1 John 3:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

NIV: We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

NASB: We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death.

CSB: We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers and sisters. The one who does not love remains in death.

NLT: If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.

KJV: We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

NKJV: We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

John next adds a key line of evidence that a person has moved from the realm of evil into the realm of God: love. John and his readers loved one another. The Greek root word translated here as "love" is agape. The term implies a selfless, self-sacrificing love focused on other people. Those who exhibit this kind of love give strong evidence to support that they are true believers.

In contrast, John taught that a lack of love is a sign of "abiding" in death. This concept of "abiding" is important, as the intended audience of this letter is Christian believers. Hatred, according to Jesus, is the spiritual equivalent to murder (Matthew 5:21–22). Christians are certainly capable of feeling hate, but such feelings are never the product of fellowship with Christ. As John words it, anyone who hates "abides in death." At the very least, this is serious sin. It is also a possible indication that the person has never had a relationship with Christ, at all.

First John 3:11–18 describes the contrast between hate and love, and how love ought to be seen in the life of a Christian believer. Evil has a jealous hatred for good. This is why Cain killed Abel, and why hatred is considered the spiritual equivalent to murder. Christians are expected to do more than feel love, they are commanded to act on it, in selfless sacrifice.

The third chapter of 1 John focuses mostly on the concept of love. Because of His love, God not only calls us His children, He actually makes us His children. John also explains how sin, including hate, is never the result of a proper relationship with God. Christians, in contrast to the world, are supposed to do more than simply ''feel'' love; we are to act on it, as well

Chapters 1 and 2 introduced the stark differences between those who truly have fellowship with Christ, as opposed to those who are ''in darkness.'' Chapter 3 continues this discussion, with a particular emphasis on love. This serves as a bridge, between John's descriptions of lives lived abiding either in darkness or light, to an explanation of how God's faithfulness gives us confidence as Christian believers.

First John seems to assume that the reader is familiar with the gospel. Rather than re-state these facts, John is concerned with building confidence in Christian believers. At the same time, his words encourage believers to examine their own lives for signs of their relationship with Christ. This letter also challenges false teachers and their incorrect claims about Jesus. Many themes are shared with the Gospel of John.

Accessed 4/29/2024 3:21:19 PM