1 John 3:16 kjv
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1 John 3:16 nkjv
By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
1 John 3:16 niv
This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3:16 esv
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
1 John 3:16 nlt
We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.
1 John 3 16 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jn 15:13 | Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. | Christ's example of laying down His life. |
| Rom 5:8 | But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. | God's costly love for undeserving humanity. |
| Eph 5:2 | And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us... | Believers called to imitate Christ's sacrificial love. |
| Php 2:5-8 | Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus... humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. | Christ's ultimate humility and self-sacrifice. |
| Heb 12:2 | ...looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross... | Jesus as the perfect example of enduring love. |
| Jn 13:34-35 | A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you... | Love for brethren as a new commandment. |
| 1 Jn 2:10 | Whoever loves his brother abides in the light... | Love as a sign of abiding in the light/truth. |
| 1 Jn 3:10 | By this it is evident who are the children of God... Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. | Love for brethren identifies children of God. |
| 1 Jn 4:7-8 | Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God... Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. | God's nature is love, enabling us to love. |
| 1 Jn 4:10-11 | In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. | God's initiating love prompts our love for others. |
| Gal 5:13 | For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. | Love as a means of service within the community. |
| Rom 12:10 | Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. | Brotherly love and mutual honor among believers. |
| 1 Pet 4:8 | Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. | Earnest love and its power to forgive/overlook faults. |
| Rom 12:1 | ...present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God... | Spiritual worship involves presenting ourselves sacrificially. |
| Lk 9:23-24 | ...If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. | Call to self-denial and costly discipleship. |
| 2 Cor 5:14-15 | For the love of Christ controls us... that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. | Christ's love motivates living for Him, not self. |
| 1 Jn 3:17-18 | But 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? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. | Practical application of love: helping the needy. |
| Jas 2:15-16 | If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? | Faith/love without deeds is empty. |
| Mt 20:28 | ...just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. | Jesus' mission was to serve and ransom. |
| Jn 10:11, 15 | I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep... I lay down my life for the sheep. | Jesus, the Good Shepherd, laying down His life. |
| 1 Thess 4:9-10 | ...you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing toward all the brothers... | Believers taught by God to actively love one another. |
1 John 3 verses
1 John 3 16 Meaning
This verse fundamentally defines true love (ἀγάπη, agapē) not merely as an emotion, but as a selfless, active, and costly sacrifice, exemplified supremely by Jesus Christ laying down His life for humanity. Having thus received and understood this divine love, believers are now bound by obligation to reflect this same self-sacrificial love within the Christian community, prioritizing the well-being and needs of fellow believers above their own.
1 John 3 16 Context
First John Chapter 3 unfolds a clear distinction between the children of God and the children of the devil, using righteousness and love as key identifiers. Prior to verse 16, John emphasizes the new nature of those born of God (vv. 1-10) – they practice righteousness, do not habitually sin, and are characterized by love. Verse 11 introduces the command "that we love one another," establishing a contrast with Cain's hatred and murder (vv. 12-13), portraying the world's inherent hatred toward believers. The death from sin is paralleled with life from love, specifically the sacrificial love that overcomes hatred. Thus, 1 John 3:16 immediately follows the exposition of Cain's murderous hatred (v. 12), setting Christ's self-giving love as the ultimate antithesis and the new standard for life in the community of believers. It lays the groundwork for the practical expression of love highlighted in verses 17 and 18, demonstrating that genuine love must translate into tangible acts, especially in meeting the needs of fellow believers.
1 John 3 16 Word analysis
- By this (ἐν τούτῳ, en toutō): A demonstrative phrase, pointing forward to the ultimate demonstration that defines "love." It means "in this way" or "by means of this." This signifies the unique standard by which Christian love is identified and measured.
- we know (γινώσκομεν, ginōskomen): Present tense, emphasizing an ongoing, experiential, and intimate understanding, not just intellectual assent. From ginosko, it denotes a deep, personal knowledge or recognition that comes through direct experience and revelation.
