1Look — of what kind is the love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are. Because of this the world does not know us: it did not know him. [3:2] Beloved ones, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet appeared. We know that when he appears we will be like him, because we will see him as he is. [3:3] Everyone having this hope in him purifies himself, just as that one is pure. [3:4] Everyone committing sin is also committing lawlessness — sin is lawlessness. [3:5] You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and sin is not in him. [3:6] Everyone remaining in him does not go on sinning. Everyone going on sinning has neither seen him nor known him. [3:7] Little children, let no one lead you astray. The one practicing righteousness is righteous, just as that one is righteous. [3:8] The one practicing sin is of the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God appeared: to destroy the works of the devil. [3:9] Everyone having been born of God does not practice sin, because his seed remains in him; and he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God. [3:10] By this the children of God and the children of the devil are evident: everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God, and neither is the one not loving his brother.
1JN 3:1-10
Children of God
In the world it was spoken into
In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of divine parentage carried significant weight. Emperors were often deified, and their children claimed divine lineage, which conferred status and privilege. For Jewish listeners, the idea of being 'children of God' echoed covenantal language, rooted in texts like Deuteronomy 14:1, where Israel is called God’s children. However, the claim here extends beyond ethnic Israel to include all who follow Christ, a radical inclusivity in a society stratified by birth, status, and ethnicity. The term 'lawlessness' would resonate with Jewish listeners as a rejection of Torah, while Gentile readers might associate it with moral chaos or rebellion against divine order. The call to purity aligns with Jewish ritual and ethical practices, but here it is tied to eschatological hope — the expectation of Christ’s return and transformation into His likeness. This hope contrasts sharply with the Stoic ideal of self-sufficiency or the Epicurean pursuit of pleasure, offering instead a communal identity rooted in divine love and future glory.
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How other translations render this
1JN 3:1
- KJV
- Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
- BSB
- Behold what manner of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
- Koinōnos
- Look — of what kind is the love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God. And that is what we are. Because of this the world does not know us: it did not know him.
1JN 3:2
- KJV
- Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth 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.
- BSB
- Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.
- Koinōnos
- Beloved ones, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet appeared. We know that when he appears we will be like him, because we will see him as he is.
1JN 3:3
- KJV
- And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
- BSB
- And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as Christ is pure.
- Koinōnos
- Everyone having this hope in him purifies himself, just as that one is pure.
1JN 3:4
- KJV
- Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
- BSB
- Everyone who practices sin practices lawlessness as well. Indeed, sin is lawlessness.
- Koinōnos
- Everyone committing sin is also committing lawlessness — sin is lawlessness.
1JN 3:5
- KJV
- And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
- BSB
- But you know that Christ appeared to take away sins, and in Him there is no sin.
- Koinōnos
- You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and sin is not in him.
1JN 3:6
- KJV
- Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
- BSB
- No one who remains in Him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has seen Him or known Him.
- Koinōnos
- Everyone remaining in him does not go on sinning. Everyone going on sinning has neither seen him nor known him.
1JN 3:7
- KJV
- Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
- BSB
- Little children, let no one deceive you: The one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as Christ is righteous.
- Koinōnos
- Little children, let no one lead you astray. The one practicing righteousness is righteous, just as that one is righteous.
1JN 3:8
- KJV
- He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
- BSB
- The one who practices sin is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the very start. This is why the Son of God was revealed, to destroy the works of the devil.
- Koinōnos
- The one practicing sin is of the devil, because the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God appeared: to destroy the works of the devil.
1JN 3:9
- KJV
- Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
- BSB
- Anyone born of God refuses to practice sin, because Godʼs seed abides in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
- Koinōnos
- Everyone having been born of God does not practice sin, because his seed remains in him; and he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
1JN 3:10
- KJV
- 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.
- BSB
- By this the children of God are distinguished from the children of the devil: Anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is anyone who does not love his brother.
- Koinōnos
- By this the children of God and the children of the devil are evident: everyone not practicing righteousness is not of God, and neither is the one not loving his brother.
Only verses where the wording diverges meaningfully are shown. Identical phrasings are suppressed.
Translator's notes
1JN 3:1
- Behold:The word translated 'Behold' is an imperative, calling for immediate and focused attention, much like saying 'Look!' or 'Pay attention!'
- what:The term translated 'what' here conveys a sense of wonder and astonishment, asking 'of what kind' or 'how great' is the love being described.
1JN 3:4
- is committing:The phrase 'is committing' uses a verb tense that emphasizes ongoing, continuous action, suggesting a habitual practice rather than a single, isolated event.
1JN 3:7
- little children,:The term 'little children' is a diminutive, used as an affectionate and tender address, much like a parent speaking to their beloved offspring, regardless of their actual age.