1 John 3:14 kjv

We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.

1 John 3:14 nkjv

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

1 John 3:14 niv

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death.

1 John 3:14 esv

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.

1 John 3:14 nlt

If we love our brothers and sisters who are believers, it proves that we have passed from death to life. But a person who has no love is still dead.

1 John 3 verses

1 John 3 14 Meaning

First John 3:14 declares that love for fellow believers serves as the definitive proof of spiritual rebirth and the transition from spiritual death to eternal life in Christ. Conversely, the absence of such love indicates that an individual remains in a state of spiritual alienation and death, separated from God's life-giving power. This verse emphasizes love not merely as an emotion, but as an active, discernable characteristic and evidence of genuine regeneration by God's Spirit.

1 John 3 14 Context

First John is an epistle written to believers grappling with false teachers (proto-Gnostics) who claimed spiritual enlightenment and knowledge without manifesting righteous conduct or genuine love. John writes to assure true believers of their salvation, to expose false claims, and to teach the practical marks of true Christianity.

Chapter 3 specifically contrasts the children of God with the children of the devil. Verses 1-3 highlight the glorious privilege of being children of God. Verses 4-10 reveal that sin and righteousness serve as distinguishing marks, emphasizing that those born of God do not habitually practice sin. Verse 11 reintroduces the theme of love, recalling it as the original commandment. Verse 12 recounts the tragic example of Cain, whose hatred of his brother Abel illustrated a lack of righteousness. Verse 14, therefore, serves as a direct affirmation that love for fellow believers is the unmistakable sign of a transformed heart and divine life, in direct opposition to the hatred exemplified by Cain and taught by false brethren. The subsequent verses (15-18) further deepen this concept, equating hatred with murder and challenging believers to love not just in word but in deed.

1 John 3 14 Word analysis

• We know (οἴδαμεν - oidamen): This is a perfect active indicative verb, suggesting a settled, assured knowledge derived from observation and experience, rather than mere intellectual assent (ginōskō). It signifies a firm, experiential understanding or spiritual certainty. John frequently uses this term to emphasize the assurance believers can have in their walk with God (1 Jn 2:3, 2:5, 3:2, 3:19, 3:24, 4:6, 4:13, 5:2, 5:15, 5:18, 5:19, 5:20).
• that we have passed (μεταβεβήκαμεν - metabebēkamen): This perfect active indicative verb signifies a completed action with ongoing results. It means to "move from one place to another," "change place," or "transition." Here, it denotes a definitive, once-for-all spiritual change of state, from one realm to another, from a condition of spiritual death to one of spiritual life.
• from death (ἐκ τοῦ θανάτου - ek tou thanatou): "Death" here (θάνατος - thanatos) refers not primarily to physical cessation, but to spiritual alienation from God, separation from His life-giving presence, and subjection to sin's dominion. It is the natural state of humanity apart from Christ (Rom 6:23; Eph 2:1).
• to life (εἰς τὴν ζωήν - eis tēn zōēn): "Life" (ζωή - zōē) in this context signifies spiritual life, eternal life, which is a qualitative experience of fellowship with God, participating in His divine nature, and possessing spiritual vitality given by Christ. It is a present possession for the believer (Jn 5:24).
• because (ὅτι - hoti): This is a conjunction indicating cause or reason. Here, it clarifies that our love for the brothers is the evidence or proof of our transition from death to life, not the cause of it. Our spiritual state produces this love.
• we love (ἀγαπῶμεν - agapōmen): This is from agapaō, referring to agapē love, which is God's selfless, unconditional, volitional love. It is not primarily an emotion, but a principle of benevolent action, seeking the highest good of others, even at personal cost. This active love is supernaturally empowered within the believer. The present tense indicates a continuous, characteristic practice of loving.
• the brothers (τοὺς ἀδελφούς - tous adelphous): Refers specifically to fellow believers in the Christian community, fellow members of the household of God. This love is inward-focused within the church family, distinct from general compassion, though genuine agapē naturally extends to all.
• Whoever does not love (ὁ μὴ ἀγαπῶν - ho mē agapōn): This uses a present participle with the definite article, forming a substantive: "the one not loving." This refers to a continuous state or characteristic of not exercising agapē love. It indicates not just a momentary lapse, but a pervasive absence.
• abides (μένει - menei): This present active indicative verb means to "remain," "stay," or "continue." It implies a fixed or settled state. The one who does not love continues in the condition they were in.
• in death (ἐν τῷ θανάτῳ - en tō thanatō): The state of spiritual alienation and separation from God described earlier. It indicates that the spiritual transition has not occurred for such an individual.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "We know that we have passed from death to life": This phrase asserts absolute certainty of salvation and regeneration. It describes a radical, definitive break from a prior state of spiritual brokenness and a crossing over into a new realm of spiritual vitality in Christ. The use of "death" and "life" highlights the spiritual chasm bridged by God's transformative grace.
• "because we love the brothers": This clause provides the visible, practical evidence. Christian love (agapē) for fellow believers is not optional but flows naturally from a heart that has been recreated by God. It is a primary spiritual fruit that manifests the indwelling life of Christ, contrasting with the self-centeredness of a life apart from God. This love validates the internal spiritual reality.
• "Whoever does not love abides in death": This statement presents the stark counter-argument and serious warning. The continuous absence or refusal to show agapē love to fellow believers demonstrates a fundamental spiritual deficiency. It reveals that the person has not undergone the spiritual transition, still dwelling in the realm of spiritual alienation, disconnected from the very source of life which is God Himself, for "God is love" (1 Jn 4:8). This highlights the binary nature of spiritual reality as presented by John: one is either in life or in death, characterized by love or its absence.

