God’s Word Translation
1 John 3:2
2Dear friends, now we are God’s children. What we will be isn’t completely clear yet. We do know that when Christ 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
1Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are. For this reason the world doesn’t recognize us, and it didn’t recognize him either. Dear friends, now we are God’s children. What we will be isn’t completely clear yet. We do know that when Christ appears we will be like him because we will see him as he is. 3So all people who have this confidence in Christ keep themselves pure, as Christ is pure. 4Those who live sinful lives are disobeying God. Sin is disobedience.
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 3:1Consider this: The Father has given us his love. He loves us so much that we are actually called God’s dear children. And that’s what we are. For this reason the world doesn’t recognize us, and it didn’t recognize him either.
- 1 John 5:1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Messiah has been born from God. Everyone who loves the Father also loves his children.
- Isaiah 56:5Inside my house and within my walls, I will give them something better than sons and daughters. I will give them a monument and a name. I will give them a permanent name that will not be forgotten.
- Romans 8:14Certainly, all who are guided by God’s Spirit are God’s children.
- Galatians 3:26You are all God’s children by believing in Christ Jesus.
- Galatians 4:6Because you are God’s children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into us to call out, “Abba! Father!”
- Psalms 31:19Your kindness is so great! You reserve it for those who fear you. Adam’s descendants watch as you show it to those who take refuge in you.
- Romans 8:18I consider our present sufferings insignificant compared to the glory that will soon be revealed to us.
- 1 Corinthians 2:9But as Scripture says: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined the things that God has prepared for those who love him.”
- 1 Corinthians 13:12Now we see a blurred image in a mirror. Then we will see very clearly. Now my knowledge is incomplete. Then I will have complete knowledge as God has complete knowledge of me.
- 2 Corinthians 4:17Our suffering is light and temporary and is producing for us an eternal glory that is greater than anything we can imagine.
- Malachi 3:2But who will be able to endure the day he comes? Who will be able to survive on the day he appears? He is like a purifying fire and like a cleansing soap.
- Colossians 3:4Christ is your life. When he appears, then you, too, will appear with him in glory.
- Hebrews 9:28Likewise, Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of humanity, and after that he will appear a second time. This time he will not deal with sin, but he will save those who eagerly wait for him.
- Psalms 17:15I will see your face when I am declared innocent. When I wake up, I will be satisfied ⌞with seeing⌟ you.
- Romans 8:29This is true because he already knew his people and had already appointed them to have the same form as the image of his Son. Therefore, his Son is the firstborn among many children.
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
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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