1 John 3:10

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 3:9-12

Sin is absolutely incompatible with being born of God, as is shown by the presence or absence of brotherly love. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 John 3:10

The question whether "in this" ἐν τούτῳ refers to what precedes or to what follows is here unimportant, for both are similar in meaning; and "in this" may refer to both. "By their fruits ye shall know them." The children of God do righteousness, and not sin; the children of the devil do sin, and not righteousness. Of course, moral parentage is meant in both cases. Nothing here lends any countenance to the view that the writer is a dualist and inculcates two principles of existence—God... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 John 3:10

In this the children of God are manifest ... - That is, this furnishes a test of their true character. The test is found in doing righteousness, and in the love of the brethren. The former he had illustrated; the latter he now proceeds to illustrate. The general idea is, that if a person is not truly a righteous person, and does not love the brethren, he cannot be a child of God. Perhaps by the phrase in this, using a pronoun in the singular number, he means to intimate that an important part... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 John 3:7-10

1 John 3:7-10. Little, or beloved children, let no man deceive you In this important matter, by vain words, however serious and plausible they may seem to be. For a being, himself immutably holy, can never dispense with the want of holiness in his intelligent creatures. The apostle’s words imply, that some pretenders to inspiration had endeavoured to deceive the brethren, by teaching what the apostle here condemns. And as it is a solemn address of the apostle to the disciples, it shows... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:1-10

3:1-5:5 THE LIFE OF LOVERight behaviour for God’s children (3:1-10)John cannot find words to express his feelings when he considers the great love God has shown in making sinful people his children. They now think and act according to the nature of their heavenly Father, with the result that unbelievers, who think and act according to the world’s standards, cannot understand them (3:1). God’s children know little about the nature of life in the world to come, but they know at least that in some... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 John 3:10

children . App-108 . See verses: 1 John 3:1-2 . manifest . App-106 . neither = and. loveth . App-135 . read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - 1 John 3:10

In 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.In this the children of God are manifest ... has the meaning that Christians may be identified by their conduct. Any and all transgressions of the law of Christ deny such transgressors any status whatever as children of God. Those who speak loudest about their "faith in Christ," but who do not display the type of behavior set forth in... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 John 3:10

1 John 3:10. In this the children of God are manifest, &c.— All men are either the children of God, or of the devil. Here is the rule to distinguish the one from the other; not by boasting that we are the elect people of God; not by a set of notions, or barren speculations; but by our own present and personal experience and practice of righteousness, and, as another mark of our adoption, by our cordial love to all Christians. These are the marks of a true Christian; by these the true are... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - 1 John 3:10

10. children of the devil—(See on 1 John 3:8; 1 John 3:8- :). There is no middle class between the children of God and the children of the devil. doeth not righteousness—Contrast 1 John 3:8- :. he that loveth not his brother— (1 John 4:8); a particular instance of that love which is the sum and fulfilment of all righteousness, and the token (not loud professions, or even seemingly good works) that distinguishes God's children from the devil's. read more

Thomas Constable

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

The absence of righteous behavior in a life indicates the absence of intimacy with God. Likewise the absence of love for one’s brother Christian shows that the individual who does not love has little fellowship with God. Love is the most important particular manifestation of righteous behavior (John 13:34-35; cf. Matthew 22:37-39). John proceeded to discuss this trait more fully."The whole aim of the Gospel is the creation and strengthening of love. [Note: Westcott, p. 109.] "The NIV rendering... read more

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