1 John 3:2

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

1(See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children – and indeed we are! For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know him. Dear friends, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that whenever it is revealed we will be like him, because we will see him just as he is. 3And everyone who has this hope focused on him purifies himself, just as Jesus is pure). 4Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; indeed, sin is lawlessness.

1 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 3:1(See what sort of love the Father has given to us: that we should be called God’s children – and indeed we are! For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know him.
• 1 John 5:1Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been fathered by God, and everyone who loves the father loves the child fathered by him.
• Isaiah 56:5I will set up within my temple and my walls a monument that will be better than sons and daughters. I will set up a permanent monument for them that will remain.
• Romans 8:14For all who are led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God.
• Galatians 3:26For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.
• Galatians 4:6And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father!”
• Psalms 31:19How great is your favor, which you store up for your loyal followers! In plain sight of everyone you bestow it on those who take shelter in you.
• Romans 8:18For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us.
• 1 Corinthians 2:9But just as it is written, “Things that no eye has seen, or ear heard, or mind imagined, are the things God has prepared for those who love him.”
• 1 Corinthians 13:12For now we see in a mirror indirectly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I have been fully known.
• 2 Corinthians 4:17For our momentary, light suffering is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison
• Malachi 3:2Who can endure the day of his coming? Who can keep standing when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire, like a launderer’s soap.
• Colossians 3:4When Christ (who is your life) appears, then you too will be revealed in glory with him.
• Hebrews 9:28so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation.
• Psalms 17:15As for me, because I am innocent I will see your face; when I awake you will reveal yourself to me.
• Romans 8:29because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son 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

• Adoption
• Assurance
• Image
• Jesus Continued
• Righteous

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Sons of God
• Appear
• Assure
• Condemn
• Heaven
• Hope
• Pleasing
• Resurrection of Christ

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