The Command to Love: Evidence of True Faith
1 John 3:11-24
1John.3.11 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Οτι: CONJ
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- αγγελια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- ηκουσατε: VERB,aor,act,ind,2,pl
- απ᾽αρχης: PREP
- ινα: CONJ
- αγαπωμεν: VERB,pres,act,sub,1,pl
- αλληλους·: PRON,acc,pl,m
Parallels
- John 13:34-35 (quotation): Jesus' 'new commandment'—'love one another'—is the paradigmatic source for the Johannine community's insistence on mutual love; 1 John echoes this command as the foundational message.
- John 15:12 (quotation): Jesus' direct command 'This is my commandment, that you love one another' parallels 1 John’s claim that the original message (ἀπ᾽ ἀρχῆς) is love for one another.
- 1 John 2:7-8 (verbal): Within the same letter the author uses very similar language ('not a new commandment... from the beginning') to frame love as the abiding command, directly mirroring 3:11's formulation.
- Leviticus 19:18 (thematic): The Torah command 'love your neighbor as yourself' is the Old Testament antecedent for the ethic of mutual love that 1 John presents as the abiding message.
- Romans 13:8-10 (thematic): Paul's teaching that 'love is the fulfillment of the law' and the command to love one's neighbor resonates with 1 John’s emphasis that the central, original message to believers is mutual love.
Alternative generated candidates
- For this is the message you heard from the beginning: that we should love one another.
- For this is the message that you heard from the beginning: that we should love one another.
1John.3.12 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ου: PART,neg
- καθως: CONJ
- Καιν: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πονηρου: ADJ,gen,sg,m
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- εσφαξεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αδελφον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτου·και: PRON,gen,sg,m
- χαριν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- τινος: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εσφαξεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- αυτον: PRON,acc,sg,m
- οτι: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- εργα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- πονηρα: ADJ,nom,pl,neut
- ην: VERB,impf,act,ind,3,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- δε: CONJ
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- αδελφου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- δικαια: ADJ,nom,pl,n
Parallels
- Genesis 4:1-16 (allusion): The explicit narrative of Cain and Abel is the primary background: Cain murders his brother out of jealousy. 1 John invokes that story (Cain) to illustrate fraternal murder and its immoral origin (evil works).
- John 8:44 (verbal): Jesus calls the devil a liar and 'a murderer from the beginning' (φονεύς ἀπʼ ἀρχῆς). 1 John 3:12 links Cain to the evil one and to murderous violence, echoing Johannine language about the Devil as the originator of murder.
- Matthew 5:21-22 (thematic): Jesus' teaching that anger and insult are morally akin to murder frames the ethical concern behind 1 John: hostility toward a brother (hate) is the spiritual analogue of murder and contrary to righteousness.
- 1 John 3:15 (structural): The immediate Johannine parallel within the same epistle: 'Whoever hates his brother is a murderer' (καὶ πᾶς ὁ μισῶν τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ φονεύει). It restates and develops the Cain/Abel contrast in ethical terms.
- 1 John 2:9-11 (thematic): Earlier Johannine contrast between walking in the light (love) and walking in darkness (hate) parallels 3:12's contrast of evil works versus a brother's righteous works—linking hatred with moral darkness and violence.
Alternative generated candidates
- We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because his own works were evil and his brother's were righteous.
- Do not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's were righteous.
1John.3.13 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- μη: PART
- θαυμαζετε: VERB,pres,act,imp,2,pl
- αδελφοι: NOUN,nom,pl,m
- ει: VERB,pres,act,ind,2,sg
- μισει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- υμας: PRON,acc,pl,2
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- κοσμος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
Parallels
- John 15:18-19 (verbal): Jesus: 'If the world hates you, know that it hated me before it hated you.' Direct verbal and thematic parallel—both state plainly that the world hates Christ's followers.
- John 15:20 (thematic): Jesus links disciples' suffering to his own ('a servant is not greater than his master'); explains why followers should expect hostility, echoing 1 John’s admonition.
- Matthew 10:22 (verbal): Jesus predicts disciples 'will be hated by all for my name’s sake.' Same basic prediction of universal hostility toward believers for Christ’s sake.
