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 marvellous love the Father has bestowed upon us--that we should be called God's children: and that is what we are. For this reason the world does not recognize us--because it has not known 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 now God's children, but what we are to be in the future has not yet been fully revealed. We know that if Christ reappears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.
3 And euery man that hath this hope in him, purgeth himselfe, euen as he is pure.
And every man who has this hope fixed on Him, purifies himself so as to be as pure as He is.
4 Whosoeuer committeth sinne, transgresseth also the Law: for sinne is the transgression of the Lawe.
Every one who is guilty of sin is also guilty of violating Law; for sin is the violation of Law.
5 And ye knowe that hee was made manifest, that he might take away our sinnes, and in him is no sinne.
And you know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.
6 Whosoeuer abideth in him, sinneth not: whosoeuer sinneth, hath not seene him, neither hath knowen him.
No one who continues in union with Him lives in sin: no one who lives in sin has seen Him or knows Him.
7 Litle children, let no man deceiue you: he that doeth righteousnes, is righteous, as hee is righteous.
Dear children, let no one lead you astray. The man who acts righteously is righteous, just as He 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.
He who is habitually guilty of sin is a child of the Devil, because the Devil has been a sinner from the very beginning. The Son of God appeared for the purpose of undoing the work of the Devil.
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 one who is a child of God is habitually guilty of sin. A God-given germ of life remains in him, and he cannot habitually sin--because he is a child of God.
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 we can distinguish God's children and the Devil's children: no one who fails to act righteously is a child of God, nor he who does not love his brother man.
11 For this is the message, that ye heard from the beginning, that we should loue one another,
For this is the Message you have heard from the beginning--that 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 are not to resemble Cain, who was a child of the Evil one and killed his own brother. And why did he kill him? Because his own actions were wicked and his brother's actions righteous.
13 Marueile not, my brethren, though this world hate you.
Do not be surprised, brethren, 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.
As for us, we know that we have already passed out of death into Life--because we love our brother men. He who is destitute of love continues dead.
15 Whosoeuer hateth his brother, is a manslayer: and ye know that no manslayer hath eternall life abiding in him. (aiōnios g166)
Every one who hates his brother man is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has the Life of the Ages continuing in him. (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.
We know what love is--through Christ's having laid down His life on our behalf; and in the same way we ought to lay down our lives for our brother men.
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?
But if any one has this world's wealth and sees that his brother man is in need, and yet hardens his heart against him--how can such a one continue to love God?
18 My litle children, let vs not loue in worde, neither in tongue onely, but in deede and in trueth.
Dear children, let us not love in words only nor with the lips, but in deed and in truth.
19 For thereby we know that we are of the trueth, and shall before him assure our hearts.
And in this way we shall come to know that we are loyal to the truth, and shall satisfy our consciences in His presence
20 For if our heart condemne vs, God is greater then our heart, and knoweth all things.
in whatever matters our hearts condemn us--because God is greater than our hearts and knows everything.
21 Beloued, if our heart condemne vs not, then haue we boldnes toward God.
Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have perfect confidence towards God;
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 whatever we ask for we obtain from Him, because we obey His commands and do the things which are pleasing in His sight.
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.
And this is His command--that we are to believe in His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He has commanded us to do.
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 man who obeys His commands continues in union with God, and God continues in union with him; and through His Spirit whom He has given us we can know that He continues in union with us.
