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

1See how glorious a love the Father has given us, that we should be called God’s children—and so we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him. Loved ones, now we are God’s children; and it has not yet been revealed what we will be. But we do know that when it’s revealed, we shall be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 3Everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 4Everyone practicing 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 3:1See how glorious a love the Father has given us, that we should be called God’s children—and so we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.
• 1 John 5:1Everyone who believes that Yeshua is the Messiah is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves the one born of Him.
• Isaiah 56:5I will give to them in My House and within My walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters. I will give them an everlasting name that will not be cut off.
• Romans 8:14For all who are led by the Ruach Elohim, these are sons of God.
• Galatians 3:26For you are all sons of God through trusting in Messiah Yeshua.
• Galatians 4:6Now because you are sons, God sent the Ruach of His Son into our hearts, who cries out, “Abba! Father!”
• Psalms 31:19Let the lying lips be mute. For they speak arrogantly against the righteous, with pride and contempt.
• Romans 8:18For I consider the sufferings of this present time not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed to us.
• 1 Corinthians 2:9But as it is written, “Things no eye has seen and no ear has heard, that have not entered the heart of mankind— these things God has prepared for those who love Him.”
• 1 Corinthians 13:12For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.
• 2 Corinthians 4:17For our trouble, light and momentary, is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
• Malachi 3:2But who can endure the day of His coming? Or who can stand when He appears? For He will be like a refiner’s fire, and like soap for cleaning raw wool.
• Colossians 3:4When Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him, in glory!
• Hebrews 9:28so also Messiah, was offered once to bear the sins of many. He will appear a second time, apart from sin, to those eagerly awaiting Him for salvation.
• Psalms 17:15I in righteousness will behold Your face! When I awake, I will be satisfied with Your likeness.
• Romans 8:29For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, so that He might 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