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 Living Translation (NLT)Dear friends, if we don’t feel guilty, we can come to God with bold confidence.

Context of 1 John 3:21

19And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. 20For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. 22And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight. 23And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us 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, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
• 1 John 4:17Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
• Job 22:26For then you will have your delight in the Almighty, And lift up your face to God.
• Job 27:6My righteousness I hold fast, and will not let it go; My heart shall not reproach me as long as I live.
• Psalms 7:3O Lord my God, if I have done this: If there is iniquity in my hands,
• Psalms 101:2I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
• 1 Corinthians 4:4For I know of nothing against myself, yet I am not justified by this; but He who judges me is the Lord.
• 2 Corinthians 1:12For our boasting is this: the testimony of our conscience that we conducted ourselves in the world in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom but by the grace of God, and more abundantly toward you.
• 1 Timothy 2:8I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting;
• Hebrews 4:16Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
• Hebrews 10:22let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with 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
• Appear
• Assure
• Condemn
• Pleasing
• Sin
• Word
• Confidence
• 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