Abiding in Christ: Children of God and Righteous Living
1 John 2:28-3:10
1John.2.28 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Και: CONJ
- νυν: ADV
- τεκνια: NOUN,voc,pl,n
- μενετε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ινα: CONJ
- εαν: CONJ
- φανερωθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- σχωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
- παρρησιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- μη: PART
- αισχυνθωμεν: VERB,aor,pass,subj,1,pl
- απ᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- εν: PREP
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- παρουσια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- John 15:4 (verbal): Jesus' command to 'abide in me' parallels 1 John’s exhortation to 'abide in him' as the condition for receiving life/confidence when Christ is revealed.
- 1 John 3:2-3 (verbal): Same epistolary theme of Christ's future appearing ('when he is revealed') and the ethical/hopeful response—purification and readiness—so that believers are not ashamed.
- 1 Corinthians 1:7-8 (verbal): Speaks of awaiting Christ's revelation and being sustained 'guiltless' on the day of the Lord, closely paralleling the hope of confidence/not being ashamed at his coming.
- Jude 24 (thematic): Affirms God's power to present believers blameless before his glory—the same concern with standing confidently (not ashamed) at Christ's presence.
- 2 Timothy 1:12 (thematic): Paul's declaration 'I am not ashamed' (grounded in trust in Christ) echoes the confidence before Christ's appearing that motivates abiding in him.
Alternative generated candidates
- And now, children, remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink away from him in shame at his coming.
- Children, now remain in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink back in shame before him at his coming.
1John.2.29 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εαν: CONJ
- ειδητε: VERB,aor,act,sub,2,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- δικαιος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- γινωσκετε: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- πας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ποιων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- δικαιοσυνην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εξ: PREP
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- γεγεννηται: VERB,perf,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- 1 John 3:7 (verbal): Closely parallels the wording and logic: practicing righteousness characterizes the righteous one, echoing 'whoever does righteousness' as evidence of being righteous/born of God.
- 1 John 3:9 (thematic): Connects being 'born of God' with ethical outcome—those born of God do not continue in sin, paralleling 2:29's link between birth from God and doing righteousness.
- 1 John 5:1 (thematic): Affirms that belief in Jesus as the Christ results in being 'born of God,' supplying the soteriological basis for 2:29's claim about those born of Him and their righteous practice.
- John 3:3-7 (allusion): The Johannine theme of new birth ('born again'/'born from above') underlies 2:29's 'born of Him' language—new birth as the source of true spiritual life and conduct.
- John 1:12-13 (verbal): Uses similar language of becoming children of God and being 'born of God' (not of natural descent), paralleling 2:29's emphasis on divine birth as the origin of righteous behavior.
Alternative generated candidates
- If you know that he is righteous, know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of him.
- If you know that he is righteous, be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
1John.3.1 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ιδετε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- ποταπην: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- αγαπην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- δεδωκεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- πατηρ: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ινα: CONJ
- τεκνα: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- κληθωμεν: VERB,aor,pass,subj,1,pl
- και: CONJ
- εσμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- δια: PREP
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κοσμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ου: PART,neg
- γινωσκει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ημας: PRON,acc,pl,1
- οτι: CONJ
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εγνω: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- John 1:12 (verbal): Both passages use the language of becoming/being 'children of God' granted by reception of God's initiative—John speaks of receiving Christ and being given the right to be children of God, paralleling 1 John’s emphasis on the Father’s gift.
- Romans 8:16-17 (thematic): Echoes the adoption theme: the Spirit testifies we are children of God and heirs with Christ—affirming present filial status despite suffering or nonrecognition by the world.
- John 15:18-19 (thematic): Parallels the idea that 'the world' does not know or will oppose Jesus’ followers; Jesus warns the world hated him and will hate his disciples, resonating with 1 John’s claim that the world does not know us.
- 1 John 3:2 (structural): Immediate internal parallel/continuation: 3:1 declares we are called children of God, and 3:2 expands—now we are children and will be like Christ when he appears, reinforcing the present calling and future hope.
- 1 John 4:9-10 (verbal): Both emphasize the Father's love made manifest—1 John 3:1 invites readers to 'see what sort of love' the Father has given, while 4:9–10 describes God's love shown in sending his Son as the basis for our status.
