1 John 3:1-3 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 3:1-3

The apostle, having shown the dignity of Christ's faithful followers, that they are born of him and thereby nearly allied to God, now here, I. Breaks forth into the admiration of that grace that is the spring of such a wonderful vouchsafement: Behold (see you, observe) what manner of love, or how great love, the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called, effectually called (he who calls things that are not makes them to be what they were not) the sons of God! The Father adopts all... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 3:1-2

3:1-2 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God--and such we indeed are. The reason why the world does not recognize us is that it did not recognize him. Beloved, even as things are we are children of God, and it has not yet been made clear what we shall be. We know that, if it shall be made clear, we shall be like him because we shall see him as he is. It may well be that the best illumination of this passage is the Scottish Paraphrase... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 3:1-2

John, then, begins by reminding his people of the privileges of the Christian life. He goes on to set before them what is in many ways a still more tremendous truth, the great fact that this life is only a beginning. Here John observes the only true agnosticism. So great is the future and its glory that he will not even guess at it or try to put it into inevitably inadequate words. But there are certain things he does say about it. (i) When Christ appears in his glory, we shall be like... read more

William Barclay

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 3:3-8

3:3-8 Anyone who rests this hope on him purifies himself as he is pure. Anyone who commits sin commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. And you know that he appeared that he might take away our sins and there is no sin in him. Anyone who abides in him does not sin. Anyone who sins has not seen him, and does not know him. Little children, let no one deceive you. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He who does sin is of the devil, because the devil is a sinner... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:1

Behold what manner of love ,.... See, take notice, consider, look by faith, with wonder and astonishment, and observe how great a favour, what an instance of matchless love, what a wonderful blessing of grace, the Father hath bestowed upon us : the Father of Christ, and the Father of us in Christ, who hath adopted us into his family, and regenerated us by his grace, and hath freely given us the new name: that we should be called the sons of God . The Alexandrian copy, and some... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:2

Beloved, now are we the sons of God ,.... By adoption, secretly in God's predestination, and in the covenant of grace; and openly in regeneration, through faith in Christ, and by the testimony of the Spirit: and it doth not yet appear what we shall be ; though they are sons, they do not appear now as such, as they will do, when they shall be introduced into their Father's house, and into the many mansions there prepared for them; when Christ shall publicly own them as the children given... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:3

And every man that hath this hope in him ,.... Or on him, Jesus Christ; for a true hope of that eternal happiness, which lies in likeness to Christ, and in the vision of him, is only founded on his person, blood, righteousness, and sacrifice: and this hope every man has not, only he who is born again; for this grace is implanted in regeneration, when men are of abundant mercy begotten unto it, and have it bestowed upon them as a free grace gift; and which is of great service to them both in... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 3:1

Behold, what manner of love - Whole volumes might be written upon this and the two following verses, without exhausting the extraordinary subject contained in them, viz., the love of God to man. The apostle himself, though evidently filled with God, and walking in the fullness of his light, does not attempt to describe it; he calls on the world and the Church to behold it, to look upon it, to contemplate it, and wonder at it. What manner of love. - Ποταπην αγαπην· What great love, both... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 3:2

Now 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 - Ουπω εφανερωθη· 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 - Εαν φανερωθη· When he shall be manifested; i.e., when he comes the second time, and shall be manifested in his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 3:3

And ever man that hath this hope in him - All who have the hope of seeing Christ as he is; that is, of enjoying him in his own glory; purifieth himself - abstains from all evil, and keeps himself from all that is in the world, viz., the lusts of the flesh, of the eye, and the pride of life. God having purified his heart, it is his business to keep himself in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. The apostle does not here speak of any man purifying... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 John 3:1-3

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 3:1-2

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 3:1-2

William Barclay's Daily Study Bible - 1 John 3:3-8

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:2

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:3

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 3:1

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 3:2

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 3:3

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