- Matthew 24:9 (thematic): Jesus’ eschatological warning that believers will be persecuted and hated for his name; parallels John’s expectation of antagonism from 'the world.'
- 1 Peter 4:4-5 (thematic): Peter notes hostile reaction from former companions who 'malign' believers and judges them—teaches not to be surprised by the world's hatred, consonant with 1 John 3:13.
Alternative generated candidates
- Do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.
- Do not be surprised, children, if the world hates you.
1John.3.14 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- οιδαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- μεταβεβηκαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θανατου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- εις: PREP
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ζωην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- οτι: CONJ
- αγαπωμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- τους: ART,acc,pl,m
- αδελφους·ο: NOUN,acc,pl,m
- μη: PART
- αγαπων: PART,pres,act,nom,sg,m
- μενει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- θανατω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- John 5:24 (verbal): Uses the same language of passing 'from death to life' as the ground for assurance; links faith/hearing with a transition from death to life.
- 1 John 2:9-11 (verbal): Parallels the ethical dichotomy—love versus hatred—by equating hatred of a brother with walking in darkness, analogous to 'not loving remains in death.'
- 1 John 3:16-18 (structural): Immediate development of 3:14: explains how sacrificial, practical love for brothers manifests that one has truly passed from death to life.
- 1 John 4:7-12 (thematic): Frames love as the essential mark of being born of God and knowing God, reinforcing the linkage between divine love and believers' love as evidence of spiritual life.
- Ephesians 2:1-5 (thematic): Speaks of believers being made alive from spiritual death by God's mercy and love—paralleling 1 John’s contrast between death and life tied to God's saving love.
Alternative generated candidates
- We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love remains in death.
- We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love remains in death.
1John.3.15 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- πας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- μισων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αδελφον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ανθρωποκτονος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- οιδατε: VERB,perf,act,ind,2,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- πας: ADJ,nom,sg,m
- ανθρωποκτονος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- ουκ: PART,neg
- εχει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ζωην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αιωνιον: ADJ,acc,sg,f
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- μενουσαν: PART,pres,act,acc,sg,f
Parallels
- Matthew 5:21-22 (verbal): Jesus links anger/insult toward a brother with culpability like murder; parallels John’s equation of hatred with being a murderer.
- 1 John 3:12 (structural): Immediate context within the same letter cites Cain as the archetypal murderer; contrasts Cain’s hatred/murder with the life of God.
- 1 John 2:9-11 (thematic): Declares that anyone who hates a brother walks in darkness, thematically connecting hatred with spiritual death and lack of fellowship with God.
- 1 John 4:20 (thematic): Asserts that professed love for God is false if one hates a brother, reinforcing the moral and spiritual linkage between hatred and being outside true life in God.
- Exodus 20:13 (Deuteronomy 5:17) (quotation): The Decalogue’s prohibition 'You shall not murder' is the ethical law behind the charge; John treats hatred as the inner violation equivalent to the outward command.
Alternative generated candidates
- Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.
- Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
1John.3.16 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εν: PREP
- τουτω: DEM,dat,sg,m
- εγνωκαμεν: VERB,perf,act,ind,1,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- αγαπην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- οτι: CONJ
- εκεινος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- υπερ: PREP
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- ψυχην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εθηκεν·και: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- ημεις: PRON,nom,pl,1
- οφειλομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- υπερ: PREP
- των: ART,gen,pl,m
- αδελφων: NOUN,gen,pl,m
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- ψυχας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- θειναι: VERB,pres,act,inf
Parallels
- John 15:13 (verbal): Explicitly parallel wording and idea: 'No one has greater love than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends,' echoing knowledge of love shown by laying down one's life.
- John 10:11 (verbal): Jesus as the Good Shepherd 'lays down his life for the sheep,' a direct Christological instance of the self‑sacrificial love 1 John cites.
- Romans 5:8 (thematic): Defines God's love in Christ's sacrificial death for sinners—the theological basis for saying 'he laid down his life for us.'
- Philippians 2:6-8 (allusion): Christ's self‑emptying and obedience 'to the point of death' provides the kenotic model of laying down life that undergirds the exhortation to imitate such love.
