1 John 3:17 kjv

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

1 John 3:17 nkjv

But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

1 John 3:17 niv

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person?

1 John 3:17 esv

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?

1 John 3:17 nlt

If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion ? how can God's love be in that person?

1 John 3 verses

1 John 3 17 Meaning

First John 3:17 highlights that true spiritual love, which originates from God, is demonstrably manifested through practical action. It states that if a believer possessing material resources witnesses a fellow Christian in genuine need and willfully withholds compassion or aid, then the love of God cannot truly be dwelling or active within that individual. The verse underscores that love for God is intrinsically linked to tangible care for one's brother, challenging a disconnect between theological confession and ethical conduct.

1 John 3 17 Context

First John 3:17 is a pivotal verse within a larger discourse in 1 John Chapter 3 concerning the authentic markers of God's children versus the devil's children. John emphasizes that true righteousness and brotherly love are distinguishing characteristics. This verse immediately follows the profound declaration in 1 John 3:16, where Christ's sacrificial act of laying down His life serves as the ultimate demonstration and standard of love (agape). Against this backdrop, verse 17 poses a practical test of whether a believer truly possesses this divine love. John is countering any Gnostic or spiritualizing tendencies prevalent in his day that might emphasize knowledge or spiritual experience over ethical and practical living. He asserts that a mere verbal profession of love or faith is insufficient; genuine faith manifests itself in active compassion towards the needy within the Christian community.

1 John 3 17 Word analysis

• But whoever (ὅς δ’ ἂν ἔχῃ - hos d’ an echē): This introduces a contrast (the "But") with the self-sacrificial love of Christ in the preceding verse. The "whoever" makes the statement universally applicable to any Christian.

• has this world's goods (τὸν βίον τοῦ κόσμου - ton bion tou kosmou):

  • βίον (bion): Denotes "means of life," "livelihood," "sustenance," "material resources," or "wealth." It is not inherently evil, but describes one's worldly possessions.
  • τοῦ κόσμου (tou kosmou): "Of the world." The term kosmos often refers to the fallen, anti-God system or order of humanity in John's writings (e.g., 1 Jn 2:15-17). Here, it refers to the material resources present in this world system, emphasizing their temporal nature, but also that they are under God's sovereignty and thus entail responsibility.

• and sees (θεωρῇ - theōrē): Means "to look at intently," "to perceive clearly," "to behold." It suggests more than a casual glance; it implies a clear awareness and recognition of the brother's condition. The person cannot claim ignorance.

• his brother (τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ - ton adelphon autou): Refers specifically to a fellow believer, a member of the Christian community. While the principle of love extends to all people (Gal 6:10), the primary application here is to the family of faith, who share the common bond of spiritual brotherhood in Christ.

• in need (χρείαν ἔχοντα - chreian echonta): Signifies genuine material lack, "necessity," or "want." It refers to fundamental needs like food, clothing, shelter, rather than mere desires or luxuries.

• and shuts up (καὶ κλείσῃ - kai kleisē): "To close," "to shut," "to lock." This verb denotes a deliberate, volitional act of withholding or refusal, not simply a lack of means.

• his heart (τὰ σπλάγχνα αὐτοῦ - ta splagchna autou): Literally "bowels" or "inward parts." In ancient Greek thought, the splagchna were considered the seat of strong emotions, especially tender affections, pity, compassion, or sympathy. To "shut up the splagchna" means to suppress or deny deeply felt compassion, rendering one unresponsive and uncaring.

• from him (ἀπ’ αὐτοῦ - ap’ autou): Indicates separation, withdrawal, or turning away from the person in need.

• how does (πῶς - pōs): Introduces a rhetorical question, implying an emphatic negative answer. It means "in what way?" or "by what means?"

• the love of God (ἡ ἀγάπη τοῦ θεοῦ - hē agapē tou theou):

  • ἀγάπη (agape): The distinctive, self-sacrificial, benevolent love that originates with God and characterizes His nature (1 Jn 4:8). It is active and seeking the welfare of others.
  • τοῦ θεοῦ (tou theou): Can be interpreted as "love from God" (subjective genitive – love that God gives) or "love for God" (objective genitive – human love directed towards God). In this context, given John's emphasis on God as the source of love and Christ's example (1 Jn 3:16), it primarily means the divine love that emanates from God and indwells the believer.

• abide in him (μένει ἐν αὐτῷ; - menei en autō?):

  • μένει (menei): "To remain," "to dwell," "to persist," "to continue in a state." This is a key Johannine theme (e.g., Jn 15:4-7).
  • The rhetorical question "How does the love of God abide in him?" strongly implies: It simply cannot abide. A closed heart toward a needy brother directly contradicts and proves the absence or ineffective presence of God's love. True love acts.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need": This sets up the direct confrontation. It's about having resources and being aware of legitimate suffering within the community. It's not about lacking the means, but failing to act when one has the means and knows the need.
  • "and shuts up his heart from him": This phrase emphasizes the deliberate nature of the inaction. It's not a passive oversight, but an active choice to withhold compassion, indicative of a hardened disposition or lack of genuine empathy.
  • "how does the love of God abide in him?": This rhetorical question serves as a direct challenge to the genuineness of such a person's faith and love for God. It exposes the logical contradiction: if God's self-sacrificing love is truly present, it will manifest itself in outward acts of compassion, particularly towards fellow believers in distress.

1 John 3 17 Bonus section

The strong link between a spiritual state ("love of God abiding") and practical action concerning material possessions makes this verse crucial for understanding biblical stewardship and the nature of the Christian community. John, throughout his epistles, consistently ties visible action to spiritual truth (e.g., 1 Jn 2:4-6, 1 Jn 4:20). The rhetorical question isn't just a challenge, but a pedagogical tool designed to provoke self-examination. The implied answer – that the love of God cannot abide in such a person – reveals the absolute incompatibility between selfish indifference to a brother's need and the indwelling of God's transformative love. It exposes that such inaction suggests either that God's love was never truly embraced, or that it has been stifled to the point of being non-operational, rendering one outside the practical manifestation of the body of Christ.

1 John 3 17 Commentary

First John 3:17 serves as a practical litmus test for genuine Christian love. John moves directly from the ultimate demonstration of love by Christ laying down His life (v. 16) to the tangible outworking of that love in a believer's life. Possessing "this world's goods" (material resources) brings a direct responsibility when a "brother in need" is encountered. The phrase "shuts up his heart" speaks to a deliberate hardening against compassion, not merely a failure to perceive. The "heart" (σπλάγχνα, splagchna) signifies the seat of tender affections and compassion; to close it off is to stifle empathy and connection.

The core message is that agape, the divine, self-sacrificing love originating from God, cannot reside in an individual who possesses the means to help a struggling fellow believer yet chooses to withhold assistance. The rhetorical question "how does the love of God abide in him?" is a powerful negative affirmation, strongly implying that it simply does not. This love is not merely an emotion or a verbal profession but a dynamic, active force that compels action. If it is truly present, it will overflow into practical acts of kindness and material sharing, reflecting Christ's own self-giving. This verse challenges spiritual hypocrisy, making it clear that true spirituality is evidenced not just by what one believes, but by how one lives and loves, especially those within the household of faith.

Examples:

• A Christian with excess food allows a fellow church member to go hungry, despite knowing their situation.
• Someone with disposable income neglects to help a Christian brother who is struggling to pay essential medical bills.
• A person with multiple rooms in their home turns away a homeless believer seeking temporary shelter.