Alternative generated candidates
- See what love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God — and so we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know him.
- See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God—and so we are. The world did not know him, and so it does not know us.
1John.3.2 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αγαπητοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- νυν: ADV
- τεκνα: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εσμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- και: CONJ
- ουπω: ADV
- εφανερωθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- τι: PRON,int,nom,sg,n
- εσομεθα: VERB,fut,mid,ind,1,pl
- οιδαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- εαν: CONJ
- φανερωθη: VERB,aor,pass,subj,3,sg
- ομοιοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εσομεθα: VERB,fut,mid,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- οψομεθα: VERB,fut,mid,ind,1,pl
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- καθως: CONJ
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- John 1:12-13 (verbal): Explicitly connects becoming/being 'children of God' through reception of Christ and birth from God, echoing 1 John’s claim 'now we are children of God.'
- Romans 8:29 (thematic): Speaks of believers being 'conformed to the image of his Son,' paralleling 1 John’s promise that when Christ appears 'we shall be like him.'
- 2 Corinthians 3:18 (verbal): Describes believers 'being transformed into the same image' as they behold the Lord’s glory, closely matching the language of seeing Christ 'as he is' and becoming like him.
- Philippians 3:20-21 (thematic): Affirms the future transformation when Christ returns—he will 'transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body'—paralleling the eschatological hope of becoming like Christ at his appearing.
- 1 John 3:1 (verbal): Immediate Johannine parallel that emphasizes God’s love in making believers 'children of God,' setting the same theological premise for the eschatological expectation expressed in 3:2.
Alternative generated candidates
- Beloved, we are now children of God; what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
- Beloved, we are now children of God; what we will be has not yet been revealed. But we know that when he appears we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
1John.3.3 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- πας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εχων: VERB,pres,act,ptc,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ελπιδα: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ταυτην: PRON,acc,sg,f
- επ᾽αυτω: PREP+PRON,dat,sg,m
- αγνιζει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εαυτον: PRON,acc,sg,masc,reflex
- καθως: CONJ
- εκεινος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- αγνος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- 1 John 3:2 (structural): Immediate context: the hope of seeing him and becoming like him (3:2) provides the basis for purifying oneself in 3:3.
- Matthew 5:8 (thematic): “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” — links purity of life with the eschatological prospect of seeing God/Christ.
- Titus 2:14 (verbal): Speaks of Christ giving himself to ‘purify for himself a people’ — uses the same verb/idea of purification as motivating ethical transformation.
- 1 Peter 1:15-16 (thematic): Calls believers to holiness because God is holy — parallels the ethical impetus: hope in God/Christ leads to moral purity.
- Psalm 24:3-4 (allusion): Who may ascend/stand before the Lord? One with clean hands and a pure heart — Old Testament basis for linking purity with access to/vision of God.
Alternative generated candidates
- And everyone who thus holds this hope set on him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
- And everyone who holds this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
1John.3.4 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Πας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ποιων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αμαρτιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- και: CONJ
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ανομιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ποιει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- αμαρτια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- ανομια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
Parallels
- 1 John 3:8 (verbal): Direct close parallel in the same epistle: links habitual sinning with being 'of the devil' and follows the claim that 'sin is lawlessness.'
- 1 John 1:8-10 (thematic): Addresses the reality and confession of sin; complements 3:4’s definition by contrasting claims of sinlessness with the need to acknowledge and confess sin.
- 2 Thessalonians 2:7-8 (allusion): Uses the phrase 'mystery of lawlessness' (anomia) and personifies lawlessness—shows the same NT concept equating sin with lawlessness and active rebellion.
- Matthew 24:12 (verbal): Speaks of the increase of 'lawlessness' (anomia) as a hallmark of the age—uses the same term to describe pervasive sinfulness.
- Romans 6:12 (thematic): Commands believers not to let sin 'reign' in their bodies; addresses the problem of habitual/persistent sin that 1 John 3:4 characterizes as lawlessness.
