1 John 3

1 Behold [see, perceive] what manner of [unconditional, divine] love [agape, charity] the Father [our heavenly Parent] has given [bestowed, granted] to us, that we should be called [known as, named] children [sons and daughters, heirs] of God [the Almighty, our Creator]. And that is what we are [in reality, by nature]! The reason [because, since] the world [the earthly realm, human society] does not know [recognize, understand] us is that it did not know [acknowledge, perceive] Him [the Father, our Lord]. word study 2 Beloved [dearly loved, cherished], we are now [at this present time] children [sons and daughters, born of God] of God [the one true deity], and what we will be [in the future, our ultimate state] has not yet been revealed [made manifest, disclosed]. We know [are certain, have confidence] that when Christ [the Messiah, our Savior] appears [is revealed, made visible], we will be like Him [similar in nature, having His character], for we will see Him [perceive, behold] as He is [in His true essence, just as He really is]. word study 3 And everyone [all who have faith] who has this hope [expectation, trusting in God’s goodness] in Him [Christ, the Messiah] purifies [makes holy, cleanses] himself, just as [in the same way, to the same extent] Christ [the Anointed One] is pure [holy, free from sin]. word study 4 Everyone [all people, every individual] who practices [commits, does] sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards] practices [commits, does] lawlessness [transgressing the law, wickedness] as well [also, too]. Indeed [truly, certainly], sin [the transgression of the law, iniquity] is [exists as, constitutes] lawlessness [the transgression of the law, rebellion against God’s standards]. word study 5 But you know [are aware, perceive] that Christ [the Anointed One, Messiah] appeared [was manifested, revealed] to take away [remove, lift up] sins [transgressions, missing the mark], and in Him [within His nature, as part of His being] there is [exists, resides] no [absolutely none] sin [lawlessness, rebellion against God]. word study 6 No one who remains [abideth, stays] in Him [Christ, the Messiah] keeps on sinning [does not sin, misses the mark]. No one who continues [keeps on] to sin [miss the mark, fall short] has seen [perceived, experienced] Him or known [understood, recognized] Him. word study 7 Little children [my dear ones, beloved], let no one [no man, nothing] deceive you: The one who practices [does, lives out] righteousness [uprightness, justice] is righteous [fair], just as [in the same way, even as] Christ [the Messiah, the Anointed One] is righteous [holy, upright]. word study 8 The one who practices [commits, does] sin [missing the mark, falling short of God’s standards] is of [belongs to, comes from] the devil [the Evil One, Satan], because the devil [the false accuser] has been sinning [rebelliously disobeying God] from the very start [the beginning, the first]. This is why [for this purpose, to this end] the Son [Child, offspring] of God [the supreme Creator, Elohim] was revealed [manifested, made visible], to destroy [loose, break up] the works [deeds, actions] of the devil [the adversary, the tempter]. word study 9 Anyone [every person, all who are] born [begotten, brought into new life] of God [the Father, Creator] refuses [does not commit, cannot continue] to practice [keep on sinning, live in] sin [missing the mark, rebellion against God], because God’s [divine, heavenly] seed [nature, character] abides [remains, dwells] in him; he cannot [is not able, is powerless] go on sinning [living in sin, rebelling against God], because he has been [is, has become] born [begotten, regenerated] of God [the Father, Creator]. word study 10 By this [in this way, through this means] the children [born of God, spiritually reborn] of God [the Father, Creator of all] are distinguished [clearly separated, made manifest] from the children [those who follow, imitate] of the devil [Satan, the adversary]: Anyone who does not practice [live out, demonstrate] righteousness [justness, moral uprightness] is not of God [does not belong to Him, is not a child of God], nor is anyone who does not love [show affection, esteem] his brother [fellow believer, spiritual sibling]. word study 11 This is the message [the divine announcement] you have heard [listened and understood] from the beginning [the origin]: We should [it is necessary that we] love [show esteem and goodwill] one another [mutually]. word study 12 