The First Epistle General of John

⭑ Douay-Rheims :: World English Bible Catholic ⭑

- Chapter 3 -

Behold what manner of charity the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called, and should be the sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth not us, because it knew not him.

Dearly beloved, we are now the sons of God; and it hath not yet appeared what we shall be. We know, that, when he shall appear, we shall be like to him: because we shall see him as he is.

And every one that hath this hope in him, sanctifieth himself, as he also is holy.

Whosoever committeth sin committeth also iniquity; and sin is iniquity.

And you know that he appeared to take away our sins, and in him there is no sin.

Whosoever abideth in him, sinneth not; and whosoever sinneth, hath not seen him, nor known him.

Little children, let no man deceive you. He that doth justice is just, even as he is just.

He that committeth sin is of the devil: for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God appeared, that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Whosoever is born of God, committeth not sin: for his seed abideth in him, and he can not sin, because he is born of God.

In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil. Whosoever is not just, is not of God, nor he that loveth not his brother.

Love One Another

(John 13:31–35; Romans 12:9–13)

For this is the declaration, which you have heard from the beginning, that you should love one another.

Not as Cain, who was of the wicked one, and killed his brother. And wherefore did he kill him? Because his own works were wicked: and his brother’s just.

Wonder not, brethren, if the world hate you.

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

Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself.

In this we have known the charity of God, because he hath laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother in need, and shall shut up his bowels from him: how doth the charity of God abide in him?

My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed, and in truth.

In this we know that we are of the truth: and in his sight shall persuade our hearts.

For if our heart reprehend us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.

Dearly beloved, if our heart do not reprehend us, we have confidence towards God:

And whatsoever we shall ask, we shall receive of him: because we keep his commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight.

And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ: and love one another, as he hath given commandment unto us.

And he that keepeth his commandments, abideth in him, and he in him. And in this we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

See how great a love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God! For this cause the world doesn’t know us, because it didn’t know him.

Beloved, now we are children of God. It is not yet revealed what we will be; but we know that when he is revealed, we will be like him, for we will see him just as he is.

Everyone who has this hope set on him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

Everyone who sins also commits lawlessness. Sin is lawlessness.

You know that he was revealed to take away our sins, and no sin is in him.

Whoever remains in him doesn’t sin. Whoever sins hasn’t seen him and doesn’t know him.

Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. To this end the Son of God was revealed: that he might destroy the works of the devil.

Whoever is born of God doesn’t commit sin, because his seed remains in him, and he can’t sin, because he is born of God.

In this the children of God are revealed, and the children of the devil. Whoever doesn’t do righteousness is not of God, neither is he who doesn’t love his brother.

Love One Another

(John 13:31–35; Romans 12:9–13)

For this is the message which you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another—

unlike Cain, who was of the evil one and killed his brother. Why did he kill him? Because his deeds were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

Don’t be surprised, my brothers, if the world hates you.

We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death.

Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him.

By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, then closes his heart of compassion against him, how does God’s love remain in him?

My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.

And by this we know that we are of the truth and persuade our hearts before him,

because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God;

so whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.

This is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he commanded.

He who keeps his commandments remains in him, and he in him. By this we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.