Alternative generated candidates
- Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
- Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
1John.3.5 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- οιδατε: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- εκεινος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- εφανερωθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- ινα: CONJ
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- αμαρτιας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- αρη: PART
- και: CONJ
- αμαρτια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- John 1:29 (thematic): John the Baptist calls Jesus 'the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world,' echoing the theme that Jesus appeared to remove sin.
- Hebrews 9:26 (verbal): Uses near-identical language about Christ 'appearing to put away sin' by his sacrifice, closely paralleling the purpose language in 1 John 3:5.
- 2 Corinthians 5:21 (thematic): Paul states Christ, who knew no sin, was made sin for us—linking Christ's sinlessness with his role in dealing with sin, as 1 John affirms.
- Hebrews 4:15 (thematic): Affirms Jesus was 'tempted in every way, yet without sin,' supporting 1 John's claim that 'in him there is no sin.'
- 1 Peter 2:22 (verbal): Explicitly declares 'He committed no sin,' a direct corroboration of the assertion that there is no sin in Christ.
Alternative generated candidates
- You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
- You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
1John.3.6 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- μενων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- ουχ: PART,neg
- αμαρτανει·πας: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- αμαρτανων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- ουχ: PART,neg
- εωρακεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- ουδε: CONJ,neg
- εγνωκεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 John 3:9 (verbal): Closely parallels wording and thought—those born of God do not continue (practice) sinning; sin cannot be abiding in one who is of God.
- 1 John 5:18 (verbal): Affirms the same conclusion: everyone born of God does not keep on sinning, linking new birth/Christian identity with cessation of habitual sin.
- 1 John 2:6 (structural): Same Johannine ethic of 'abiding'—one who says he abides in Christ ought to walk as Jesus walked, implying that true fellowship excludes ongoing sin.
- Romans 6:1-2 (thematic): Paul’s argument that believers have died to sin and therefore should not continue living in it echoes the claim that those who abide in Christ do not keep sinning.
- John 8:34-36 (thematic): Jesus’ teaching that sin enslaves but the Son sets free thematically parallels the idea that true relationship with Christ entails freedom from habitual sin.
Alternative generated candidates
- No one who abides in him sins; no one who sins has seen him or knows him.
- No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who sins has seen him or known him.
1John.3.7 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- τεκνια: NOUN,voc,pl,n
- μηδεις: PRON,nom,sg,m
- πλανατω: VERB,pres,act,imper,3,sg
- υμας·ο: PRON,acc,pl,2
- ποιων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- δικαιοσυνην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- δικαιος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- καθως: CONJ
- εκεινος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- δικαιος: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- εστιν·: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- 1 John 2:29 (verbal): Direct verbal/theological link: both verses assert that practicing righteousness identifies one as righteous or as born of God.
- 1 John 3:9 (verbal): Close verbal and thematic neighbor: contrasts making a practice of sin with being born of God—both treat habitual action as the mark of true identity.
- 1 John 3:10 (structural): Structural parallel within the same section: children of God are distinguished from children of the devil by whether they practice righteousness or sin.
- Romans 6:16-18 (thematic): Thematic connection: Paul links habitual obedience/slavery to righteousness with status before God—ethical practice demonstrates transformed belonging.
- Matthew 7:16-20 (thematic): Jesus’ teaching that fruits (actions) reveal true identity parallels John’s argument that righteous practice proves one is righteous/of God.
Alternative generated candidates
- Children, do not be deceived. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, just as God is righteous.
- Children, do not let anyone deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous.
1John.3.8 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- ποιων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αμαρτιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- διαβολου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- οτι: CONJ
- απ᾽αρχης: PREP
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- διαβολος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- αμαρτανει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εις: PREP
- τουτο: PRON,nom,sg,n
- εφανερωθη: VERB,aor,pass,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- υιος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ινα: CONJ
- λυση: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εργα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- διαβολου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- John 8:44 (verbal): Jesus calls the devil a murderer/lie‑father and speaks of his evil from the beginning—verbal and thematic echo of 1 John’s claim that the devil has sinned from the beginning.
- Hebrews 2:14 (thematic): Says the Son assumed flesh to destroy the one who holds the power of death (the devil), paralleling 1 John’s statement that the Son appeared to destroy the devil’s works.
