TBD_ - **Audience:** _TBD_ - **Location:** _TBD_ - **Time period:** _TBD_ ## Theological reading _Patristic / early-church-father exegesis, to be added._ ## Key words _Theologically-loaded Greek or Hebrew words in this verse may have entries in the lexicon. Curated to roughly 100 contested terms across the corpus, not every word._ - None of the words in this verse has its own lexicon entry yet. ## Quoted in **Arguments and defeaters:** - [Argument from Conscience](/codex/argument-from-conscience/), via [1 John 3.19-21](/codex/1-john-3-19-21/) - [Argument from Desire](/codex/argument-from-desire/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [Argument from the Costly-Signal Convergence](/codex/argument-from-the-costly-signal-convergence/), via [1 John 3.16](/codex/1-john-3-16/) - [Argument from the Mirror-Recognition Convergence](/codex/argument-from-the-mirror-recognition-convergence/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [Argument from the Narrative-Identity Convergence](/codex/argument-from-the-narrative-identity-convergence/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [Argument from Transformed Lives](/codex/argument-from-transformed-lives/), via [1 John 3.14](/codex/1-john-3-14/) - [Atheism Cannot Justify Compassion](/codex/atheism-cannot-justify-compassion/), via [1 John 3.16](/codex/1-john-3-16/), [1 John 3.16-18](/codex/1-john-3-16-18/) - [Buddhism vs the Christian God](/codex/buddhism-vs-the-christian-god/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [Christians Not Under Mosaic Law](/codex/christians-not-under-mosaic-law/), via [1 John 3.16](/codex/1-john-3-16/) - [Conditional Immortality from Text-First Method](/codex/conditional-immortality-from-text-first-method/), via [1 John 3.14-15](/codex/1-john-3-14-15/) - [Evil as Privation of Good](/codex/evil-as-privation-of-good/), via [1 John 3.8](/codex/1-john-3-8/) - [Free Will Argument from Love](/codex/free-will-argument-from-love/), via [1 John 3.1](/codex/1-john-3-1/) - [Freedom in Heaven Objection Defeater](/codex/freedom-in-heaven-objection-defeater/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [God Created Satan Knowing He Would Rebel Objection Defeater](/codex/god-created-satan-knowing-he-would-rebel-objection-defeater/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/), [1 John 3.8](/codex/1-john-3-8/) - [God Showed No Love in Eden Objection Defeater](/codex/god-showed-no-love-in-eden-objection-defeater/), via [1 John 3.8](/codex/1-john-3-8/) - [Hinduism vs the Christian God](/codex/hinduism-vs-the-christian-god/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [Mormonism vs the Christian God](/codex/mormonism-vs-the-christian-god/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [Pantheism vs the Christian God](/codex/pantheism-vs-the-christian-god/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [Sikhism vs the Christian God](/codex/sikhism-vs-the-christian-god/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [Spare the Rod Objection Defeater](/codex/spare-the-rod-objection-defeater/), via [1 John 3.1](/codex/1-john-3-1/) - [The Error Argument](/codex/the-error-argument/), via [1 John 3.20](/codex/1-john-3-20/) - [Why Doesn't God Feed Starving Children Objection Defeater](/codex/why-doesnt-god-feed-starving-children-objection-defeater/) - [Why Doesnt God Stop Satan Objection Defeater](/codex/why-doesnt-god-stop-satan-objection-defeater/), via [1 John 3.8](/codex/1-john-3-8/) **Concepts:** - [Assurance of Salvation](/codex/assurance-of-salvation/), via [1 John 3.14](/codex/1-john-3-14/), [1 John 3.3](/codex/1-john-3-3/) - [Atonement](/codex/atonement/), via [1 John 3.8](/codex/1-john-3-8/) - [Atonement Theory Spread](/codex/atonement-theory-spread/), via [1 John 3.8](/codex/1-john-3-8/) - [Biblical Dignity](/codex/biblical-dignity/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [Biblical Love](/codex/biblical-love/), via [1 John 3.18](/codex/1-john-3-18/) - [Biblical Stewardship](/codex/biblical-stewardship/), via [1 John 3.17](/codex/1-john-3-17/) - [Christians Behaving