1 John 3:16

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 3:16-17

The nature of love as shown by Christ, and its obligation on Christians. Love has been declared the criterion for distinguishing the children of God from the children of the devil. It remains to show what love is; and this is best seen in a concrete example. "The Eternal Word, incarnate and dying for the truth, inspires St. John to guard it with apostolic chivalry; but also this revelation of the heart of God melts him into tenderness towards the race which Jesus has loved so well. To St. John... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 3:16-18

Love others, for God hath loved thee! Connecting link: The great contrast has been presented between the love abiding in those who have passed from death unto life and the enmity abiding in the world. That hatred has been illustrated by a reference to Cain, and believers are told they must not be surprised if the murderous spirit still survives. The apostle then reverts to his favourite theme—love. He seems to say, "As for us, we have learnt a different lesson. We have come to know ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 3:16-18

The exhibition and obligation of true love. "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us," etc. Our subject naturally divides itself into two main branches. I. THE EXHIBITION OF THE NATURE OF TRUE LOVE . "Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us." "The meaning is not," as Ebrard says, "wherein we (subjectively) have perceived love, but in what (objectively) the nature of love consists." 1 . It is of the nature of love... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 3:16

Hereby perceive we the love of God - The words “of God” are not in the original, and should not have been introduced into the translation, though they are found in the Latin Vulgate, and in the Genevan versions, and in one manuscript. They would naturally convey the idea that “God” laid down his life for us; or that God himself, in his divine nature, suffered. But this idea is not expressed in this passage as it is in the original, and of course no argument can be derived from it either to... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 John 3:16-17

1 John 3:16-17. Hereby perceive we the love of God The word God is not in the original: it seems to be omitted by the apostle just as the name of Jesus is omitted by Mary, when she says to the gardener Sir, if thou hast borne him hence, &c., John 20:15; in which place there is a very emphatical language, even in silence. It declares how totally her thoughts were possessed by the blessed and glorious subject. It expresses also the superlative dignity and amiableness of the person... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:11-24

God’s children love one another (3:11-24)Since Christians do what is right and refuse what is wrong, their lives will be characterized by love. But the world will not respond kindly to their goodness, just as Cain did not respond kindly to Abel’s (11-12). When sinners are shamed by the uprightness of others, the outcome usually is that they hate them for it (13). Hate produces murder, and murder is obviously not a characteristic of the Christian (14-15).Those who have genuine love, instead of... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 John 3:16

Hereby = In ( App-104 .) this. perceive we = we know, as in 1 John 3:1 . life . App-110 . See John 10:15 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 John 3:16

Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.In such a verse as this the unattainability of the full Christian ideal is starkly clear. John did not here command Christians to lay down their lives for each other, but he thundered the principle that they ought to do it. Why? Because Christ did so for us. If the exhibition of such a love as this is the final test to be met before one can be saved, we must be convinced that heaven is... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 John 3:16

1 John 3:16. Hereby perceive we the love of God,— This text, as it stands in our version, has generally been mentioned as equivalent to Acts 20:28. In which, as he who laid down his life for us, is God as well as man, God is said to have done that, which the man united to him did. The verse may be thus paraphrased: "How contrary is this unmerciful temper to that which God the Son has shewn towards us: we may conceive something of the greatness of his compassionate love, from the most... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 John 3:16

16. What true love to the brethren is, illustrated by the love of Christ to us. Hereby—Greek, "Herein." the love of God —The words "of God" are not in the original. Translate, "We arrive at the knowledge of love"; we apprehend what true love is. he—Christ. and we—on our part, if absolutely needed for the glory of God, the good of the Church, or the salvation of a brother. lives—Christ alone laid down His one life for us all; we ought to lay down our lives severally for the lives of the... read more

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