- Colossians 2:15 (thematic): Describes Christ’s triumph over cosmic powers—disarming and exposing them—which parallels the idea of the Son destroying the works of the devil.
- 1 John 3:5 (structural): An earlier statement in the same epistle using the same verb 'appeared' (ἐφανερώθη) for the Son’s mission—there focused on removing sin, here on abolishing the devil’s works, forming a parallel purpose language within the letter.
Alternative generated candidates
- The one who practices sin belongs to the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God was revealed for this purpose: to destroy the works of the devil.
- The one who practices sin is of the devil; the devil has been sinning from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God appeared—to destroy the works of the devil.
1John.3.9 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- γεγεννημενος: PART,perf,pass,nom,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- αμαρτιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ου: PART,neg
- ποιει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- οτι: CONJ
- σπερμα: NOUN,acc,sg,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- μενει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- ου: PART,neg
- δυναται: VERB,pres,mid,ind,3,sg
- αμαρτανειν: VERB,pres,act,inf
- οτι: CONJ
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- γεγεννηται: VERB,perf,mid/pass,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- 1 John 5:18 (verbal): Very close verbal parallel: again states that everyone born of God does not sin/continue in sin and links this to being born of God and protection from the evil one.
- 1 John 3:6 (verbal): Immediate Johannine parallel in the same section: 'No one who abides in him keeps on sinning'—same claim about the ethical effect of abiding in God.
- John 3:6-8 (thematic): Broader NT teaching on being 'born of' God/Spirit: marks a new spiritual birth and power (Spirit) that changes orientation to sin, paralleling the born‑of‑God motif.
- Romans 6:14 (thematic): Paulic parallel about the believer’s new status: 'sin shall not be master over you' because believers are no longer under sin’s dominion, resonating with inability/ought not to continue in sin.
- 1 John 1:8-10 (thematic): Johannine corrective to a false claim of sinlessness—while 3:9 affirms that the born‑of‑God does not practice sin habitually, 1:8–10 warns against denying sin and insists on confession, clarifying the claim.
Alternative generated candidates
- No one born of God continues to sin; God’s seed remains in him, and therefore he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
- No one born of God makes a habit of sinning; God’s seed remains in him, and he cannot continue to sin because he has been born of God.
1John.3.10 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εν: PREP
- τουτω: DEM,dat,sg,m
- φανερα: ADV
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- τεκνα: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- τεκνα: NOUN,acc,pl,neut
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- διαβολου·πας: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- μη: PART
- ποιων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- δικαιοσυνην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- μη: PART
- αγαπων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αδελφον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 John 4:7-8 (verbal): Asserts that love is the mark of knowing God and states explicitly that whoever does not love does not know God—close verbal/thematic parallel to 'not loving his brother' means not of God.
- 1 John 2:9-11 (verbal): Speaks of anyone who hates a brother as walking in darkness, echoing the negative ethical criterion used to distinguish children of God from children of the devil.
- John 13:34-35 (thematic): Jesus' command to love one another as the identifying sign of his disciples parallels 1 John’s claim that love for brothers reveals who belongs to God.
- Matthew 7:16-20 (thematic): Jesus' principle 'you will know them by their fruits' parallels 1 John’s diagnostic criterion that righteous conduct and brotherly love disclose true lineage (children of God vs. children of the devil).
- 1 John 3:7 (verbal): Immediate Johannine parallel: affirms that practicing righteousness marks one as righteous/borne of God, directly corresponding to 3:10’s negative formulation ('whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God').
Alternative generated candidates
- By this the children of God and the children of the devil are made plain: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
- By this the children of God and the children of the devil are plainly seen: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.
And now, children, remain in him, so that when the Son is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming.
If you know that he is righteous, know also that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
See what kind of love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The world does not know us, because it did not know him.
Beloved, we are now children of God; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We know that when he is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. And everyone who holds this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.
Everyone who commits sin also practices lawlessness; indeed, sin is lawlessness.
You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
No one who remains in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has seen him or known him.
Little children, do not let anyone deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, just as he is righteous.
Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil.
No one born of God continues to sin; for God's seed remains in him, and he cannot continue to sin because he has been born of God.
By this the children of God and the children of the devil are made manifest: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.