God’s Word Translation
1 John 3:14
14We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love other believers. The person who doesn’t grow in love remains in death.
1 John 3:14 in other versions
- King James Version (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.
- New International Version (NIV)We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.
- English Standard Version (ESV)We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
- New King James Version (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.
Context of 1 John 3:14
12Don’t be like Cain. He was a child of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did Cain murder his brother? Because the things Cain did were evil and the things his brother did had God’s approval. 13Brothers and sisters, don’t be surprised if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love other believers. The person who doesn’t grow in love remains in death. 15Everyone who hates another believer is a murderer, and you know that a murderer doesn’t have eternal life. 16We understand what love is when we realize that Christ gave his life for us. That means we must give our lives for other believers.
Read all of 1 John 31 John 3:14 word by word
ἡμεῖς οἴδαμεν ὅτι μεταβεβήκαμεν ἐκ τοῦ θανάτου εἰς τὴν ζωήν, ὅτι ἀγαπῶμεν τοὺς ἀδελφούς· ὁ μὴ ἀγαπῶν μένει ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ.Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Weἐγώegō · I/weG1473
- knowεἴδωeidō · to perceive: understandG1492
- thatὅτιhoti · that/since: thatG3754
- we have passedμεταβαίνωmetabainō · to departG3327
- fromἐκek ex · out fromG1537
- deathὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
- deathθάνατοςthanatos · deathG2288
- untoεἰςeis · towardG1519
- lifeζωήzōē · lifeG2222
- becauseὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
- we loveἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
- the brethrenἀδελφόςadelphos · brotherG80
- notμήmē · notG3361
- abidethμένωmenō · to stayG3306
- inἐνen · in/on/amongG1722
Cross-references for 1 John 3:14
- 1 John 2:3We are sure that we know Christ if we obey his commandments.
- 1 John 5:2We know that we love God’s children when we love God by obeying his commandments.
- 2 Corinthians 5:1We know that if the life we live here on earth is ever taken down like a tent, we still have a building from God. It is an eternal house in heaven that isn’t made by human hands.
- Luke 15:24My son was dead and has come back to life. He was lost but has been found.’ Then they began to celebrate.
- John 5:24I can guarantee this truth: Those who listen to what I say and believe in the one who sent me will have eternal life. They won’t be judged because they have already passed from death to life.
- Ephesians 2:1You were once dead because of your failures and sins.
- 1 John 2:10Those who love other believers live in the light. Nothing will destroy the faith of those who live in the light.
- 1 John 3:23This is his commandment: to believe in his Son, the one named Jesus Christ, and to love each other as he commanded us.
- 1 John 4:7Dear friends, we must love each other because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born from God and knows God.
- Psalms 16:3Those who lead holy lives on earth are the noble ones who fill me with joy.
- Matthew 25:40“The king will answer them, ‘I can guarantee this truth: Whatever you did for one of my brothers or sisters, no matter how unimportant ⌞they seemed⌟, you did for me.’
- John 13:35Everyone will know that you are my disciples because of your love for each other.”
- John 15:12Love each other as I have loved you. This is what I’m commanding you to do.
- Galatians 5:22But the spiritual nature produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- Ephesians 1:15I, too, have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. For this reason
- Colossians 1:4We thank God because we have heard about your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people.
Commentaries on 1 John 3:14
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 14We know that we have passed from death unto life - Death and life are represented here as two distinct territories, states, or kingdoms, to either of which the inhabitants of either may be removed. This is implied in the term , from , denoting change of place, and , I go. It is the same figure which St. Paul uses, Colossians 1:13; : Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love. The believers…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 14We know that we have passed from death unto life - From spiritual death (Notes, Ephesians 2:1) to spiritual life; that is, that we are true Christians. Because we love the brethren - The sentiment here is, that it is an infallible evidence of true piety if we love the followers of Christ as such. See this sentiment illustrated in the notes at John 13:35. But how easy it would seem to be to apply such a test of piety as this! Who cannot judge accurately of…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-15Verses 11-15 We should love the Lord Jesus, value his love, and therefore love all our brethren in Christ. This love is the special fruit of our faith, and a certain sign of our being born again. But none who rightly know the heart of man, can wonder at the contempt and enmity of ungodly people against the children of God. We know that we are passed from death to life: we may know it by the evidences of our faith in Christ, of which love to our brethren…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 14Having love for our fellow Christians is clear evidence that we have been born again and will have eternal life instead of death and judgment (see Romans 6:23; James 5:20; Revelation 21:8).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1414. We--emphatical; hated though we be by the world, we know what the world knows not. know--as an assured fact. passed--changed our state. Col 1:13, "from the power of darkness ... translated into the kingdom of His dear Son." from death unto life--literally, "out of the death (which enthrals the unregenerate) into the life (of the regenerate)." A palpable coincidence of language and thought, the beloved disciple adopting his Lord's words. because we…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 John 3:14
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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