Logos Bible Study

1 John 3–5

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Chapter 3

Children of God Love One Another

1See 1ahow great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called bchildren of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because cit did not know Him.

2aBeloved, now we are bchildren of God, and cit has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He dappears, we will be elike Him, because we will fsee Him just as He is.

3And everyone who has this ahope fixed on Him bpurifies himself, just as He is pure.

4Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and asin is lawlessness.

5You know that He aappeared in order to btake away sins; and cin Him there is no sin.

6No one who abides in Him asins; no one who sins has seen Him or 1bknows Him.

7aLittle children, make sure no one bdeceives you; cthe one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;

8the one who practices sin is aof the devil; for the devil 1has sinned from the beginning. bThe Son of God cappeared for this purpose, dto destroy the works of the devil.

9No one who is 1aborn of God bpractices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

10By this the achildren of God and the bchildren of the devil are obvious: 1anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who cdoes not love his dbrother.

11aFor this is the message bwhich you have heard from the beginning, cthat we should love one another;

12not as aCain, who was of bthe evil one and slew his brother. And for what reason did he slay him? Because chis deeds were evil, and his brother’s were righteous.

13Do not be surprised, brethren, if athe world hates you.

14We know that we have apassed out of death into life, bbecause we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

15Everyone who ahates his brother is a murderer; and you know that bno murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

16We know love by this, that aHe laid down His life for us; and bwe ought to lay down our lives for the cbrethren.

17But awhoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need and bcloses his 1heart 2against him, chow does the love of God abide in him?

18aLittle children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and btruth.

19We will know by this that we are aof the truth, and will 1assure our heart before Him

201in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.

21aBeloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have bconfidence 1before God;

22and awhatever we ask we receive from Him, because we bkeep His commandments and do cthe things that are pleasing in His sight.

23This is His commandment, that we 1abelieve in bthe name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as cHe 2commanded us.

24The one who akeeps His commandments babides in Him, and He in him. cWe know by this that dHe abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.

Chapter 4

Testing the Spirits

1aBeloved, do not believe every bspirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because cmany false prophets have gone out into the world.

2By this you know the Spirit of God: aevery spirit that bconfesses that cJesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;

3and every spirit that adoes not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the bantichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and cnow it is already in the world.

4You are from God, alittle children, and bhave overcome them; because cgreater is He who is in you than dhe who is in the world.

5aThey are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.

6aWe are from God; bhe who knows God listens to us; che who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know dthe spirit of truth and ethe spirit of error.

God Is Love

7aBeloved, let us blove one another, for love is from God; and ceveryone who loves is 1dborn of God and eknows God.

8The one who does not love does not know God, for aGod is love.

9By this the love of God was manifested 1ain us, that bGod has sent His 2only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.

10In this is love, anot that we loved God, but that bHe loved us and sent His Son to be cthe propitiation for our sins.

11aBeloved, if God so loved us, bwe also ought to love one another.

12aNo one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His blove is perfected in us.

13aBy this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.

14We have seen and atestify that the Father has bsent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

15aWhoever confesses that bJesus is the Son of God, God cabides in him, and he in God.

16aWe have come to know and have believed the love which God has 1bfor us. cGod is love, and the one who dabides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

17By this, alove is perfected with us, so that we may have bconfidence in cthe day of judgment; because das He is, so also are we in this world.

18There is no fear in love; but aperfect love casts out fear, because fear 1involves punishment, and the one who fears is not bperfected in love.

19aWe love, because He first loved us.

20aIf someone says, “I love God,” and bhates his brother, he is a cliar; for dthe one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, ecannot love God whom he has not seen.

21And athis commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God bshould love his brother also.

Chapter 5

Overcoming the World

1aWhoever believes that Jesus is the 1Christ is 2bborn of God, and whoever loves the 3Father cloves the child born of Him.

2aBy this we know that bwe love the children of God, when we love God and 1observe His commandments.

3For athis is the love of God, that we bkeep His commandments; and cHis commandments are not burdensome.

4For whatever is 1aborn of God bovercomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

5Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who abelieves that Jesus is the Son of God?

6This is the One who came aby water and blood, Jesus Christ; not 1with the water only, but with the water and with the blood. It is bthe Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.

7For there are athree that testify:

81the Spirit and the water and the blood; and the three are 2in agreement.

9aIf we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater; for the testimony of God is this, that bHe has testified concerning His Son.

10The one who believes in the Son of God ahas the testimony in himself; the one who does not believe God has bmade Him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning His Son.

11And the testimony is this, that God has given us aeternal life, and bthis life is in His Son.

12aHe who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

This Is Written That You May Know

13aThese things I have written to you who bbelieve in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have ceternal life.

14This is athe confidence which we have 1before Him, that, bif we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

15And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, awe know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

16If anyone sees his brother 1committing a sin not leading to death, ahe shall ask and 2God will for him give life to those who commit sin not leading to death. bThere is a sin leading to death; cI do not say that he should make request for this.

