Christian Standard Bible
1 John 3:2
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.
1 John 3:2 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
- New International Version (NIV)Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
Context of 1 John 3:2
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. Dear 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. 4Everyone who commits sin practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.
Read all of 1 John 31 John 3:2 word by word
Ἀγαπητοί, νῦν τέκνα θεοῦ ἐσμεν, καὶ οὔπω ἐφανερώθη τί ἐσόμεθα· οἴδαμεν ὅτι ἐὰν φανερωθῇ, ὅμοιοι αὐτῷ ἐσόμεθα, ὅτι ὀψόμεθα αὐτὸν καθώς ἐστιν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Belovedἀγαπητόςagapētos · belovedG27
- nowνῦνnun · nowG3568
- are weεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- the sonsτέκνονteknon · childG5043
- of Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316
- andκαίkai · andG2532
- it dothφανερόωphaneroō · to revealG5319
- not yetοὔπωoupō · not yetG3768
- whatτίςtis · which?G5101
- butδέde · thenG1161
- we knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- whenἐάνean · ifG1437
- likeὅμοιοςhomoios · likeG3664
- himαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- we shall seeὁράωhoraō · to see: seeG3708
- asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
Cross-references for 1 John 3:2
- 1 John 3:1See 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 5:1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father also loves the one born of him.
- Isaiah 56:5I will give them, in my house and within my walls, a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give each of them an everlasting name that will never be cut off.
- Romans 8:14For all those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons.
- Galatians 3:26for through faith you are all sons of God in Christ Jesus.
- Galatians 4:6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!”
- 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.
- Romans 8:18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
- 1 Corinthians 2:9But as it is written, What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived — God has prepared these things for those who love him.
- 1 Corinthians 13:12For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, as I am fully known.
- 2 Corinthians 4:17For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.
- Malachi 3:2But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will be able to stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire and like launderer’s bleach.
- Colossians 3:4When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
- Hebrews 9:28so also Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
- Psalms 17:15But I will see your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied with your presence.
- Romans 8:29For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
Commentaries on 1 John 3:2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2Now are we the sons of God - He speaks of those who are begotten of God, and who work righteousness. See the preceding chapter. And it doth not yet appear what we shall be - · It is not yet manifest; though we know that we are the children of God, we do not know that state of glorious excellence to which, as such, we shall be raised. When he shall appear - · When he shall be manifested; i.e., when he comes the second time, and shall be manifested in his…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God - We now in fact sustain this rank and dignity, and on that we may reflect with pleasure and gratitude. It is in itself an exalted honor, and may be contemplated as such, whatever may be true in regard to what is to come. In the dignity and the privileges which we now enjoy, we may find a grateful subject of reflection, and a cause of thankfulness, even if we should look to nothing beyond, or when we contemplate the…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. 22. Beloved--by the Father, and therefore by me. now--in contrast to "not yet." We now already are really sons, though not recognized as such by the world, and (as the consequence) we look for the visible manifestation of our sonship, which not yet has taken place. doth not yet appear--Greek, "it hath not yet ('at any time,' Greek aorist) been visibly manifested what we shall be"--what further glory we shall attain by virtue of this our sonship. The "what"…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 John 3:2
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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