Badly](/codex/christians-behaving-badly/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [Christology](/codex/christology/), via [1 John 3.8](/codex/1-john-3-8/) - [Demonology](/codex/demonology/), via [1 John 3.8](/codex/1-john-3-8/) - [Eschatology](/codex/eschatology/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [God's Love for Creation](/codex/gods-love-for-creation/), via [1 John 3.1](/codex/1-john-3-1/) - [Heaven](/codex/heaven/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [Mary Sinless](/codex/mary-sinless/), via [1 John 3.5](/codex/1-john-3-5/) - [No Longer Sinners](/codex/no-longer-sinners/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [Sanctification](/codex/sanctification/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/), [1 John 3.2-3](/codex/1-john-3-2-3/), [1 John 3.9](/codex/1-john-3-9/) - [Satan](/codex/satan/), via [1 John 3.8](/codex/1-john-3-8/) - [Sin](/codex/sin/), via [1 John 3.4](/codex/1-john-3-4/) - [Sola Fide](/codex/sola-fide/), via [1 John 3.9](/codex/1-john-3-9/) - [The Devil](/codex/the-devil/), via [1 John 3.12](/codex/1-john-3-12/) - [Theosis](/codex/theosis/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [Verses on Gods Goodness and Human Worth](/codex/verses-on-gods-goodness-and-human-worth/), via [1 John 3.1](/codex/1-john-3-1/) - [World Religions Compared by Their Ultimate Ending](/codex/world-religions-compared-by-their-ultimate-ending/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) **Lexicon:** - [G0026 - agape](/codex/g0026-agape/), via [1 John 3.1](/codex/1-john-3-1/), [1 John 3.14](/codex/1-john-3-14/), [1 John 3.16](/codex/1-john-3-16/) - [G0266 - hamartia](/codex/g0266-hamartia/), via [1 John 3.4](/codex/1-john-3-4/), [1 John 3.5](/codex/1-john-3-5/) - [G1080 - gennao](/codex/g1080-gennao/), via [1 John 3.9](/codex/1-john-3-9/) - [G1228 - diabolos](/codex/g1228-diabolos/), via [1 John 3.10](/codex/1-john-3-10/), [1 John 3.8](/codex/1-john-3-8/) - [G1342 - dikaios](/codex/g1342-dikaios/), via [1 John 3.7](/codex/1-john-3-7/) - [G2222 - zoe](/codex/g2222-zoe/), via [1 John 3.14](/codex/1-john-3-14/), [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [G2288 - thanatos](/codex/g2288-thanatos/), via [1 John 3.14](/codex/1-john-3-14/) - [G3962 - pater](/codex/g3962-pater/), via [1 John 3.1](/codex/1-john-3-1/) - [G4567 - satanas](/codex/g4567-satanas/), via [1 John 3.8](/codex/1-john-3-8/) - [G5046 - teleios](/codex/g5046-teleios/), via [1 John 3.2](/codex/1-john-3-2/) - [H0001 - ab](/codex/h0001-ab/), via [1 John 3.1](/codex/1-john-3-1/) - [H2617 - hesed](/codex/h2617-hesed/), via [1 John 3.1](/codex/1-john-3-1/) - [H7356 - rachamim](/codex/h7356-rachamim/), via [1 John 3.17](/codex/1-john-3-17/) - [H7592 - shaal](/codex/h7592-shaal/), via [1 John 3.22](/codex/1-john-3-22/) ## Notes _Your annotations._ ## Why these four translations ris3n chose ASV, WEB, KJV, and YLT for two reasons together. They are the **most literal English translations available** (formal-equivalence: word-for-word renderings that preserve the Hebrew and Greek grammar rather than smoothing it into modern dynamic-equivalence idiom). And they are in the **public domain in the United States**, which means fair-use quotation at any length requires no publisher license. Modern licensed translations (NASB95, ESV, NIV) restrict volume of quotation under their copyright terms, so they are not used at stub-level coverage here. NASB95 appears only on hand-curated rich passage hubs under Lockman Foundation's fair-use allowance. The four: - **[ASV](/codex/asv/)** (American Standard Version, 1901). The basis of the modern critical-text English tradition. - **[WEB](/codex/web/)** (World English Bible, contemporary). Public-domain revision in the ASV line, in current English. - **[KJV](/codex/kjv/)** (King James Version, 1611). Reformation-era, Textus Receptus base. - **[YLT](/codex/ylt/)** (Young's Literal Translation, Robert Young, 1862). Hyper-literal preservation of Hebrew and Greek grammar; useful for word-study work even where English reads stiff. See [Bibles](/codex/bibles/) for the full per-translation history, translators, textual basis, strengths, and weaknesses.