1 John 3:16

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 3:10-23

C. Learning to See Christian Love 3:10b-23John has made clear that the only basis on which a Christian can be identified (manifested) as such is by his or her righteous behavior. Christians are not manifested by the absence of sin in them; he never says this. The next question that John proceeded to respond to is, How can we identify "righteousness?" John’s response was, It is not seen in morality-unbelievers can be moral-but in brotherly love. In this section, as in the one preceding it and in... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 3:16

In contrast to the murderer Cain’s act, we see love in Jesus Christ’s laying down His life for us (cf. John 10:11). This is the opposite of taking another person’s life, as Cain did. Jesus Christ laid down His life once, and we ought to lay down our lives repeatedly in self-sacrificing love, as the tenses of the Greek verbs suggest."Most people associate Christianity with the command to love, and so they think that they know all about Christianity when they have understood its teaching in terms... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 John 3:16-18

2. What Love Is 3:16-18If hatred of a brother Christian is the antithesis of eternal life, what does true Christian love look like? John proceeded to explain. read more

John Darby

Darby's Synopsis of the New Testament - 1 John 3:16

3:16 known (g-4) Perfect tense, as ch. 2.3. read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 3:1-24

The Righteousness of God and the Duties and Privileges of Sonship1. The sons of God] RV ’children of God,’ adding the words, ’and such we are.’ The word translated ’children’ here is characteristic of St. John, and implies community of nature, whereas the term ’sons’ as used by St. Paul suggests the privileged condition of heirship. 2. Note changes in RV. 3. This hope] of being hereafter like God in Christ.In him] RV ’set on him.’ Purifieth himself] ’He who looks forward to becoming like God... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 John 3:11-18

(4) BROTHERLY LOVE THE NECESSARY FLOWER OF THE DIVINE LOVE IN THE DIVINE BIRTH (1 John 3:11-18).—In 1 John 2:10 St. John showed the necessary connection between righteousness and love; there is no contradiction between the two: the one is necessary to the other. Justice will become sternness without love; love will be weakness without justice. The two thoughts are introduced and connected in both halves of the Epistles. (See 1 John 2:3-11.) Here the duty of love is still more strongly insisted... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 John 3:1-24

Sons of God 1 John 3:1 I. The grandest Title. Men will do much and endure many things for the sake of worldly honour. A man will work hard and deny himself, that he may obtain a title, or receive some cross or order from the hands of his sovereign. But these things do not last, the honour of a peerage cannot prolong a life, and the Victoria Cross, or the glittering order, must be laid on a coffin one day. The grandest title is that which the Father bestows upon us the sons of God. It means... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:16-18

Chapter 13LOFTY IDEALS PERILOUS UNLESS APPLIED1 John 3:16-18Even the world sees that the Incarnation of Jesus Christ has very practical results. Even the Christmas which the world keeps is fruitful in two of these results- forgiving and giving. How many of the multitudinous letters at that season contain one or other of these things-either the kindly gift, or the tender of reconciliation; the confession "I was wrong," or the gentle advance "we were both wrong." Love, charity (as we rather... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 John 3:1-18

IV. RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LOVE AS MANIFESTED BY THE CHILDREN OF GOD CHAPTERS 2:28-3:18 1. The children of God and their coming manifestation (1 John 2:28 -1 John 3:3 ) 2. Sin and the new nature (1 John 3:4-9 ) 3. Righteousness and love (1 John 3:10-18 ) 1 John 2:28 -1 John 3:3 . The address to the babes in Christ ended with the 27th verse, and now once more he speaks of the teknia, the little children, by which all believers are meant. The exhortation has been much misunderstood. It does not... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 John 3:16

3:16 {16} Hereby perceive we the love [of God], because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down [our] lives for the brethren.(16) Now he shows how far Christian charity extends, even so far, that according to the example of Christ every man forgets himself, to provide for and help his brethren. read more

Group of Brands