1 John 3:1-8

1 John 3:1-7 1 John 3:1-3 All Saints

1 John 3:1-7
You can sponsor this page of The Text This Week

Reading the Text:
- NRSV (with link to Anglicized NRSV) at Oremus Bible Browser.
- Greek Interlinear Bible, ScrTR, ScrTR t, Strong, Parsing, CGTS, CGES id, AV.
- The Bible Gateway: NRSV, RSV, NIV, NASB, CEV, The Message, KJV, etc.
- The Blue Letter Bible. KJV, alternate versions, Greek text with concordance, commentaries.
- The World Wide Study Bible includes commentary, exposition and sermons.
Historical References, Commentary and Comparative Texts:
- Chapter XXIII, On the Resurrection of the Flesh, Tertullian (c. 211)
- Chapter III, On Monogamy, Tertullian (c. 215)
- Chapter II, Chapter XIX, On Modesty, Tertullian (c. 217)
- III.VI.1, First Principles (De Principiis), Origen. (c.225)
- IV.XXIX, Against Celsus, Origen. (c.246)
- Augustine's Homily 4 on 1 John 2:27 - 3:8.
  - "In the first place mark, what is called "Is." Ye know what it is that is so called. That which is called "Is," and not only is called but is so, is unchangeable: It ever remaineth, It cannot be changed, It is in no part corruptible: It hath neither proficiency, for It is perfect; nor hath deficiency, for It is eternal. And what is this? "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.""
- From the Geneva Notes.
  - "This dignity is not fully revealed to us ourselves, much less to strangers, but we are sure of the accomplishment of it, in as much as we shall be like the Son of God himself and shall enjoy his sight indeed, such as he is now, but yet this is deferred until his next coming."
- From Matthew Henry's Commentary.
  - "Little does the world know of the happiness of the real followers of Christ. Little does the world think that these poor, humble, despised ones, are favourites of God, and will dwell in heaven. Let the followers of Christ be content with hard fare here, since they are in a land of strangers, where their Lord was so badly treated before them."
- From Wesley's Notes.
  - "For we shall see him as he is - Manifestly, without a veil. And that sight will transform us into the same likeness."
- "The Beatific Vision: 1 John 3:2," Charles H. Spurgeon, 1856.
  - "We have I believe, all of us who love his name, a most insatiable wish to behold his person. The thing for which I would pray above all others, would be for ever to behold his face, for ever to lay my head upon his breast, for ever to know that I am his, for ever to dwell with him."
- From the Commentary on the Whole Bible (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871).
  - "None but the pure can see the infinitely Pure One. In all these passages the Greek is the same verb opsomai; not denoting the action of seeing, but the state of him to whose eye or mind the object is presented; hence the Greek verb is always in the middle or reflexive voice, to perceive and inwardly appreciate...Our spiritual bodies will appreciate and recognize spiritual beings hereafter, as our natural bodies now do natural objects."
- "Exposition: 1 John 3:1-10," Charles H. Spurgeon.
  - "It were well if we always remembered that practical godliness is the soul of godliness; that it is not talking religion, but walking religion which proves a man to be sincere; it is not having a religious tongue, but a religious heart; it is not a religious mouth, but a religious foot."
- From The People's New Testament, B.W. Johnson, 1891.
  - "To look upon him has power to change us into his glory."
Contemporary Commentary, Studies, and Exegesis:
- Commentary, 1 John 3:1-7, Sherri Brown, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2018.
  - "The relationship between 1 John and the Gospel of John becomes evident across the first verses of the letter.."
- The Center for Excellence in Preaching, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, illustration ideas, 2018.
- Commentary, 1 John 3:1-7, Nijay Gupta, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2015.
  - "In the Roman world adoptions took place, but it was not about compassion for orphans. In fact, many people were adopted as young adults or adults. Adoption was about inheritance and name."
- The Center for Excellence in Preaching, Stan Mast, resources from Calvin Theological Seminary: Comments & Observations, Textual Points, illustration ideas, 2015.
  - "We can be, no, we are different people because of Easter. We've been radically changed. The secret of continued change is to believe the Good News of what Christ has done for and to us, claim our new identity, and live out that new identity, even in the face of our lingering old identity as sinners."
- Pulpit Fiction, plus podcast. Reflections of lectionary text, pop culture, current events, etc. Robb Mc Coy and Eric Fistler, 2015.
