1 John 3

1 John 3, part of the epistle of 1 John, written around AD 85–95 by the apostle John, likely from Ephesus, to Christians in Asia Minor facing false teachers, emphasizes the identity of believers as God’s children, the call to purity, and the evidence of true faith through love and obedience. John highlights God’s lavish love, contrasts righteousness with sin, and urges brotherly love as a mark of eternal life, countering the influence of false teachings.
Key Sections
Children of God (3:1–3): See God’s lavish love: He calls us His children, and we are! The world doesn’t know us, as it didn’t know Him. We’re God’s children now, but our future glory, revealed when Christ appears, will make us like Him, seeing Him as He is. This hope purifies us, as He is pure.
Righteousness vs. Sin (3:4–10): Sin is lawlessness; Christ appeared to take away sins, being sinless Himself. Those abiding in Him don’t keep sinning; persistent sinners haven’t seen or known Him. Don’t be deceived: the righteous do what’s right, like Christ. The devil’s children practice sin, as he’s sinned from the beginning. Christ came to destroy the devil’s works. Those born of God don’t persist in sin, as God’s seed abides in them, distinguishing God’s children from the devil’s by righteousness and love.
Love One Another (3:11–18): The message from the beginning is to love one another, unlike Cain, who murdered Abel out of evil, hating his righteous brother. Don’t be surprised if the world hates you. Loving brothers shows we’ve passed from death to life; haters abide in death. Murderers, like Cain, lack eternal life. Christ’s love, laying down His life, models ours: we should sacrifice for brothers, not withholding help from the needy, loving in deed, not just words.
Assurance and Obedience (3:19–24): Loving in truth reassures our hearts before God, even when we feel condemned, as He knows all. Confidence comes from pleasing Him, keeping His commandments, and doing what He desires. His command is to believe in Jesus and love one another. Those obeying abide in Him, confirmed by the Spirit He gave.
Cross-References
God’s Children: 
John 1:12–13: Born of God.

Romans 8:16–17: Heirs with Christ.

Philippians 3:20–21: Like His body.
Hope Purifies: 
Titus 2:11–13: Hope disciplines.

2 Corinthians 7:1: Cleanse from defilement.

Colossians 3:4: Appear with Him.
Sin and Christ: 
Hebrews 4:15: Sinless Christ.

Romans 6:6–7: Freed from sin.

John 8:34–36: Sin’s slavery.
Devil’s Works: 
Hebrews 2:14: Destroyed devil.

Acts 10:38: Opposed evil.

Genesis 3:15: Crush serpent.
Cain’s Hatred: 
Genesis 4:3–8: Cain’s murder.

Hebrews 11:4: Abel’s faith.

Matthew 5:21–22: Anger as murder.
Christ’s Love Model: 
John 15:13: Lay down life.

Ephesians 5:2: Sacrificial love.

Romans 12:9–10: Genuine love.
Spirit’s Assurance: 
Romans 8:9: Spirit dwells.

Galatians 4:6: Spirit cries Abba.

John 14:23: Abide in love.
Theological Meaning
Divine Adoption: God’s love makes believers His children, promising future glory (3:1–2; Romans 8:14–15).

Purity’s Call: Hope in Christ’s return motivates holy living, mirroring His purity (3:3; Ephesians 5:27).

Sin’s Incompatibility: Persistent sin contradicts being born of God, showing true allegiance (3:6–9; Romans 6:1–2).

Christ’s Mission: He removes sin and defeats the devil, enabling righteousness (3:5, 8; Colossians 2:15).

Love’s Evidence: Sacrificial love, like Christ’s, proves eternal life, unlike hatred (3:14–15; John 13:35).

Assured Confidence: Obedience and love grant bold prayer and Spirit-confirmed abiding (3:21–24; Hebrews 4:16).
Questions and Answers
What is God’s lavish love (3:1)?
Calling us His children, despite our unworthiness, with future glory (3:1; Ephesians 2:4–7).

How does hope purify (3:3)?
Expecting Christ’s return motivates living like His pure nature (3:3; 1 Peter 1:13–16).

What is “sin is lawlessness” (3:4)?
Sin defies God’s law, opposing His righteous will (3:4; Romans 7:7).

Why don’t God’s children keep sinning (3:9)?
God’s seed (Spirit/word) in them prevents persistent sin (3:9; Galatians 5:16).

Why mention Cain (3:12)?
His hatred contrasts love, showing evil’s root in rejecting righteousness (3:12; Hebrews 12:24).

How does love show life (3:14)?
Loving brothers proves passage from spiritual death to life (3:14; John 5:24).

How does this apply today?
Live purely, love sacrificially, and obey, assured by God’s Spirit (3:24; Colossians 3:12–14).
Additional Notes for Readers
Historical Context: Written to Christians in Asia Minor, facing Gnostic-like false teachers denying Jesus’ humanity or sin’s seriousness (3:4–10). John, likely in Ephesus, counters heresies during Domitian’s reign (AD 85–95). Hatred from the world (3:13) reflects social hostility.

Cultural Questions: “Children” (3:1) uses Jewish family imagery, resonant in synagogues (Deuteronomy 14:1). “Lawlessness” (3:4) evokes Jewish Torah violation, critical for readers (Psalm 119:1). “Devil” (3:8) reflects Jewish spiritual conflict, vivid in churches (Job 1:7). “Cain” (3:12) leverages Jewish scripture, familiar to believers (Genesis 4:7). “Lay down life” (3:16) echoes Greco-Roman sacrifice, bold in persecution (John 10:11). “Spirit” (3:24) uses Jewish pneumatic language, pivotal in Ephesus (Joel 2:28).

Application: 1 John 3 calls believers to live as God’s children, reject sin, and love sacrificially. It challenges hatred, persistent sin, and false teaching, urging purity, obedience, and confidence in God’s love in a hostile world (Romans 12:9–10; Ephesians 4:1–3).