1 John 3 14 Bonus section

The nature of agapē love described in this verse is paramount. It is not dependent on the worthiness or attractiveness of the recipient but flows from the character of God who indwells the believer. This type of love mirrors Christ's sacrifice, as shown in 1 John 3:16 ("By this we know love, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers."). Therefore, the love demonstrated is not just a general warmth but a willingness to sacrificially serve and give to fellow believers. This collective love for the community becomes a powerful testimony to the world about the transforming power of the Gospel and the reality of God's presence among His people (Jn 13:35). The absence of this love fundamentally contradicts the new nature received in Christ and indicates a profound spiritual deficit, akin to being spiritually stillborn.

1 John 3 14 Commentary

First John 3:14 is a cornerstone verse for understanding Christian assurance and authentic discipleship. It provides a simple yet profound test: genuine spiritual life, gifted by God through faith in Christ, expresses itself inherently through a practical, self-sacrificing love for fellow believers. This is not a meritorious love that earns salvation but an organic outcome, a diagnostic symptom of a transformed heart. The love for brothers acts as internal evidence (assurance to the believer) and external evidence (discernment for others) that one has truly "passed from death to life."

This verse challenges any claim to spiritual transformation that lacks demonstrable brotherly love. It warns against a mere intellectual assent to Christian doctrine without a corresponding change in one's affections and actions towards others. The stark contrast between "love" and "abides in death" emphasizes the absolute spiritual divide: there is no middle ground. To genuinely love those in Christ means to share in Christ's nature, which is love; conversely, to remain loveless signals a persistent alienation from the source of life and love, signifying continued spiritual death. John later equates hatred with murder (1 Jn 3:15), further illustrating the deadly nature of a loveless heart, directly connecting it to the spiritual state of one who remains separated from eternal life. Thus, brotherly love is less a command to achieve and more a spontaneous overflow, an inevitable mark of having been spiritually reborn and now participating in the divine nature of a loving God.

Practical usage:

• A true believer might examine their heart: "Do I truly care for and actively seek the good of other Christians, even those I find difficult? Is this characteristic growing in my life?"
• If bitterness, unforgiveness, or consistent apathy toward fellow believers persist, it might serve as a serious spiritual check, prompting one to examine the foundation of their faith and spiritual condition.