- love (τὴν ἀγάπην, tēn agapēn): The definite article highlights a specific kind of love: divine, self-giving, costly, and volitional love. It is not an emotional passion, but an act of will for the good of another, regardless of their worthiness.
- because (ὅτι, hoti): Introduces the definitive reason or foundation for our knowledge of love. It points directly to Christ's action as the ultimate evidence.
- He laid down (ἐκεῖνος τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἔθηκεν, ekeinos tēn psychēn autou ethēken): "He" refers unambiguously to Jesus Christ. "Laid down his life" is a specific idiomatic phrase used by Jesus Himself (Jn 10:11, 15; 15:13) signifying a deliberate, voluntary, and final act of self-sacrifice resulting in death. It's not passive, but an intentional act.
- His life (τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ, tēn psychēn autou): Literally "His soul," representing His entire being, His very self, His animating principle. It underscores the completeness and totality of the offering.
- for us (ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, hyper hēmōn): Meaning "on behalf of," "for the sake of," or "in place of." This indicates a benefactive and substitutionary act, highlighting the purpose and recipients of Christ's sacrifice—it was for our benefit and salvation.
- And we (καὶ ἡμεῖς, kai hēmeis): Connects the previous statement about Christ's action to the subsequent obligation placed upon believers. It signals a necessary and direct consequence.
- ought (ὀφείλομεν, opheilomen): A strong moral obligation. It means "we owe," "are indebted to," or "are duty-bound." It's not merely a suggestion or an option, but an ethical imperative stemming from what Christ has done for us.
- to lay down our lives (τὰς ψυχὰς τιθέναι, tas psychas tithenai): The exact same phrase used for Christ. This is the imitation and application of His sacrifice. While it certainly includes literal martyrdom, it extends to a complete and continuous self-giving in service, surrender of personal rights, resources, comfort, and desires for the welfare of others. It represents living sacrificially.
- for the brethren (ὑπὲρ τῶν ἀδελφῶν, hyper tōn adelphōn): Specifies the primary sphere of this application: fellow believers in the Christian community. This love should be demonstrably active and visible among those who share the same spiritual family, proving their common identity in Christ.
1 John 3 16 Bonus section
The repeated phrase "lay down His life" for Christ and "lay down our lives" for the brethren emphasizes the absolute continuity of the ethical standard from divine love to human obligation. It signifies that the quality and nature of the love expected from believers is precisely that exemplified by Christ, characterized by extreme selflessness and willingness to suffer loss for the good of others. While the context initially specifies "for the brethren," the principle of agape naturally extends beyond the church community to include showing Christ-like compassion and service to all, albeit starting with those within the family of God as the training ground. This love serves as a powerful evangelistic witness to the world, revealing the reality of God in those who embody His character (Jn 13:35). The imperative "we ought" (opheilomen) points to a profound moral debt we owe because of Christ's action on our behalf, prompting a spontaneous outpouring of sacrificial love rooted in gratitude and a new nature.
1 John 3 16 Commentary
1 John 3:16 serves as a definitive statement on the nature of Christian love (ἀγάπη). It asserts that our true understanding of this love is derived not from abstract theology or human sentiment, but from the concrete, historical act of Jesus Christ willingly and perfectly laying down His life for humanity. This act becomes the defining moment of love and the exemplar for all who follow Him. The first part of the verse reveals God's costly and perfect love, received freely by us. The second part, then, presents an unavoidable ethical demand: as recipients of such an immense sacrifice, believers are now obligated—not merely invited—to live out this same self-giving love within the community of faith. This "laying down of life" for fellow believers, mirroring Christ's example, encapsulates sacrificial service, sharing of resources, empathetic care, forgiving offenses, and a readiness to place the well-being of the brethren above one's own comfort or advantage. It moves beyond mere words, demanding love in tangible deed and truth, a love that validates our claim to be children of God.