17aAll unrighteousness is sin, and bthere is a sin not leading to death.

18aWe know that bno one who is 1born of God sins; but He who was born of God ckeeps him, and dthe evil one does not etouch him.

19aWe know that bwe are of God, and that cthe whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

20And awe know that bthe Son of God has come, and has cgiven us understanding so that we may know dHim who is true; and we eare in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. fThis is the true God and geternal life.

21aLittle children, guard yourselves from bidols.

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Footnotes

  1. 1Lit what kind of love
  2. 1Or has known
  3. 1Lit sins
  4. 1Or begotten
  5. 1Lit everyone
  6. 1Lit inward parts
  7. 2Lit from
  8. 1Lit persuade
  9. 1Or that if our heart condemns us, that God …
  10. 1Lit toward
  11. 1Or believe the name
  12. 2Lit gave us a commandment
  13. 1Or begotten
  14. 1Or in our case
  15. 2Or unique, only one of His kind
  16. 1Lit in
  17. 1Lit has
  18. 1I.e. Messiah
  19. 2Or begotten
  20. 3Lit one who begets
  21. 1Lit do
  22. 1Or begotten
  23. 1Lit in
  24. 1A few late mss add … in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one And there are three that testify on earth, the Spirit
  25. 2Lit for the one thing
  26. 1Lit toward
  27. 1Lit sinning
  28. 2Or God will give him life, that is, to those who …
  29. 1Or begotten

