Already reading God's Word on Bible Gateway? Bible Gateway Plus builds on that experience with trusted Study Bibles and commentaries alongside every book, chapter, and verse.
Log In/Sign Up

#
1 John 3
New International Version

3 See what great love(A) the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!(B) And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.(C) 2 Dear friends,(D) now we are children of God,(E) and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears,[a](F) we shall be like him,(G) for we shall see him as he is.(H) 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves,(I) just as he is pure.(J)

4 Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness.(K) 5 But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.(L) And in him is no sin.(M) 6 No one who lives in him keeps on sinning.(N) No one who continues to sin has either seen him(O) or known him.(P)

7 Dear children,(Q) do not let anyone lead you astray.(R) The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.(S) 8 The one who does what is sinful is of the devil,(T) because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God(U) appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.(V) 9 No one who is born of God(W) will continue to sin,(X) because God’s seed(Y) remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God. 10 This is how we know who the children of God(Z) are and who the children of the devil(AA) are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love(AB) their brother and sister.(AC)

### More on Love and Hatred

11 For this is the message you heard(AD) from the beginning:(AE) We should love one another.(AF) 12 Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one(AG) and murdered his brother.(AH) And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.(AI) 13 Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters,[b] if the world hates you.(AJ) 14 We know that we have passed from death to life,(AK) because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.(AL) 15 Anyone who hates a brother or sister(AM) is a murderer,(AN) and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him.(AO)

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.(AP) And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.(AQ) 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them,(AR) how can the love of God be in that person?(AS) 18 Dear children,(AT) let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.(AU)

19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends,(AV) if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God(AW) 22 and receive from him anything we ask,(AX) because we keep his commands(AY) and do what pleases him.(AZ) 23 And this is his command: to believe(BA) in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,(BB) and to love one another as he commanded us.(BC) 24 The one who keeps God’s commands(BD) lives in him,(BE) and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.(BF)

#### Footnotes

1. 1 John 3:2 Or when it is made known
2. 1 John 3:13 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God’s family; also in verse 16.

#### Cross references

1. 1 John 3:1 : S Jn 3:16
2. 1 John 3:1 : ver 2, 10; S Jn 1:12
3. 1 John 3:1 : Jn 15:21; 16:3
4. 1 John 3:2 : S 1Co 10:14
5. 1 John 3:2 : ver 1, 10; S Jn 1:12
6. 1 John 3:2 : Col 3:4; 1Jn 2:28
7. 1 John 3:2 : Ro 8:29; 2Pe 1:4
8. 1 John 3:2 : Ps 17:15; Jn 17:24; 2Co 3:18
9. 1 John 3:3 : 2Co 7:1; 2Pe 3:13, 14
10. 1 John 3:3 : Ps 18:26
11. 1 John 3:4 : 1Jn 5:17
12. 1 John 3:5 : ver 8; S Jn 3:17
13. 1 John 3:5 : S 2Co 5:21
14. 1 John 3:6 : ver 9; 1Jn 5:18
15. 1 John 3:6 : 3Jn 11
16. 1 John 3:6 : S 1Jn 2:4
17. 1 John 3:7 : S 1Jn 2:1
18. 1 John 3:7 : 1Jn 2:26
19. 1 John 3:7 : 1Jn 2:29
20. 1 John 3:8 : ver 10; Jn 8:44
21. 1 John 3:8 : S Mt 4:3
22. 1 John 3:8 : Heb 2:14
23. 1 John 3:9 : S Jn 1:13
24. 1 John 3:9 : ver 6; Ps 119:3; 1Jn 5:18
25. 1 John 3:9 : 1Pe 1:23
26. 1 John 3:10 : ver 1, 2; S Jn 1:12
27. 1 John 3:10 : ver 8
28. 1 John 3:10 : 1Jn 4:8
29. 1 John 3:10 : S 1Jn 2:9
30. 1 John 3:11 : 1Jn 1:5
31. 1 John 3:11 : S 1Jn 2:7
32. 1 John 3:11 : Jn 13:34, 35; 15:12; 1Jn 4:7, 11, 21; 2Jn 5
33. 1 John 3:12 : S Mt 5:37
34. 1 John 3:12 : Ge 4:8
35. 1 John 3:12 : Ps 38:20; Pr 29:10
36. 1 John 3:13 : Jn 15:18, 19; 17:14
37. 1 John 3:14 : Jn 5:24
38. 1 John 3:14 : S 1Jn 2:9
39. 1 John 3:15 : S 1Jn 2:9
40. 1 John 3:15 : Mt 5:21, 22; Jn 8:44
41. 1 John 3:15 : Gal 5:20, 21; Rev 21:8
42. 1 John 3:16 : Jn 10:11
43. 1 John 3:16 : Jn 15:13; Php 2:17; 1Th 2:8
44. 1 John 3:17 : Dt 15:7, 8; Jas 2:15, 16
45. 1 John 3:17 : 1Jn 4:20
46. 1 John 3:18 : S 1Jn 2:1
47. 1 John 3:18 : Eze 33:31; Ro 12:9
48. 1 John 3:21 : S 1Co 10:14
49. 1 John 3:21 : S Eph 3:12; 1Jn 5:14
50. 1 John 3:22 : S Mt 7:7
51. 1 John 3:22 : S Jn 14:15
52. 1 John 3:22 : Jn 8:29; Heb 13:21
53. 1 John 3:23 : Jn 6:29
54. 1 John 3:23 : S Lk 24:47; Jn 1:12; 3:18; 20:31; 1Co 6:11; 1Jn 5:13
55. 1 John 3:23 : S Jn 13:34
56. 1 John 3:24 : 1Jn 2:3
57. 1 John 3:24 : 1Jn 2:6; 4:15
58. 1 John 3:24 : 1Th 4:8; 1Jn 4:13

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.

### More on the NIV

- Unleash God's Word!

#### Bible Gateway Recommends

NIV, The Woman's Study Bible, Full-Color, Red Letter: Receiving God's Truth for Balance, Hope, and Transformation
Retail: $49.99
Our Price: $34.99
Save: $15.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible, Red Letter Edition: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Radiant Virtues Bible: A Beautiful Word Collection, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print: Explore the virtues of faith, hope, and love
Retail: $69.98
Our Price: $48.99
Save: $20.99 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, Artisan Collection Bible, Gilded Edges, Red Letter Edition, Comfort Print
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
NIV, The Story, Hardcover, Comfort Print: The Bible as One Continuing Story of God and His People
Retail: $19.98
Our Price: $7.50
Save: $12.48 (62%)
Buy Now
NIV, Lucado Encouraging Word Bible, Comfort Print: Holy Bible, New International Version
Retail: $59.99
Our Price: $41.99
Save: $18.00 (30%)
Buy Now
View more titles