1 John 3:11

1 John 3:11 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
• New International Version (NIV)For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,

Context of 1 John 3:11

9Everyone who has been fathered by God does not practice sin, because God’s seed resides in him, and thus he is not able to sin, because he has been fathered by God. 10By this the children of God and the children of the devil are revealed: Everyone who does not practice righteousness – the one who does not love his fellow Christian – is not of God. For this is the gospel message that you have heard from the beginning: that we should love one another, 12not like Cain who was of the evil one and brutally murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his deeds were evil, but his brother’s were righteous. 13Therefore do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.

1 John 3:11 word by word

ὅτι αὕτη ἐστὶν ἡ ἀγγελία ἣν ἠκούσατε ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς ἵνα ἀγαπῶμεν ἀλλήλους·Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Forὅτιhoti · that/since: sinceG3754
• thisοὗτοςhoutos houtoi hautē hautai · this/he/she/itG3778
• isεἰμίeimi · to beG1510
• the messageὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• the messageἀγγελίαaggelia · messageG31
• thatὅςhos hē ho · whichG3739
• ye heardἀκούωakouō · to hearG191
• fromἀπόapo · away fromG575
• the beginningἀρχήarchē · beginningG746
• thatἵναhina · in order that/toG2443
• we should loveἀγαπάωagapaō · to loveG25
• one anotherἀλλήλωνallēlōn · one anotherG240

Cross-references for 1 John 3:11

• 1 John 1:5Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
• 1 John 2:7Dear friends, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word that you have already heard.
• 1 Timothy 1:5But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.
• 1 John 4:7Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God.
• John 13:34“I give you a new commandment – to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
• John 15:12My commandment is this – to love one another just as I have loved you.
• Galatians 6:2Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
• Ephesians 5:2and live in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:9Now on the topic of brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.
• 1 Peter 1:22You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart.
• 1 Peter 3:8Finally, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, affectionate, compassionate, and humble.
• 1 Peter 4:8Above all keep your love for one another fervent, because love covers a multitude of sins.
• 2 John 1:5But now I ask you, lady (not as if I were writing a new commandment to you, but the one we have had from the beginning), that we love one another.

Commentaries on 1 John 3:11

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 11For this is the message - See 1 John 1:5. From the beginning God hath taught men that they should love one another. How essentially necessary this is to the comfort and well-being of man in this state of trial and difficulty, every sensible man must see. All are dependent upon all; all upon each, and each upon all. Mutual love makes this dependence pleasant and doubly profitable. Nothing can be more pleasing to an ingenuous and generous mind than to…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 11For this is the message - Margin, “commandment.” In the received text, this is ̓́ angelia- “a message brought;” in several manuscripts, and in later editions, it is ̓́ epangelia- “annunciation, announcement;” an order given, or a commandment, Acts 23:21. It is not very material which reading is followed. The word “command” or “rule” would express the sense with sufficient clearness. The reference is to the law given by the Saviour as a permanent direction…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. 11-22John now emphasizes that Christians need to love one another (see John 13:34).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1111. the message--"announcement," as of something good; not a mere command, as the law. The Gospel message of Him who loved us, announced by His servants, is, that we love the brethren; not here all mankind, but those who are our brethren in Christ, children of the same family of God, of whom we have been born anew.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 3:11

• Commandments
• Love
• Righteousness
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Appear
• Assure
• Condemn
• Pleasing
• Sin
• Word
• Brotherly Kindness; Brotherly Love
• Ethics
• John, the Epistles of

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