Cross references

  1. aJohn 3:16; 1 John 4:10
  2. bJohn 1:12; 11:52; Rom 8:16; 1 John 3:2, 10
  3. cJohn 15:18, 21; 16:3
  4. a1 John 2:7
  5. bJohn 1:12; 11:52; Rom 8:16; 1 John 3:1, 10
  6. cRom 8:19, 23f
  7. dLuke 17:30; Col 3:4; 1 John 2:28
  8. eRom 8:29; 2 Pet 1:4
  9. fJohn 17:24; 2 Cor 3:18
  10. aRom 15:12; 1 Pet 1:3
  11. bJohn 17:19; 2 Cor 7:1;
  12. aRom 4:15; 1 John 5:17
  13. a1 John 1:2; 3:8
  14. bJohn 1:29; 1 Pet 1:18–20; 1 John 2:2
  15. c2 Cor 5:21; 1 John 2:29
  16. a1 John 3:9
  17. b1 John 2:3; 3 John 11
  18. a1 John 2:1
  19. b1 John 2:26
  20. c1 John 2:29
  21. aMatt 13:38; John 8:44; 1 John 3:10
  22. bMatt 4:3
  23. c1 John 3:5
  24. dJohn 12:31; 16:11
  25. aJohn 1:13; 3:3; 1 John 2:29; 4:7; 5:1, 4, 18; 3 John 11
  26. b1 Pet 1:23; 1 John 3:6; 5:18
  27. aJohn 1:12; 11:52; Rom 8:16; 1 John 3:1, 2
  28. bMatt 13:38; John 8:44; 1 John 3:8
  29. cRom 13:8ff; Col 3:14; 1 Tim 1:5; 1 John 4:8
  30. d1 John 2:9
  31. a1 John 1:5
  32. b1 John 2:7
  33. cJohn 13:4f; 15:12; 1 John 4:7, 11f, 21; 2 John 5
  34. aGen 4:8
  35. bMatt 5:37; 1 John 2:13f
  36. cPs 38:20; Prov 29:10; John 8:40, 41
  37. aJohn 15:18; 17:14
  38. aJohn 5:24
  39. bJohn 13:35; 1 John 2:10
  40. aMatt 5:21f; John 8:44
  41. bGal 5:20f; Rev 21:8
  42. aJohn 10:11; 15:13
  43. bPhil 2:17; 1 Thess 2:8
  44. c1 John 2:9
  45. aJames 2:15f
  46. bDeut 15:7
  47. c1 John 4:20
  48. a1 John 2:1; 3:7
  49. b2 John 1; 3 John 1
  50. a1 John 2:21
  51. a1 John 3:2
  52. b1 John 2:28; 5:14
  53. aJob 22:26f; Matt 7:7; 21:22; John 9:31
  54. b1 John 2:3
  55. cJohn 8:29; Heb 13:21
  56. aJohn 6:29
  57. bJohn 1:12; 2:23; 3:18
  58. cJohn 13:34; 15:12; 1 John 2:8
  59. a1 John 2:3
  60. bJohn 6:56; 10:38; 1 John 2:6, 24; 4:15
  61. cJohn 14:17; Rom 8:9, 14, 16; 1 Thess 4:8; 1 John 4:13
  62. d1 John 2:5
  63. a3 John 11
  64. bJer 29:8; 1 Cor 12:10; 1 Thess 5:20f; 2 Thess 2:2
  65. cJer 14:14; 2 Pet 2:1; 1 John 2:18
  66. a1 Cor 12:3
  67. b1 John 2:23
  68. cJohn 1:14; 1 John 1:2
  69. a1 John 2:22; 2 John 7
  70. b1 John 2:18, 22
  71. c2 Thess 2:3–7; 1 John 2:18
  72. a1 John 2:1
  73. b1 John 2:13
  74. cRom 8:31; 1 John 3:20
  75. dJohn 12:31
  76. aJohn 15:19; 17:14, 16
  77. aJohn 8:23; 1 John 4:4
  78. bJohn 8:47; 10:3ff; 18:37
  79. c1 Cor 14:37
  80. dJohn 14:17
  81. e1 Tim 4:1
  82. a1 John 2:7
  83. b1 John 3:11
  84. c1 John 5:1
  85. d1 John 2:29
  86. e1 Cor 8:3; 1 John 2:3
  87. a1 John 4:7, 16
  88. aJohn 9:3; 1 John 4:16
  89. bJohn 3:16f; 1 John 4:10; 5:11
  90. aRom 5:8, 10; 1 John 4:19
  91. bJohn 3:16f; 1 John 4:9; 5:11
  92. c1 John 2:2
  93. a1 John 2:7
  94. b1 John 4:7
  95. aJohn 1:18; 1 Tim 6:16; 1 John 4:20
  96. b1 John 2:5; 4:17f
  97. aRom 8:9; 1 John 3:24
  98. aJohn 15:27; 1 John 1:2
  99. bJohn 3:17; 4:42; 1 John 2:2
  100. a1 John 2:23
  101. bRom 10:9; 1 John 3:23; 4:2; 5:1, 5
  102. c1 John 2:24; 3:24
  103. aJohn 6:69
  104. bJohn 9:3; 1 John 4:9
  105. c1 John 4:7, 8
  106. d1 John 4:12f
  107. a1 John 2:5; 4:12
  108. b1 John 2:28
  109. cMatt 10:15
  110. dJohn 17:22; 1 John 2:6; 3:1, 7, 16
  111. aRom 8:15
  112. b1 John 4:12
  113. a1 John 4:10
  114. a1 John 1:6, 8, 10; 2:4
  115. b1 John 2:9, 11
  116. c1 John 1:6
  117. d1 John 3:17
  118. e1 Pet 1:8; 1 John 4:12
  119. aLev 19:18; Matt 5:43f; 22:37ff; John 13:34
  120. b1 John 3:11
  121. a1 John 2:22f; 4:2, 15
  122. bJohn 1:3; 3:3; 1 John 2:29; 5:4, 18
  123. cJohn 8:42
  124. a1 John 2:5
  125. b1 John 3:14
  126. aJohn 14:15; 2 John 6
  127. b1 John 2:3
  128. cMatt 11:30; 23:4
  129. aJohn 1:13; 3:3; 1 John 2:29; 5:1, 18
  130. b1 John 2:13; 4:4
  131. a1 John 4:15; 5:1
  132. aJohn 19:34
  133. bMatt 3:16f; John 15:26; 16:13–15
  134. aMatt 18:16
  135. aJohn 5:34, 37; 8:18
  136. bMatt 3:17; John 5:32, 37
  137. aRom 8:16; Gal 4–6; Rev 12:17
  138. bJohn 3:18, 33; 1 John 1:10
  139. aJohn 3:36; 1 John 1:2; 2:25; 4:9; 5:13, 20
  140. bJohn 1:4
  141. aJohn 3:15f, 36
  142. aJohn 20:31
  143. b1 John 3:23
  144. c1 John 1:2; 2:25; 4:9; 5:11, 20
  145. a1 John 2:28; 3:21f
  146. bMatt 7:7; John 14:13; 1 John 3:22
  147. a1 John 5:18–20
  148. aJames 5:15
  149. bNum 15:30; Heb 6:4–6; 10:26
  150. cJer 7:16; 14:11
  151. a1 John 3:4
  152. b1 John 2:1f; 5:16
  153. a1 John 5:15, 19, 20
  154. b1 John 3:9
  155. cJames 1:27; Jude 21
  156. d1 John 2:13
  157. eJohn 14:30
  158. a1 John 5:15, 18, 20
  159. b1 John 4:6
  160. cJohn 12:31; 17:15; Gal 1:4
  161. a1 John 5:15, 18, 19
  162. bJohn 8:42; 1 John 5:5
  163. cLuke 24:45
  164. dJohn 17:3; Rev 3:7
  165. eJohn 1:18; 14:9; 1 John 2:23; Rev 3:7
  166. f1 John 1:2
  167. g1 John 5:11
  168. a1 John 2:1
  169. b1 Cor 10:7, 14; 1 Thess 1:9

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