1 John 3
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.
See what great love the Father has lavished on us: he lets us be called God’s children! For that is what we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it has not learned to know him.
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.
Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is that, when it is revealed, we will be like him, because we will see him as he is.
3 And every one that hath this hope [set] on him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
And just as he is pure, everyone who has this hope, makes and keeps themselves pure.
4 Every one that doeth sin doeth also lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
Everyone who lives sinfully is living in violation of God’s law. Sin is lawlessness.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away sins; and in him is no sin.
You know that Christ appeared to take away our sins and that there is no sin in him.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither knoweth him.
No one who lives in him continues to sin; the sinner has not seen or known him.
7 [My] little children, let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous:
My children, don’t let anyone mislead you. The person who does what is right is righteous, just as Christ 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.
The person who lives in sin is a child of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To undo the devil’s work is the reason the Son of God appeared.
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.
No child of God sins, because God’s nature dwells in them. They can’t live in sin, because they are God’s children.
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.
By this it is made clear who are the children of God and who are the devil’s: anyone who doesn’t do what is right or doesn’t love others is not a child of God.
11 For this is the message which ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another:
For this is the message we heard from the beginning: we are to 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.
We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his actions were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.
13 Marvel not, brethren, if the world hateth you.
Do not be suprised, friends, if the world hates 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.
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love each other. The person who does not love remains in a state of death.
15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (aiōnios g166)
The person who hates another is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life dwelling within them. (aiōnios g166)
16 Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
This is how we know what love is: Christ gave his life for us. So we should lay down our own lives for each other.
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?
If anyone has material possessions, and sees one of our own in need, but closes their heart against that person, how can it be said that the love of God is within them?
18 [My] little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.
My children, our love must not be mere words or talk. It must be true and show itself in actions.
19 Hereby shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before him:
This is how we will know we belong to the truth and reassure ourselves in God’s presence:
20 because if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
though our conscience condemns us, God is greater than our conscience and knows everything.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God;
Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, then we approach God with confidence,
22 and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.
and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we are keeping his commands, and are doing what pleases him.
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.
His command is that we should believe in his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, as Christ commanded us.
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.
The person who keeps his commands dwells in God and God dwells in them. And we are sure he lives in us because of the Spirit he has given us.
