1 John 3:21

1 John 3:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
• New International Version (NIV)Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God
• English Standard Version (ESV)Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
• New King James Version (NKJV)Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God.

Context of 1 John 3:21

19And by this we will know that we are of the truth and will convince our conscience in his presence, 20that if our conscience condemns us, that God is greater than our conscience and knows all things. Dear friends, if our conscience does not condemn us, we have confidence in the presence of God, 22and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing to him. 23Now this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he gave us the commandment.

1 John 3:21 word by word

Ἀγαπητοί, ἐὰν ἡ καρδία ἡμῶν μὴ καταγινώσκῃ παρρησίαν ἔχομεν πρὸς τὸν θεόν,Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Belovedἀγαπητόςagapētos · belovedG27
• ifἐάνean · ifG1437
• ourἐγώegō · I/weG1473
• heartὁho hē to · the/this/whoG3588
• heartκαρδίαkardia · heartG2588
• condemnκαταγινώσκωkataginōskō · to condemnG2607
• notμήmē · notG3361
• have weἔχωechō · to have/beG2192
• confidenceπαρρησίαparrhēsia · boldnessG3954
• towardπρόςpros · to/withG4314
• Godθεόςtheos · GodG2316

Cross-references for 1 John 3:21

• 1 John 2:28And now, little children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame when he comes back.
• 1 John 4:17By this love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because just as Jesus is, so also are we in this world.
• Job 22:26Surely then you will delight yourself in the Almighty, and will lift up your face toward God.
• Job 27:6I will maintain my righteousness and never let it go; my conscience will not reproach me for as long as I live.
• Psalms 7:3O Lord my God, if I have done what they say, or am guilty of unjust actions,
• Psalms 101:2I will walk in the way of integrity. When will you come to me? I will conduct my business with integrity in the midst of my palace.
• 1 Corinthians 4:4For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord.
• 2 Corinthians 1:12For our reason for confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that with pure motives and sincerity which are from God – not by human wisdom but by the grace of God – we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you.
• 1 Timothy 2:8So I want the men to pray in every place, lifting up holy hands without anger or dispute.
• Hebrews 4:16Therefore let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace whenever we need help.
• Hebrews 10:22let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings, because we have had our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.

Commentaries on 1 John 3:21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21If our heart condemn us not - If we be conscious to ourselves of our own sincerity, that we practice not deceit, and use no mask, then have we confidence toward God - we can appeal to him for our sincerity, and we can come with boldness to the throne of grace, to obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. And therefore says the apostle,Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21Beloved, if our heart condemn us not - If we so live as to have an approving conscience - that is, if we indulge in no secret sin; if we discharge faithfully every known duty; if we submit without complaining to all the allotments of Divine Providence. Then have we confidence toward God - Compare the 1 John 3:19; 1 John 2:28 notes; Acts 24:16 note. The apostle evidently does not mean that we have confidence toward God on the ground of what we do, as if it…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-21Verses 16-21 Here is the condescension, the miracle, the mystery of Divine love, that God would redeem the church with his own blood. Surely we should love those whom God has loved, and so loved. The Holy Spirit, grieved at selfishness, will leave the selfish heart without comfort, and full of darkness and terror. By what can it be known that a man has a true sense of the love of Christ for perishing sinners, or that the love of God has been planted in…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-22Those who truly love (3:16–18) can feel confident that God accepts them. This kind of love shows that their faith is real and that they have new life in Christ (see 4:7–8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2121. Beloved--There is no "But" contrasting the two cases, 1Jo 3:20, 21, because "Beloved" sufficiently marks the transition to the case of the brethren walking in the full confidence of love (1Jo 3:18). The two results of our being able to "assure our hearts before Him" (1Jo 3:19), and of "our heart condemning us not" (of insincerity as to the truth in general, and as to LOVE in particular) are, (1) confidence toward God; (2) a sure answer to our prayers…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 John 3:21

• Commandments
• Conscience
• Faith
• Righteousness

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Appear
• Assure
• Condemn
• Pleasing
• Sin
• Word
• Condemn; Condemnation
• Confidence

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