- Ephesians 5:2 (thematic): Calls believers to 'walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us,' connecting Christ's giving of himself with the ethical implication that Christians should love sacrificially.
Alternative generated candidates
- By this we know what love is: that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
- By this we have come to know love: that he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
1John.3.17 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- ος: PRON,nom,sg,m
- δ᾽αν: PART,δε+αν
- εχη: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- βιον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- κοσμου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- θεωρη: VERB,pres,act,subj,3,sg
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- αδελφον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- χρειαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχοντα: VERB,pres,act,part,acc,pl,n
- και: CONJ
- κλειση: VERB,aor,act,subj,3,sg
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- σπλαγχνα: NOUN,acc,pl,n
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- απ᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- πως: ADV
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- αγαπη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- θεου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- μενει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
Parallels
- 1 John 3:16 (structural): Immediate context: 3:16 sets the standard of sacrificial love (laying down one's life) that 3:17 applies practically to meeting a brother's material needs.
- 1 John 4:20-21 (verbal): Same argumentative move and language: claiming to love God while neglecting a brother is exposed as inconsistent—one cannot truly love God and hate or ignore a brother.
- James 2:15-17 (thematic): Argues that faith without providing for bodily needs is dead; parallels 3:17's insistence that genuine love must lead to concrete assistance for those in need.
- James 1:27 (thematic): Defines true religion as caring for orphans and widows in their distress—echoes 3:17's concern for practical care of needy brothers.
- Matthew 25:35-40 (thematic): Jesus identifies caring for the needy as service to him and as the criterion for judgment, aligning with 3:17's link between love of others and authentic relationship with God.
Alternative generated candidates
- But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does the love of God remain in him?
- If anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?
1John.3.18 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- Τεκνια: NOUN,voc,pl,n
- μη: PART
- αγαπωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
- λογω: NOUN,dat,sg,m
- μηδε: CONJ
- τη: ART,dat,sg,f
- γλωσση: NOUN,dat,sg,f
- αλλα: CONJ
- εν: PREP
- εργω: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- και: CONJ
- αληθεια: NOUN,dat,sg,f
Parallels
- 1 John 3:17 (structural): Immediate context and continuation: contrasts mere words with concrete help for a brother in need, illustrating 'love in deed.'
- 1 John 3:16 (thematic): Defines true love by Christ's sacrificial example—shows love is demonstrated in action, not just words.
- 1 John 4:20-21 (thematic): Argues that professed love for God is false without love for brothers, reinforcing the call to love in deed and truth.
- James 2:14-17 (thematic): Parallel teaching that genuine faith/love must be evidenced by works; 'words' without deeds are ineffective.
- John 13:34-35 (thematic): Jesus' command to love one another as the identifying mark of disciples emphasizes practical, observable love.
Alternative generated candidates
- Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth.
- Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth.
1John.3.19 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- εν: PREP
- τουτω: DEM,dat,sg,m
- γνωσομεθα: VERB,fut,mid,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- εκ: PREP
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- αληθειας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- εσμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- και: CONJ
- εμπροσθεν: PREP
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- πεισομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- την: ART,acc,sg,f
- καρδιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
Parallels
- 1 John 3:21 (structural): Immediate continuation: links assurance before God with the condition 'if our heart does not condemn us'—directly develops the same theme of confidence/assurance.
- 1 John 2:3 (verbal): Uses the same 'by this we know' formula: knowledge of fellowship with God is authenticated by concrete ethical signs (keeping his commandments).
- 1 John 5:13 (thematic): Explicit purpose-statement about assurance ('that you may know you have eternal life'): addresses the same pastoral concern for believers' certainty before God.
- Romans 8:16 (thematic): The Spirit's inner testimony with our spirit gives assurance of being God's children—parallels 1 John’s concern with inward evidence and confidence before God.
- Hebrews 10:22 (thematic): Calls believers to draw near with a true heart 'in full assurance of faith,' echoing the language and theme of confident access/standing before God.
Alternative generated candidates
- By this we will know that we are of the truth and will put our hearts at rest before him;
- By this we know that we belong to the truth, and so we reassure our hearts before him.
