1 John 3:14

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.
• 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.
• New Living Translation (NLT)If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.

Context of 1 John 3:14

12Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous. 13Do not be surprised, my brothers and sisters, if the world hates you. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death. 15Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. 16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

1 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 know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.
• 1 John 5:2This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.
• 2 Corinthians 5:1For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
• Luke 15:24For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
• John 5:24“Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life.
• Ephesians 2:1As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,
• 1 John 2:10Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.
• 1 John 3:23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
• 1 John 4:7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
• Psalms 16:3I say of the holy people who are in the land, “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
• Matthew 25:40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
• John 13:35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
• John 15:12My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
• Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• Ephesians 1:15For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,
• Colossians 1:4because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all 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

• Assurance
• Commandments
• Fellowship
• Hatred
• Love
• Malice
• Regeneration
• Righteous
• Righteousness
• Wicked (People)

In the dictionaries

• Appear
• Assurance
• Assure
• Condemn
• Pleasing
• Regeneration
• Sin
• Word
• Brotherly Kindness; Brotherly Love
• Ethics

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