English Standard Version
1 John 3:23
23And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
1 John 3:23 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
- New International Version (NIV)And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
- New King James Version (NKJV)And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
- New Living Translation (NLT)And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.
Context of 1 John 3:23
21Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Read all of 1 John 31 John 3:23 word by word
καὶ αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἐντολὴ αὐτοῦ ἵνα πιστεύσωμεν τῷ ὀνόματι τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ καὶ ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους καθὼς ἔδωκεν ἐντολὴν ἡμῖν.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Andκαίkai · andG2532
- thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
- isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
- hisαὐτόςautos · it/s/heG846
- commandmentὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- commandmentἐντολήentolē · commandmentG1785
- Thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
- we should believeπιστεύωpisteuō · to trust (in)G4100
- on the nameὄνομαonoma · nameG3686
- Sonυἱόςuihos · sonG5207
- JesusἸησοῦςIēsous · JesusG2424
- ChristΧριστόςChristos · ChristG5547
- loveἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
- one anotherἀλλήλωνallēlōn · one anotherG240
- asκαθώςkathōs · as/just asG2531
- he gaveδίδωμιdidōmi · to giveG1325
- usἐγώegō · I/weG1473
Cross-references for 1 John 3:23
- Deuteronomy 18:15"The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers—it is to him you shall listen—
- Psalms 2:12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
- Mark 9:7And a cloud overshadowed them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son; listen to him."
- John 6:29Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent."
- John 14:1"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
- John 17:3And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
- Acts 16:31And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
- 1 Timothy 1:15The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
- 1 John 3:11For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
- 1 John 2:8At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true light is already shining.
- 1 John 4:21And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
- Matthew 22:39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
- John 13:34A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
- John 15:12"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
- Ephesians 5:2And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
- 1 Thessalonians 4:9Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,
Commentaries on 1 John 3:23
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23That we should believe on the name of his Son - We are commanded to believe on Christ, that for the sake of his passion and death we may be justified from all things from which we could not be justified by the law of Moses; and being through him redeemed from the guilt of sin, restored to the Divine favor, and made partakers of the Holy Ghost, we are enabled to love one another as he gave us commandment; for without a renewal of the heart, love to God and…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23And this is his commandment - His commandment, by way of eminence; the leading, principal thing which he enjoins on us; the commandment which lies at the foundation of all true obedience. That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ - See the notes at Mark 16:16. Compare John 16:1; Acts 16:31. And love one another - This follows from the other, and hence they are mentioned as together constituting his commandment. Notes, John 13:35.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 22-24Verses 22-24 When believers had confidence towards God, through the Spirit of adoption, and by faith in the great High Priest, they might ask what they would of their reconciled Father. They would receive it, if good for them. And as good-will to men was proclaimed from heaven, so good-will to men, particularly to the brethren, must be in the hearts of those who go to God and heaven. He who thus follows Christ, dwells in Him as his ark, refuge, and rest…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23-24John gives a new way to recognize who has the Spirit. The Spirit does not belong only to a small group of people who claim to have special knowledge but do not show changed lives. Instead, the Spirit comes to all believers and leads them to live in obedience as followers of Christ (Galatians 5:22–23).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2323. Summing up of God's commandments under the Gospel dispensation in one commandment. this is his commandment--singular: for faith and love are not separate commandments, but are indissolubly united. We cannot truly love one another without faith in Christ, nor can we truly believe in Him without love. believe--once for all; Greek aorist. on the name of his Son--on all that is revealed in the Gospel concerning Him, and on Himself in respect to His…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 John 3:23
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
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries