3 John 1 11

3 John 1:11 kjv

Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

3 John 1:11 nkjv

Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. He who does good is of God, but he who does evil has not seen God.

3 John 1:11 niv

Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.

3 John 1:11 esv

Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.

3 John 1:11 nlt

Dear friend, don't let this bad example influence you. Follow only what is good. Remember that those who do good prove that they are God's children, and those who do evil prove that they do not know God.

3 John 1 verses

3 John 1 11 Meaning

Third John 1:11 is an earnest exhortation from John, the Elder, to Gaius, his beloved recipient, concerning moral conduct and spiritual discernment. It implores Gaius to choose righteousness over wickedness, asserting a direct spiritual lineage based on actions: those who practice good reveal their true origin from God, while those who habitually practice evil demonstrate a lack of true knowledge or experiential relationship with God. The verse underscores that behavior is a reflection of one's spiritual reality and intimate acquaintance with the Divine.

3 John 1 11 Context

Third John is a personal letter from the Apostle John, referred to as "the Elder," to Gaius, a faithful Christian. The primary concern of the letter is hospitality, particularly towards itinerant Christian missionaries ("fellow workers for the truth"). John commends Gaius for his faithfulness and generous support. The immediate context of verse 11 is John's warning against Diotrephes, a leader who is prideful, rejects apostolic authority, speaks malicious words, refuses to receive missionaries, and excommunicates those who do. Verse 11 directly contrasts the godly conduct expected of Gaius with the ungodly, self-serving actions of Diotrephes, making Diotrephes an example of "doing evil" that Gaius must not imitate. It serves as both a caution and an encouragement, defining genuine Christian character by actions that align with God's nature and truth. Historically, this highlights tensions within early Christian communities regarding authority, hospitality, and distinguishing true believers from those motivated by self-interest.

3 John 1 11 Word analysis

• Beloved (ἀγαπητέ, agapēte):

  • Meaning: An address of deep affection, love, and intimacy.
  • Significance: Sets a pastoral and personal tone; indicates the speaker's genuine care for the recipient, Gaius. This isn't a harsh rebuke, but loving guidance.

• Do not imitate (μὴ μιμοῦ, mē mimou):

  • Meaning: A strong imperative, literally "do not be a mimic of," "do not follow the example of."
  • Significance: Denotes active emulation or reproduction of behavior. It's a prohibition against adopting the actions or character demonstrated by others who are wicked (e.g., Diotrephes).

• evil (τὸ κακόν, to kakon):

  • Meaning: Refers to moral evil, wickedness, maliciousness, that which is inherently bad or harmful.
  • Significance: Not merely an error, but active opposition to God's character and truth, as exemplified by Diotrephes' actions.

• but imitate (ἀλλὰ τὸ, alla to followed by verb mimou understood):

  • Meaning: A strong adversative conjunction ("but") that sets a direct contrast, shifting focus from avoiding negative imitation to embracing positive.
  • Significance: Emphasizes a clear choice and imperative for active emulation.

• good (τὸ ἀγαθόν, to agathon):

  • Meaning: Refers to that which is inherently virtuous, beneficial, morally excellent, right, and aligned with God's character.
  • Significance: Contrasts sharply with "evil"; defines the Christ-like behavior Gaius is called to embody, especially regarding truth, hospitality, and love.

• He who does (ὁ ποιῶν, ho poiōn):

  • Meaning: The one who habitually practices or consistently performs.
  • Significance: Focuses on the continuous nature of one's actions and character, not a singular act. Behavior reveals deeper spiritual reality.

• good (τὸ ἀγαθόν, to agathon):

  • (Repeated emphasis): Reinforces the action as defining of spiritual standing.

• is of God (ἐκ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐστιν, ek tou Theou estin):

  • Meaning: Literally "is out of God," signifying origin, source, or belonging to God.
  • Significance: Implies that their character and actions are characteristic of God's nature, indicating a genuine relationship and spiritual birth from Him (as also taught in 1 John). This is a statement of spiritual paternity and conformity.

• he who does (ὁ ποιῶν, ho poiōn):

  • (Repeated emphasis): Again, points to habitual action.

• evil (τὸ κακόν, to kakon):

  • (Repeated emphasis): Reinforces the ungodly nature of the habitual actions.

• has not seen God (οὐχ ἑώρακεν τὸν Θεόν, ouch heōraken ton Theon):

  • Meaning: Not "seen" in the sense of physical sight, but rather a lack of experiential knowledge, spiritual perception, or genuine acquaintance with God. "To see" here means to know and understand by experience.
  • Significance: This phrase is a powerful Johannine idiom (cf. John 1:18, 1 John 4:12). It implies a spiritual blindness or an absence of true, transforming relationship with God. Their wicked deeds demonstrate a failure to perceive or know God in a saving, life-altering way, revealing an unregenerate or severely spiritually disconnected state, regardless of any outward profession.

• Word Groups / Phrases Analysis:

  • "Do not imitate evil, but imitate good": A succinct dual imperative setting forth the fundamental choice for a believer. It’s a call to practical discernment and conscious moral decision-making, especially crucial when faced with differing examples within the church.
  • "He who does good is of God; he who does evil has not seen God": This forms a profound spiritual principle of attribution and revelation. Actions are the undeniable proof of one's true spiritual state and relationship (or lack thereof) with God. It speaks to a lived theology, where one's conduct provides visible evidence of their spiritual parentage or alienation. This contrasts "being from God" (implying divine origin and character) with not having "seen/known God" (implying an absence of saving, transformative encounter).

3 John 1 11 Bonus section

The repeated structure "he who does X is Y; he who does Z is not W" is characteristic of John's writing, often used to establish stark contrasts between those "of God" and those who are not (cf. 1 Jn 3:9-10; 4:7-8). This stylistic choice reinforces the black-and-white nature of spiritual reality and the definitive consequence of one's chosen path and persistent actions. It functions as a direct theological principle linking ethical conduct to spiritual lineage and discernment. The absence of "seeing God" is akin to being spiritually blind or alienated, highlighting a severe spiritual defect rather than merely a moral lapse, indicating that one's behavior fundamentally denies their connection to Him. This passage underscores that true spirituality is evidenced not merely by belief or profession, but by practical obedience and moral uprightness that reflects the very character of God.

3 John 1 11 Commentary

Third John 1:11 distills a profound truth about Christian character and spiritual authenticity: behavior reflects spiritual reality. John moves from warning Gaius about specific negative examples (Diotrephes) to a general, yet urgent, exhortation to embody what is genuinely godly. The core command "do not imitate evil, but imitate good" is not merely a call to abstain from wrongdoing, but to actively pursue righteousness. This requires a conscious decision and consistent effort to align one's conduct with divine standards, contrasting sharply with the destructive behavior of those like Diotrephes, whose self-aggrandizement and rejection of brethren marked them as contrary to Christ's Spirit.

The latter part of the verse, "He who does good is of God; he who does evil has not seen God," explains the spiritual stakes of this choice. "Is of God" signifies a deep, intrinsic connection and shared nature, as a child bears the characteristics of their parent. To act righteously is to bear witness to God's own character dwelling within the individual. Conversely, to habitually practice evil demonstrates that one has "not seen God." This is not about physical sight, for "no one has seen God at any time" (Jn 1:18), but about a spiritual, experiential knowing and perception. One who lives wickedly reveals a fundamental lack of saving relationship or spiritual discernment, despite any claims of knowing Him. True knowledge of God is transformative and invariably leads to righteousness, love, and hospitality, reflecting His own attributes.

In essence, the verse asserts that actions are not superficial; they are revelatory. They expose the depth of one's acquaintance with the divine and where their true spiritual allegiance lies. For believers, it is a clarion call to consistently demonstrate good works as an outflow of their being "of God," confirming their witness in the world and differentiating themselves from those who, though perhaps in the church, remain alienated from God's character.

Examples:

• Practical usage: In a community conflict, a person chooses reconciliation and acts charitably (imitates good), while another fuels gossip and division (imitates evil). John's message reminds us that the reconciler demonstrates being "of God," while the divider shows they "have not seen God."
• Leadership: A church leader selflessly serves others (does good), embodying Christ. Another leader manipulates for power (does evil), demonstrating a lack of true spiritual vision.