1 John 3
1 Behold, what loue the Father hath giuen to vs, that we should be called the sonnes of God: for this cause this world knoweth you not, because it knoweth not him.
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 Dearely beloued, nowe are we the sonnes of God, but yet it is not made manifest what we shall be: and we know that when he shalbe made manifest, we shalbe 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 euery man that hath this hope in him, purgeth himselfe, euen as he is pure.
And just as he is pure, everyone who has this hope, makes and keeps themselves pure.
4 Whosoeuer committeth sinne, transgresseth also the Law: for sinne is the transgression of the Lawe.
Everyone who lives sinfully is living in violation of God’s law. Sin is lawlessness.
5 And ye knowe that hee was made manifest, that he might take away our sinnes, and in him is no sinne.
You know that Christ appeared to take away our sins and that there is no sin in him.
6 Whosoeuer abideth in him, sinneth not: whosoeuer sinneth, hath not seene him, neither hath knowen him.
No one who lives in him continues to sin; the sinner has not seen or known him.
7 Litle children, let no man deceiue you: he that doeth righteousnes, is righteous, as hee 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 comitteth sinne, is of the deuil: for the deuill sinneth from the beginning: for this purpose was made manifest that Sonne of God, that he might loose the workes of the deuil.
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 Whosoeuer is borne of God, sinneth not: for his seede remaineth in him, neither can hee sinne, because he is borne 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 the children of God knowen, and the children of the deuil: whosoeuer doeth not righteousnesse, is not of God, neither he that loueth 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, that ye heard from the beginning, that we should loue one another,
For this is the message we heard from the beginning: we are to love one another.
12 Not as Cain which was of that wicked one, and slewe his brother: and wherefore slewe he him? because his owne workes were euill, and his brothers good.
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 Marueile not, my brethren, though this world hate you.
Do not be suprised, friends, if the world hates you.
14 We know that we are translated from death vnto life, because we loue the brethren: he that loueth not his brother, 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 Whosoeuer hateth his brother, is a manslayer: and ye know that no manslayer hath eternall 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 haue we perceiued loue, that he layde downe his life for vs: therefore we ought also to lay downe our liues 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 And whosoeuer hath this worlds good, and seeth his brother haue neede, and shutteth vp his compassion from him, howe dwelleth the loue 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 My litle children, let vs not loue in worde, neither in tongue onely, but in deede and in trueth.
My children, our love must not be mere words or talk. It must be true and show itself in actions.
19 For thereby we know that we are of the trueth, and shall before him assure our hearts.
This is how we will know we belong to the truth and reassure ourselves in God’s presence:
20 For if our heart condemne vs, God is greater then our heart, and knoweth all things.
though our conscience condemns us, God is greater than our conscience and knows everything.
21 Beloued, if our heart condemne vs not, then haue we boldnes toward God.
Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, then we approach God with confidence,
22 And whatsoeuer we aske we receiue of him, because we keepe his commandements, and do those 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 This is then his commandement, That we beleeue in the Name of his Sonne Iesus Christ, and loue one another as hee gaue commandement.
His command is that we should believe in his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, as Christ commanded us.
24 For hee that keepeth his commandements, dwelleth in him, and he in him: and hereby we knowe that hee abideth in vs, euen by that Spirit which he hath giuen vs.
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.
