1 John 2:3 kjv

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.

1 John 2:3 nkjv

Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.

1 John 2:3 niv

We know that we have come to know him if we keep his commands.

1 John 2:3 esv

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments.

1 John 2:3 nlt

And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.

1 John 2 verses

1 John 2 3 Meaning

And by this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.

This verse presents a foundational truth: genuine knowledge of God is inextricably linked to obedience to His commandments. It provides a clear test or criterion by which believers can discern whether their claim to know God is true and experiential, rather than merely intellectual or superficial. Obedience is not the means by which one earns knowledge of God, but rather the irrefutable evidence and natural outgrowth of a living relationship with Him.

1 John 2 3 Context

1 John 2:3 appears within the broader context of John's epistle, which primarily addresses tests of true Christianity and the assurance of salvation. Chapter 1 introduces God as light, contrasting fellowship with Him with walking in darkness, and emphasizes confession of sin. Chapter 2 continues this theme by immediately establishing Jesus Christ as our advocate and propitiation for sins (2:1-2), leading directly into the present verse as the initial and crucial test of one's claim to know God.

Historically, the original audience was likely facing the influence of proto-Gnosticism, a nascent heresy that emphasized secret, superior spiritual knowledge ("gnosis") over moral conduct. These false teachers often claimed to possess a deep knowledge of God while simultaneously dismissing the importance of ethical living, perhaps viewing the physical body and its actions as irrelevant to one's spiritual state. John's epistle strongly refutes such dualism by asserting that true spiritual knowledge must manifest in tangible obedience. The "commandments" refer broadly to God's revealed will, supremely embodied in the teaching and life of Jesus Christ, particularly the "new commandment" of love that will be further expounded upon (1 Jn 2:7-11). The verse serves as a direct polemic against any belief system that separates true faith or knowledge of God from a lifestyle of practical righteousness.

1 John 2 3 Word analysis

• And by this: (kai en toutō)

  • Significance: Introduces a definitive criterion or test. "This" points forward to the conditional clause that follows, making it clear that what comes next is the essential marker of genuine knowledge.
  • Connection: This phrasing is common in 1 John (e.g., 1 Jn 3:19, 3:24, 4:2, 4:6, 4:9, 5:2) to introduce tests for true Christian life.

• we know: (ginōskomen)

  • Meaning: From ginōskō (γινώσκω), meaning to know experientially, relationally, or intimately, not merely to possess intellectual information (oida). It is an ongoing, present knowledge.
  • Significance: Implies a certainty and an experiential understanding. This "knowing" is deep, personal, and transformative. It's about being in a relationship with God, not just knowing about Him.

• that we have come to know him: (egnokamen auton)

  • Meaning: egnokamen is the perfect active indicative of ginōskō. The perfect tense denotes a past action (the initial point of coming to know God) with ongoing, abiding results.
  • Significance: Refers to the decisive event of entering into a saving relationship with God, resulting in a continuous, established state of knowing Him. "Him" refers to God, the one true God, particularly as revealed in Jesus Christ.

• if: (ean)

  • Meaning: A conditional particle indicating a strong and necessary condition.
  • Significance: Not merely a possibility or a hypothetical situation, but a concrete condition that must be met for the preceding statement to be true. It asserts the indispensability of obedience.

• we keep: (tērōmen)

  • Meaning: From tēreō (τηρέω), meaning to watch over, guard, observe, preserve, hold to, or obey carefully. It's a continuous action.
  • Significance: Connotes diligence, active compliance, and steadfast adherence to. It’s not just a one-time act or intellectual assent to the rules but a persistent lifestyle of heeding God’s will.

• his commandments: (tas entolas autou)

  • Meaning: Plural form of entolē (ἐντολή), referring to divine injunctions or authoritative commands.
  • Significance: Refers collectively to the entirety of God's moral and ethical requirements revealed in Scripture, preeminently exemplified and summarized by Jesus Christ. In John's writings, the concept of "commandments" often culminates in the "new commandment" of love for one another (1 Jn 2:7-11; Jn 13:34-35). Keeping them implies living a life aligned with God's holy character.

Words-group analysis:

• "And by this we know that we have come to know him, if...": This entire phrase sets up a diagnostic test. It's saying, "Here is the proof; this is how you can be sure of your claim." The "if" clause serves as the essential validation for the previous assertion of "knowing Him."
• "we know" (ginōskomen) vs. "have come to know" (egnokamen): The first "know" points to the present experience of assurance, a settled conviction. The second "know" points to the past event and resulting state of conversion or regeneration—the moment one truly entered into a relationship with God. The ongoing keeping of commandments proves that this past transformative event genuinely occurred and continues to have effect.
• "keep his commandments": This phrase directly confronts the Gnostic tendency to separate spiritual insight from moral living. For John, true knowledge of God always results in obedience, demonstrating a changed heart and mind. The obedience flows from love for God and not from a burdensome obligation, as highlighted in 1 Jn 5:3.

1 John 2 3 Bonus section

This verse stands as one of the significant "tests" presented by John in his first epistle to help believers ascertain the authenticity of their faith and spiritual standing. It is part of a trilogy of crucial examinations: the ethical test (walking in light/righteousness, as seen here and 1 Jn 1:6-7), the love test (loving other believers, 1 Jn 2:9-11, 4:7-8), and the doctrinal test (confessing Christ as truly human, 1 Jn 4:2-3). These tests are interconnected and mutually supportive; genuine knowledge of God (ethical) leads to true love (relational), all grounded in correct belief (doctrinal).

The nature of Christian obedience, as described by John, is not a legalistic burden but the spontaneous outflow of a regenerated heart. It signifies the Spirit's work within, enabling the believer to walk in a manner pleasing to God (Ezek 36:27; Phil 2:13). It assures us that our faith is living and active, not a dead profession. This verse therefore provides profound assurance for the obedient believer, reinforcing their communion with God.

1 John 2 3 Commentary

1 John 2:3 delivers a stark and essential truth: the litmus test for genuinely knowing God is not intellectual assertion or spiritual feelings, but demonstrable obedience to His revealed will. It refutes the notion that one can claim to be in a relationship with the Divine while simultaneously disregarding His commands. This verse serves as a crucial measuring stick, especially relevant in any era where false claims of piety or "spirituality" might abound.

Knowing God, for John, is not mere head-knowledge; it's an experiential, intimate, and life-transforming relationship (ginōskō). The perfect tense "have come to know" signifies a definitive, once-for-all spiritual transaction (salvation, regeneration) whose effects are permanent and ongoing. Therefore, if one truly "has come to know Him" in this profound sense, the natural and unavoidable evidence will be a life characterized by "keeping His commandments." "Keeping" (tēreō) implies active guarding, diligent observance, and consistent adherence, flowing from a changed heart and empowered by the Holy Spirit. These "commandments" encompass the entirety of God's moral requirements, with love for God and neighbor being the supreme summary (Matt 22:37-40). The verse is a spiritual diagnostic: does one's external walk validate one's internal claim? Where there is true light from God, there will be the walk of light.

Practical usage:

• Examine your life: Are your actions and choices consistently aligning with what you know of God's will?
• Challenge empty claims: If someone claims a deep relationship with God but lives a life devoid of biblical righteousness, this verse reveals a discrepancy.
• Motivation for obedience: Understanding this truth encourages believers to pursue obedience, not as a means to earn salvation, but as proof and joyful expression of the salvation they already possess.