1 John 3:11 kjv

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

1 John 3:11 nkjv

For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,

1 John 3:11 niv

For this is the message you heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

1 John 3:11 esv

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

1 John 3:11 nlt

This is the message you have heard from the beginning: We should love one another.

1 John 3 verses

1 John 3 11 Meaning

1 John 3:11 encapsulates a fundamental truth and a foundational command for all who claim to be children of God. It declares that the message heard from the very beginning of their Christian walk, from the initial proclamation of the Gospel, is the perpetual command to love one another. This love (agape) among believers is not a new or optional teaching but is inherent to the Christian faith, serving as a primary identifier of true discipleship and a defining mark of being born of God.

1 John 3 11 Context

1 John chapter 3 provides a stark contrast between those who are truly God's children and those who belong to the devil. Verse 10 explicitly states that righteousness and love are distinguishing marks of a child of God, while the absence of love (or practice of sin) characterizes a child of the devil. Verse 11 directly follows this declaration, providing the specific reason or foundational "message" for this distinction: the long-held command to "love one another." This verse serves as the immediate precursor to the example of Cain and Abel (1 Jn 3:12), which vividly illustrates the murderous outcome of hatred, the opposite of the commanded love. The broader context of 1 John emphasizes true Christian identity through three key tests: righteous living (orthopraxy), brotherly love (orthopresence), and correct doctrine about Christ (orthodoxy). This specific verse reinforces the test of love as paramount, reminding the readers that this is not a novel requirement but a core teaching since they first received the Gospel. Historically, John was addressing believers who faced challenges from false teachers, possibly early Gnostics or Docetists, who separated knowledge of God from ethical conduct or denied Christ's true humanity. John counters this by emphasizing that genuine spiritual life is tangibly evidenced through loving action within the community.

1 John 3 11 Word analysis

• For this is (γὰρ αὕτη, gar hautē):
  • gar connects the verse to the preceding thoughts (especially 1 Jn 3:10), providing the reason or explanation for how it is evident who is a child of God. It implies, "because this is..."
  • hautē means "this one" or "this." It refers back to the means by which children of God are recognized—their practice of love.
• the message (ἡ ἀγγελία, hē angelia):
  • This term denotes an "announcement," "report," or "proclamation." It signifies an authoritative, communicated truth, not merely an idea or suggestion. It points to something taught and heard clearly.
• that you heard (ἣν ἠκούσατε, hēn ēkousate):
  • Highlights the active reception by the audience. They weren't just passively aware; they were taught and heard this instruction directly. This emphasizes personal accountability.
• from the beginning (ἀπ’ ἀρχῆς, ap' archēs):
  • Crucial phrase in John's writings. Here, it most likely refers to the "beginning" of the audience's Christian experience—when they first heard the Gospel and committed to Christ. It implies that the command to love was part of the initial, foundational teaching they received, not a later addition. It underscores the timeless and fundamental nature of this command within their faith. This polemics against any notion that the command to love was new or subject to changing theological currents. It's original and unchanging.
• that we should love (ἵνα ἀγαπῶμεν, hina agapōmen):
  • hina here introduces the content or purpose of the message: what they were to do.
  • agapōmen is the verb for agape love—a divine, self-sacrificial, purposeful love, often chosen rather than purely emotional. It is in the present tense, active voice, indicating an ongoing, continuous practice of loving.
• one another (ἀλλήλους, allēlous):
  • Specifically directs the command within the community of believers. While believers are called to love all people, the immediate focus here is on mutual love among brothers and sisters in Christ. This internal communal love serves as a distinctive witness to the world.

1 John 3 11 Bonus section

• The phrase "from the beginning" serves to establish the stability and permanence of this command, distinguishing it from any "new" teachings that might deviate from the core message of the apostles. It implicitly affirms the continuity of divine truth.
• The immediate link in subsequent verses (1 Jn 3:12-15) between a lack of love/hatred and murder/eternal death underscores the extreme seriousness of this command. For John, hatred is not merely a social failing but a spiritual state antithetical to the very life of God.
• This verse can be understood as an "old commandment" in the sense that they heard it from the beginning, but simultaneously a "new commandment" (as articulated by Jesus in Jn 13:34 and mentioned by John in 1 Jn 2:7-8) in its fuller revelation through Christ's example and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit for radical self-sacrificial love.

1 John 3 11 Commentary

1 John 3:11 declares that the mandate to "love one another" is a foundational pillar of Christian faith, a teaching imparted from the very moment believers embraced the Gospel. It is presented not as an innovation but as the consistent, defining essence of Christian life. This emphasizes that true knowledge of God is not abstract or intellectual only, but must be manifested through concrete, relational love within the community of faith. This message directly sets the stage for distinguishing the children of God, who exemplify love, from those who are not, who demonstrate hatred, as illustrated by the stark example of Cain. Thus, mutual love among believers is paramount, serving as both an authentic sign of regeneration and a perpetual command to live out their divine parentage.