Christian Standard Bible
1 John 3:1
1See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children — and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him.
1 John 3:1 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)See what great love the Father has lavished on 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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.
Context of 1 John 3:1
See what great love the Father has given us that we should be called God’s children — and we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it didn’t know him. 2Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears, we will be like him because we will see him as he is. 3And everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself just as he is pure.
Read all of 1 John 31 John 3:1 word by word
ἴδετε ποταπὴν ἀγάπην δέδωκεν ἡμῖν ὁ πατήρ, ἵνα τέκνα θεοῦ κληθῶμεν καὶ ἐσμέν. διὰ τοῦτο ὁ κόσμος οὐ γινώσκει ἡμᾶς, ὅτι οὐκ ἔγνω αὐτόν.¶Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Beholdὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- what manner ofποταπόςpotapos · of what kind?G4217
- loveἀγάπηagapē · loveG26
- the Fatherὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- the Fatherπατήρpatēr · fatherG3962
- hath bestowedδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- upon usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- we should be calledκαλέωkaleō · to call: callG2564
- the sonsτέκνονteknon · childG5043
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- thereforeδιάdia · through/because ofG1223
- ·οὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- the worldκόσμοςkosmos · worldG2889
- knowethγινώσκωginōskō · to knowG1097
- notοὐou · noG3756
- becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
Cross-references for 1 John 3:1
- 1 John 4:9God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his one and only Son into the world so that we might live through him.
- 2 Samuel 7:19What you have done so far was a little thing to you, Lord God, for you have also spoken about your servant’s house in the distant future. And this is a revelation for mankind, Lord God.
- Psalms 31:19How great is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you. In the presence of everyone you have acted for those who take refuge in you.
- Psalms 36:7How priceless your faithful love is, God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
- Psalms 89:1I will sing about the Lord’s faithful love forever; I will proclaim your faithfulness to all generations with my mouth.
- John 3:16For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
- Romans 5:8But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
- Romans 8:32He did not even spare his own Son but gave him up for us all. How will he not also with him grant us everything?
- Ephesians 2:4But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,
- Ephesians 3:18may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the length and width, height and depth of God’s love,
- Jeremiah 3:19I thought, “How I long to make you my sons and give you a desirable land, the most beautiful inheritance of all the nations.” I thought, “You will call me ‘My Father’ and never turn away from me.”
- Hosea 1:10Yet the number of the Israelites will be like the sand of the sea, which cannot be measured or counted. And in the place where they were told: You are not my people, they will be called: Sons of the living God.
- John 1:12But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name,
- Romans 8:14For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.
- Romans 9:25As it also says in Hosea, I will call Not My People, My People, and she who is Unloved, Beloved.
- 2 Corinthians 6:18And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.
Commentaries on 1 John 3:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Behold, what manner of love - Whole volumes might be written upon this and the two following verses, without exhausting the extraordinary subject contained in them, viz., the love of God to man. The apostle himself, though evidently filled with God, and walking in the fullness of his light, does not attempt to describe it; he calls on the world and the Church to behold it, to look upon it, to contemplate it, and wonder at it. What manner of love. - · What…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Behold, what manner of love - What love, in “kind” and in “degree.” In kind the most tender and the most ennobling, in adopting us into His family, and in permitting us to address Him as our Father; in “degree” the most exalted, since there is no higher love that can be shown than in adopting a poor and friendless orphan, and giving him a parent and a home. Even God could bestow upon us no more valuable token of affection than that we should be adopted…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1Chapter Outline The apostle admires the love of God in making believers his children. (1-2) The purifying influence of the hope of seeing Christ, and the danger of pretending to this, and living in sin. (3-10) Love to the brethren is the character of real Christians. (11-15) That love described by its actings. (16-21) The advantage of faith, love, and obedience. (22-24) Verses 1-2 Little does the world know of the happiness of the real followers of…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-3When Christ returns, we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. God’s children bear the image of Christ and will share in his glory (see Romans 8:18–30). Those who have this hope keep themselves pure, seeking to become more like Christ as they await his glorious return. It is partly for this reason that God’s children will not be ashamed when Christ comes (1 John 2:29).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-241Jo 3:1-24. Distinguishing Marks of the Children of God and the Children of the Devil. Brotherly Love the Essence of True Righteousness. 1. Behold--calling attention, as to some wonderful exhibition, little as the world sees to admire. This verse is connected with the previous 1Jo 2:29, thus: All our doing of righteousness is a mere sign that God, of His matchless love, has adopted us as children; it does not save us, but is a proof that we are saved of…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 John 3:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 John 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Calvin’s Commentaries
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Illustrated New Testament
- Burkitt’s Expository Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Family Bible Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Luther’s Commentary on Selected Bible Passages
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- The People’s New Testament
- Robertson’s Word Pictures
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
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