< 1 John 3 >
1 See what love the Father has given to us, that we should be called [the] children of God. For this reason the world knows 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 what we shall be has not yet been manifested; we know that if it is manifested we shall be like him, for we shall see him 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 has this hope in him purifies 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 practises sin practises 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 has been manifested that he might take away our sins; and in him sin is not.
You know that Christ appeared to take away our sins and that there is no sin in him.
6 Whoever abides in him, does not sin: whoever sins, has not seen him or known him.
No one who lives in him continues to sin; the sinner has not seen or known him.
7 Children, let no man lead you astray; he that practises 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 practises sin is of the devil; for from [the] beginning the devil sins. To this end the Son of God has been manifested, that he might undo 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 Whoever has been begotten of God does not practise sin, because his seed abides in him, and he cannot sin, because he has been 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 are manifest the children of God and the children of the devil. Whoever does not practise righteousness is not of God, and he who does not love 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 have 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 wicked one, and slew his brother; and on account of what slew he him? because his works were wicked, and those of his brother 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 Do not wonder, brethren, if the world hate you.
Do not be suprised, friends, if the world hates you.
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love [his] brother abides 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 Every one that hates his brother is a murderer, and ye know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. (aiōnios )
The person who hates another is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life dwelling within them. (aiōnios )
16 Hereby we have known love, because he has laid down his life for us; and we ought for the brethren to lay down [our] lives.
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 may have the world's substance, and see his brother having need, and shut up his bowels from him, how abides the love of God 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 Children, let us not love with word, nor with tongue, but in deed and in truth.
My children, our love must not be mere words or talk. It must be true and show itself in actions.
19 And hereby we shall know that we are of the truth, and shall persuade our hearts before him —
This is how we will know we belong to the truth and reassure ourselves in God’s presence:
20 that if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart and knows 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 towards God,
Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, then we approach God with confidence,
22 and whatsoever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments, and practise the things which 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 believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and that we love one another, even as he has given 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 keeps his commandments abides in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given to 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.