1John.3.20 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- οτι: CONJ
- εαν: CONJ
- καταγινωσκη: VERB,pres,act,sub,3,sg
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- καρδια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- οτι: CONJ
- μειζων: ADJ,comp,nom,sg,m
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- θεος: NOUN,nom,sg,m
- της: ART,gen,sg,f
- καρδιας: NOUN,gen,sg,f
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- και: CONJ
- γινωσκει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- παντα: ADJ,nom,pl,n
Parallels
- 1 John 3:21 (structural): Immediate context/continuation: if our heart does not condemn us we have confidence before God — directly follows and develops the thought about the heart and God’s knowledge.
- Psalm 139:23-24 (verbal): Prayerful appeal for God to search and know the heart — echoes the theme of God’s intimate knowledge of the inner life.
- Hebrews 4:13 (verbal): All things are exposed to God’s sight; nothing is hidden from him — parallels the claim that God 'knows all things.'
- 1 Corinthians 4:4-5 (thematic): Paul distinguishes human self‑judgment from the Lord’s judgment ('he who judges me is the Lord') — parallels the idea that God, not our conscience, is the ultimate discerner/judge.
- Romans 8:33-34 (thematic): Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? Christ is the defender — reinforces that ultimate vindication/condemnation resides with God, who is greater than our hearts.
Alternative generated candidates
- for if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knows everything.
- For whenever our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts and knows all things.
1John.3.21 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- αγαπητοι: ADJ,nom,pl,m
- εαν: CONJ
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- καρδια: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- μη: PART
- καταγινωσκη: VERB,pres,act,sub,3,sg
- ημων: PRON,gen,pl,1
- παρρησιαν: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- εχομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- προς: PREP
- τον: ART,acc,sg,m
- θεον: NOUN,acc,sg,m
Parallels
- Hebrews 4:16 (verbal): Uses the same concept/term of bold confidence (παρρησία) to approach God’s throne — parallels the idea of having confident access to God when the heart does not condemn.
- Hebrews 10:19-22 (thematic): Speaks of boldness/confidence to enter the holy place through Christ’s blood and an examined, sincere heart — echoes assurance before God and the conditions for confident approach.
- Romans 8:1 (thematic): Declares 'there is therefore now no condemnation' for those in Christ — resonates with 1 John’s concern about the heart’s condemnation and the believer’s assurance toward God.
- 1 John 2:28 (verbal): Uses similar language about abiding in Christ so that we may have confidence (παρρησία) and not be put to shame at his coming — closely related Johannine theme of confident standing before God.
- 1 John 3:20 (structural): Immediate contextual parallel: qualifies 3:21 by asserting that 'God is greater than our heart and knows all things,' addressing concerns about inward condemnation and reinforcing assurance before God.
Alternative generated candidates
- Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
- Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
1John.3.22 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- εαν: CONJ
- αιτωμεν: VERB,pres,act,subj,1,pl
- λαμβανομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- απ᾽αυτου: PREP+PRON,gen,sg,3,m
- οτι: CONJ
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- εντολας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- τηρουμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- και: CONJ
- τα: ART,acc,pl,n
- αρεστα: ADJ,acc,pl,n
- ενωπιον: PREP
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ποιουμεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
Parallels
- John 15:7 (verbal): Both promise that requests will be granted when believers remain in the proper relationship (abiding/keeping Jesus’ words or commandments), linking answered prayer to obedience and fellowship.
- 1 John 5:14-15 (thematic): Explicitly ties confident prayer to asking according to God’s will and assures that God hears and grants such requests—parallels 3:22’s reason for receiving (keeping his commandments/doing what pleases him).
- 1 John 3:23-24 (structural): Immediate literary parallel in the same context: 3:23 states the commandment (believe and love) and 3:24 links keeping God’s commandments with abiding in him—directly explains the basis for 3:22’s promise of received prayer.
- 1 John 2:3-5 (thematic): Connects knowledge of God with keeping his commandments and living righteously—supports 3:22’s premise that obedience characterizes those whose prayers are heard.
- Psalm 66:18 (thematic): An Old Testament principle that God does not hear when one harbors sin in the heart; parallels the idea that purity/obedience is a condition for received prayer in 1 John 3:22.