Do not be like Cain [of the evil one, belonging to Satan], who belonged to the evil one [the wicked one, a being opposed to God] and murdered [slew, killed] his brother. And why did Cain slay [murder, kill] him? Because his own deeds [works, actions] were evil [bad, morally wrong], while those of his brother were righteous [just, morally right]. word study 13 So do not [be amazed or surprised] be surprised, brothers [fellow believers, my brethren], if [in the event that, though] the [this present] world [orderly arrangement] hates [detests, has no love for] you. word study 14 We know [are conscious, have spiritual awareness] that we have passed [been translated, changed] from death [physical or spiritual] to life [eternal, spiritual existence], because we love [show esteem and goodwill towards] our brothers [fellow Christians, male siblings]. The one who does not love [show no affection, remains unloving] remains [stays, abides] in death [a state of spiritual separation]. word study 15 Everyone [all people, every individual] who hates [to detest, love less] his brother [fellow Christian, male sibling] is a murderer [a taker of life, controlled by hatred], and you know [perceive, have spiritual awareness] that eternal [forever lasting, age-during] life [spiritual existence, divine nature] does not reside [abide, remain] in a murderer [one who takes life, acts in hatred]. word study 16 By this [in this way, through this act] we know what [true, unconditional] love [agape, selfless affection] is: Jesus [the Messiah, our Savior] laid down [sacrificed, gave up] His life [His very being] for us, and we ought [are morally obligated] to lay down [give up, sacrifice] our lives [our very beings] for our brothers [fellow believers, brethren]. word study 17 If anyone [who has the means, with earthly resources] with earthly possessions [this world’s goods, material wealth] sees his brother [fellow believer, Christian sibling] in need [having a necessity, lacking something essential], but withholds [shuts up, refuses to give] his compassion [affection, sympathy, pity] from him, how can the love [unconditional affection, divine charity] of God [the supreme Deity, Creator] abide [remain, stay, dwell] in him? word study 18 Little children [my dear ones, whom I love dearly], let us love [show esteem and goodwill] not in word [mere speech, empty talk] and speech [tongue, language], but in action [deed, work, toil] and truth [reality, sincerity, having God’s nature]. word study 19 And by this [in this way, hereby] we will know [understand, recognize] that we belong [are of, have our origin] to the truth [reality, authenticity], and will assure [persuade, comfort] our hearts [minds, emotions] in His [the Lord’s, God’s] presence [before Him, in His sight]: word study 20 Even if our [conscience, inner voice] hearts [seat of thoughts, feelings, and emotions] condemn us, God [the Supreme Being, Creator] is greater [more powerful, superior] than our hearts, and He knows [is intimately aware of, understands] all things [everything, every circumstance]. word study 21 Beloved [dearly loved, cherished by God], if our hearts do not [in no way, never] condemn [blame, find fault with] us, we have [possess, hold] confidence [boldness, freedom in speaking] before [in the presence of, toward] God [the one true deity, Creator], word study 22 and we will receive [get, obtain, acquire] from Him [the Father, our Lord] whatever we ask [request, petition], because we keep [obey, observe, follow] His commandments [divine instructions, laws] and do [perform, accomplish, fulfill] what is pleasing [acceptable, agreeable, delightful] in His sight [presence, view, approval]. word study 23 And this is His commandment [divine instruction, order]: that we should believe [trust, have faith] in the name [character, authority] of His Son [the Messiah], Jesus Christ [the Anointed One, God’s salvation], and we should love [show esteem, goodwill] one another [mutually, as brothers and sisters] just as [in the same way, to the same degree] He commanded [gave instruction, directed] us. word study 24 Whoever keeps [observes, watches over] His commandments [divine instructions, orders] remains [stays, abides] in God [the Father, the Almighty], and God [the Father, the Almighty] in him. And by this [the Spirit’s presence, this reality] we know [understand, recognize] that He remains [stays, abides] in us: by the Spirit [the Holy Spirit, the divine breath] He has given [bestowed, granted] us. word study