Self-interpreting Bible

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1 John 3

1It is a mark of God's singular love toward us, that we are now called his sons, and designed for further happiness hereafter: 3and therefore we must obediently keep his commandments, 11and love one another with true brotherly kindness and actual beneficence.


1 aBEHOLD, what *manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, bthat we should be called the sons of God: therefore cthe world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

2 Beloved, dnow are we the sons of God, eand it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but fwe know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we gshall see him as he is.

3 And hevery man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, ieven as he is pure.

4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: jfor sin is the transgression of the law.

6 lWhosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

7 Little children, mlet no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

8 nHe that committeth sin is of the devil; for othe devil sinneth from the beginning. pFor this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

9 Whosoever is born of God qdoth not commit sin; for his rseed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

10 sIn this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

11 tFor this is the 1message that ye heard from the beginning, uthat we should love one another.

12 Not as vCain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.

13 Marvel not, my brethren, wif the world hate you.

14 xWe know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

15 yWhosoever hateth his brother is za murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.

16 aHereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and bwe ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

17 But cwhoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up dhis *bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

18 My little children, elet us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

19 fAnd hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall 2assure our hearts before him.

20 gFor if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

21 Beloved, hif our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

22 iAnd whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

23 And jthis is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, kand love one another, as he gave us commandment.

24 And lhe that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and mhe in him. nAnd hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.