- Commentary, 1 John 3:1-7, Brian Peterson, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2012.
  - "It may be significant that this text is full of indicative verbs, not imperative."
- Commentary, 1 John 3:1-3 (All Saints A), C. Clifton Black, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2011.
  - "The church's integrity wells up from, and is channeled by, God's calling (3:1b; 3:3). To be a saint is to live in the same love by which God has loved us (3:16-18; 4:7-12)."
- Commentary, 1 John 3:1-7, David Bartlett, Preaching This Week, WorkingPreacher.org, 2009.
  - "We get Christian hope confused when we think that our hope is based on now nice we are, or how well we behave, or on some hidden piece of us called 'the soul' that will survive through death and destruction."
- 1 John 3:1-7, Easter 3B, Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
- "First Thoughts on Year B Epistle Passages in the Lectionary: Easter 3," William Loader, Murdoch University, Uniting Church in Australia.
  - "The author might say today: no amount of doing good deeds and no amount of having impressive spiritual experiences will count for anything if it is not connected to a real change that is relational."
- Join the Feast, 1 John 3:1-7, Andrew Taylor-Troutman, Union PSCE, 2009.
  - "How do we, as Christians, reconcile our absolutist claims in Scripture that have undeniably caused death and destruction with our firm convictions that God has revealed God?s own self in the flesh for the good of the world?"
- 1 John 3:1-7, A River Ride with 1 John: Texts of the Easter Season, Robert M. Brusic, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1997.
- "Confidence in Christ: 1 John 3:1-2," The Word of Life in the Witness of the Cross, Paul S. Berge, Word & World Texts in Context, Luther Northwestern Theological Seminary, 1988.
- "The Family of God," Rev. Bryan Findlayson, Lectionary Bible Studies and Sermons, Pumpkin Cottage Ministry Resources. Includes detailed textual notes.
- 1 John 3:1-3, All Saints A, Comments (commentary) and Clippings (technical notes for in-depth study), Chris Haslam, Anglican Diocese of Montreal.
Recommended articles from ATLAS, an online collection of religion and theology journals, are linked below. ATLAS Access options are available for academic institutions, alumni of selected theological schools, and clergy/church offices. Annotated list of "starting place" articles at ATLAS for this week's texts (includes direct links).
- Berge, Paul S., "The Word of Life in the Witness of the Cross," Word & World, 1988. (Section on this text begins on page 183.)
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Brusic, Robert M., "A River Ride with 1 John: Texts of the Easter Season," Word & World, 1997. (Section on this text begins on page 215.)
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Groll, Douglas, "Homiletical Helps on LW Series B - Epistles," Concordia Journal, 2006.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Hiebert, D. Edmond, "An Exposition of 1 John 2:29-3:12," Bibliotheca Sacra, 1989.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Modahl, Bruce, "At Table with the Saints," The Christian Century, 1997.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- vonWalde, Urban C., "The Stereotyped Structure and the Puzzling Pronouns of 1 John 2:28-3:10," The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 2002.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
- Wink, Walter, "Chips off the Old Block," The Christian Century, 1994.
  EBSCO ATLASerials, Religion Collection
  EBSCO ATLA Religion Database with ATLASerials
Sermons:
- "We Will Be Like Jesus," the Rev. Dr. Guy Sayles, Day 1, 2006.
- "My Little Children," Pastor Edward F. Markquart, Grace Lutheran Church, Seattle, Washington - Sermons from Seattle.
With Children:
- Worshiping with Children, Easter 3, Including children in the congregation's worship, using the Revised Common Lectionary, Carolyn C. Brown, 2015. 2012.
- "Storypath Lectionary Links: Connecting Children's Literature with our Faith Story," April 19, 2015, Union Presbyterian Seminary. 2012.
Drama:
Graphics & Bulletin Materials:
- Clip Art, 1 John 3:1, 1 John 3:1, Fr. Richard Lonsdale, Resources for Catholic Educators.
- Commercial Site: "Children of God," (1 John 3) Visual liturgy / videos for Easter 2B, The Work of the People.
Hymns and Music:
- "We're Children of God," Text: Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. This hymn, based 1 John 3:1-7, celebrates God's love in Jesus making us children of God. Tune: LYONS 10. 10. 11. 11 ("O Worship the King, All Glorious Above!").
- Hymnary.org, hymns, scores, media, information.
Movies scenes with the following themes, listed at The Text This Week's Movie Concordance:
Study Links and Resources for the Book of 1 John