Alternative generated candidates
- and whatever we ask we receive from him, for we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
- and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what is pleasing in his sight.
1John.3.23 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- αυτη: PRON,dat,sg,f
- εστιν: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- η: ART,nom,sg,f
- εντολη: NOUN,nom,sg,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- ινα: CONJ
- πιστευσωμεν: VERB,aor,act,subj,1,pl
- τω: ART,dat,sg,m
- ονοματι: NOUN,dat,sg,n
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- υιου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- Ιησου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- Χριστου: NOUN,gen,sg,m
- και: CONJ
- αγαπωμεν: VERB,pres,act,sub,1,pl
- αλληλους: PRON,acc,pl,m
- καθως: CONJ
- εδωκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
- εντολην: NOUN,acc,sg,f
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
Parallels
- John 13:34-35 (quotation): Jesus' own 'new commandment' to love one another — the explicit source and parallel of 1 John’s command to love.
- 1 John 4:21 (quotation): Same epistolary formulation: 'And this commandment we have from him' tying divine command to loving one's brother, reinforcing 3:23's mandate.
- 1 John 3:11 (allusion): An earlier statement of the letter's message ('that we should love one another'), showing continuity of the love-theme within the epistle.
- John 20:31 (thematic): The Gospel's stated purpose 'that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ' parallels 3:23's command to believe in the name of God's Son.
- Acts 16:31 (verbal): The imperative 'Believe in the Lord Jesus' echoes 3:23’s call to believe in the name of the Son, linking faith-language across NT contexts.
Alternative generated candidates
- And this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he commanded us.
- And this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he commanded us.
1John.3.24 - Details
Original Text
Morphology
- και: CONJ
- ο: ART,nom,sg,m
- τηρων: VERB,pres,act,part,nom,sg,m
- τας: ART,acc,pl,f
- εντολας: NOUN,acc,pl,f
- αυτου: PRON,gen,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- αυτω: PRON,dat,sg,m
- μενει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- και: CONJ
- αυτος: PRON,nom,sg,3,m
- εν: PREP
- αυτω·και: PRON,dat,sg,m
- εν: PREP
- τουτω: DEM,dat,sg,m
- γινωσκομεν: VERB,pres,act,ind,1,pl
- οτι: CONJ
- μενει: VERB,pres,act,ind,3,sg
- εν: PREP
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- εκ: PREP
- του: ART,gen,sg,n
- πνευματος: NOUN,gen,sg,n
- ου: PART,neg
- ημιν: PRON,dat,pl,1
- εδωκεν: VERB,aor,act,ind,3,sg
Parallels
- 1 John 4:13 (verbal): Nearly identical statement in the same letter: we know we abide in him because he has given us of his Spirit (direct repetition of idea and language).
- John 14:23 (verbal): Jesus links keeping his word with God and the Son making their abode with the believer — parallels keeping commandments and divine indwelling/dwelling.
- John 15:10 (thematic): Keeping Jesus' commandments results in abiding in his love (keeping commandments ↔ abiding relationship), echoing the mutual indwelling theme.
- John 14:17 (verbal): The Spirit of truth 'dwells with you, and shall be in you' — parallels the idea that God's presence is known by the Spirit he has given.
- Romans 8:16 (thematic): The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are God's children — similar function of the Spirit as the basis for assurance that God abides in believers.
Alternative generated candidates
- Whoever keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he remains in us: by the Spirit whom he has given us.
- Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God abides in him. By this we know that he abides in us: by the Spirit whom he has given us.
For this is the message you have heard from the beginning: that we should love one another.
We must not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and killed his brother. And why did he kill him? Because his own deeds were evil, while his brother's were righteous.
Do not be surprised, brothers, if the world hates you.
We know that we have passed from death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love remains in death.
Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.
By this we have known love: that he laid down his life for us—and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
If anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love remain in him?
Little children, let us not love in word or speech but in deed and in truth.
By this we will know that we belong to the truth and will set our hearts at rest before him;
for if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows all things.
Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what is pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment: that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he commanded us.
Whoever keeps his commandments remains in God, and God remains in him. By this we know that he remains in us: by the Spirit whom he has given us.