1 John 3:6 kjv

Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

1 John 3:6 nkjv

Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him.

1 John 3:6 niv

No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.

1 John 3:6 esv

No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.

1 John 3:6 nlt

Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.

1 John 3 verses

1 John 3 6 Meaning

The verse states that a person who truly dwells in Christ does not live a life of continuous sin, for abiding in Him implies a fundamental change of disposition and conduct. Conversely, anyone who persistently engages in sin demonstrates that they have never truly experienced a spiritual revelation of Him or entered into a genuine, intimate relationship with Him. This declaration emphasizes that a pattern of habitual righteousness is an expected outcome of true spiritual union with Christ.

1 John 3 6 Context

This verse is embedded in a critical section of John’s first epistle where he expounds on the identifying marks of a true believer, contrasting them sharply with those who merely claim spiritual knowledge. Chapter 3 immediately follows a passage (1 Jn 2:29-3:3) that introduces the concept of being "born of God" and the purity that accompanies this new divine paternity. Verses 1 Jn 3:4-5 immediately precede 1 Jn 3:6, stating that "everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness," and that Jesus "appeared in order to take away sins." John is presenting a foundational theological truth: the purpose of Christ's advent was to address sin, and those truly in Him will reflect this purpose in their lives. The overall theme of 1 John contrasts light and darkness, truth and falsehood, love and hatred, and critically, righteousness and sin, as the distinguishing features of "children of God" versus "children of the devil." John’s message serves as a polemic against those who might have claimed to have spiritual insight or relationship with God yet indulged in moral laxity, characteristic of certain early Gnostic or antinomian tendencies that separated spiritual status from ethical conduct.

1 John 3 6 Word analysis

• No one (Πᾶς - Pas): Here, translated as "no one," often implying "everyone" or "all." In a negative construction, it becomes absolute: "absolutely no one." John uses such emphatic language to highlight fundamental truths about the Christian life and the new nature.
• who abides (ὁ μένων - ho menōn): The Greek verb μένω (menō) is a present active participle, denoting a continuous state or action: "the one continually remaining, dwelling, or living." It signifies an ongoing, vital, and intimate union with Christ. This is not a transient visit but a settled, abiding relationship that transforms the individual's entire being and way of life.
• in Him (ἐν αὐτῷ - en autō): Refers directly to Jesus Christ, emphasizing the union and identification a believer has with Him. This union is the source of spiritual life and power for righteous living.
• sins (ἁμαρτάνει - hamartanei): This is a crucial word in the verse, in the present active indicative tense. This tense indicates a continuous, habitual action or lifestyle, not a single, isolated act of sin. It describes someone whose life is characterized by practicing or indulging in sin, as opposed to someone who occasionally stumbles but whose general direction is away from sin. The essence is that a truly abiding believer does not live a life of ongoing, willful sin as their regular practice.
• no one who sins (πᾶς ὁ ἁμαρτάνων - pas ho hamartanōn): Again, "no one" used emphatically, and "sins" (ἁμαρτάνων - hamartanōn) is a present active participle, pointing to the ongoing, habitual nature of sin. This reiterates the point made earlier, drawing a stark contrast.
• has seen Him (ἑώρακεν αὐτόν - heōraken auton): The verb ἑώρακεν (heōraken) is a perfect active indicative of ὁράω (horaō), "to see." The perfect tense emphasizes a past completed action with continuing results. This seeing is not merely physical sight but a spiritual, revelatory perception, an experience of Christ that leads to saving knowledge and transformation. Those who habitually sin have not truly "seen" Him in this profound, life-altering sense.
• or knows Him (οὐδὲ ἔγνωκεν αὐτόν - oude egnōken auton): The verb ἔγνωκεν (egnōken) is also a perfect active indicative of γινώσκω (ginōskō), "to know." Similar to "seen," this refers to a deep, personal, intimate, experiential, and transformative knowledge, rather than mere intellectual assent or head-knowledge. It is a saving relationship. To consistently live in sin demonstrates a fundamental absence of this intimate knowledge of Christ.

• "No one who abides in Him sins": This phrase underlines the practical implication of true spiritual union with Christ. If one genuinely remains in Christ, drawing life and direction from Him, their characteristic pattern of life will not be one of ongoing, willful sin. This reflects a changed heart and a new master.
• "no one who sins has seen Him or knows Him": This part serves as a diagnostic. If a person habitually practices sin, it reveals a profound spiritual deficit: they have not truly apprehended Christ through a revelatory experience nor entered into a deep, transforming relationship with Him. Their conduct directly contradicts their supposed spiritual status.

1 John 3 6 Bonus section

This verse provides a crucial understanding of Christian sanctification. While justification declares a sinner righteous before God through faith in Christ, sanctification is the progressive process of becoming more like Christ in thought, word, and deed. 1 John 3:6 speaks to the reality that this progressive sanctification will lead to a discernible break from the former enslavement to sin. The "seed" (σπέρμα - sperma) of God mentioned in 1 Jn 3:9, which remains in the born-again individual, represents the divine life principle imparted at conversion. This new life fights against the old sinful nature, empowering the believer to live righteously. Therefore, the consistent practice of sin implies that this divine seed either has not been truly implanted or is being thoroughly suppressed by persistent unrepentant rebellion, effectively demonstrating no true "knowing" or "seeing" of Christ in the transformative Johannine sense. This perspective rejects antinomianism, which falsely claims that grace frees believers from the moral demands of God's law.

1 John 3 6 Commentary

First John 3:6 is a foundational statement affirming the transformative power of a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ. It does not teach absolute sinless perfection, which would contradict 1 Jn 1:8 ("If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves..."), but rather a change in the dominion of sin. When an individual is "born of God" (1 Jn 3:9), the inclination of their heart shifts. Sin ceases to be the governing principle of their life. While a believer may still fall into sin (and has an advocate in Christ, as 1 Jn 2:1-2 teaches), their pattern or practice will not be characterized by it.

The emphasis on the present tense for "sins" (ἁμαρτάνει, ἁμαρτάνων) is crucial; it refers to the persistent, ongoing habit of sin. A life of consistent and deliberate rebellion against God’s known will indicates a lack of true saving knowledge and union with Christ. To "abide in Him" implies being constantly nourished by His presence, obedient to His word, and led by His Spirit, resulting in a life where sin is the exception, confessed and forsaken, not the norm. Conversely, to "have seen Him" and "know Him" means experiencing a genuine spiritual revelation and an intimate, transformative relationship with the Lord. These experiences inevitably lead to a change in desires and behavior, where holiness and righteousness become the pursuit, rather than continuous sin. The verse thus serves as both a comfort for the genuine believer—confirming their changed nature—and a profound challenge to those whose lives of persistent sin betray a superficial or non-existent walk with God.