1 John 3

1 Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore 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 the sons of God, and it does 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.

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 man 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 Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Everyone who lives sinfully is living in violation of God’s law. Sin is lawlessness.

5 And you know that he was manifested to take away our 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 Whoever stays in him sins not: whoever sins has not seen him, neither known him.

No one who lives in him continues to sin; the sinner has not seen or known him.

7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does 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 commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was 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 Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born 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: whoever does not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves 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 you 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, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And why slew he him? Because his own 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, my brothers, 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 brothers. He that loves not his brother stays 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 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer: and you know that no murderer has 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 perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

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 whoever has this world’s good, and sees his brother have need, and shuts up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwells 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 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in 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 know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.

This is how we will know we belong to the truth and reassure ourselves in God’s presence:

20 For 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, then have we confidence toward God.

Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, then we approach God with confidence,

22 And whatever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those 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 on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, 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 keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he stays in us, by the Spirit which he has given 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.