1 John 3:8 NKJV

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - 1 John 3:1-24

Sons of God 1 John 3:1 I. The grandest Title. Men will do much and endure many things for the sake of worldly honour. A man will work hard and deny himself, that he may obtain a title, or receive some cross or order from the hands of his sovereign. But these things do not last, the honour of a peerage cannot prolong a life, and the Victoria Cross, or the glittering order, must be laid on a coffin one day. The grandest title is that which the Father bestows upon us the sons of God. It means... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 John 3:1-18

IV. RIGHTEOUSNESS AND LOVE AS MANIFESTED BY THE CHILDREN OF GOD CHAPTERS 2:28-3:18 1. The children of God and their coming manifestation (1 John 2:28 -1 John 3:3 ) 2. Sin and the new nature (1 John 3:4-9 ) 3. Righteousness and love (1 John 3:10-18 ) 1 John 2:28 -1 John 3:3 . The address to the babes in Christ ended with the 27th verse, and now once more he speaks of the teknia, the little children, by which all believers are meant. The exhortation has been much misunderstood. It does not... read more

John Calvin

Geneva Study Bible - 1 John 3:8

3:8 {8} He that committeth sin is of the {i} devil; for the devil {k} sinneth from the {l} beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.(8) An argument taken by contrast: the devil is the author of sin, and therefore he is that serves sin is of the devil, or is ruled by the inspiration of the devil: and if he is the devil’s son, then is he not God’s son: for the devil and God are so contrary to one another that the Son of God was sent... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 3:1-24

This chapter continues the subject introduced in ch.2:28. Verse 29 has shown that righteousness is an absolute requirement. It is indeed a solid, sound basis for the precious bestowal of the love of the Father, as in verse 1: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the children of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.” Where the claims of righteousness are honorably and properly fulfilled, the love of the Father’s... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:1-24

GOD IS RIGHTEOUS The second cycle centers around the thought that God is righteous (1 John 2:29 ); hence, fellowship with God depends on doing righteousness. In the working out of the proposition the apostle speaks of three things: (1) The motive for doing righteousness: the hope we have through our sonship to God (1 John 3:1-10 ); (2) The test of doing righteousness: love to the brethren (1 John 3:11-18 ); and (3) The reward of doing righteousness: assurance of salvation (1 John 3:19 to 1... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 1 John 3:3-12

Practical Proofs 1Jn 3:3-12 Sometimes we think it is unspeakably comfortable to live in the society of John the Apostle, because he is so full of tenderness and love and fatherly clemency. He seems to have one subject, and to amplify it with the poetry of the heart; the subject of the Apostle is love: Love God, love one another, love the brethren. In no other part of Holy Writ is the word "love" so frequently and tenderly employed. Yet, if we listen to John wholly, that is to say to his... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - 1 John 3:4-12

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. (5) And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. (6) Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. (7) Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. (8) He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son... read more

George Haydock

George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary - 1 John 3:8

The devil sinneth from the beginning: not that he was created in sin, but sined soon after he was created. (Witham) read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible - 1 John 3:3-10

3-10 The sons of God know that their Lord is of purer eyes than to allow any thing unholy and impure to dwell with him. It is the hope of hypocrites, not of the sons of God, that makes allowance for gratifying impure desires and lusts. May we be followers of him as his dear children, thus show our sense of his unspeakable mercy, and express that obedient, grateful, humble mind which becomes us. Sin is the rejecting the Divine law. In him, that is, in Christ, was no sin. All the sinless... read more

Frank Binford Hole

F. B. Hole's Old and New Testament Commentary - 1 John 3:1-99

1John 3 VERSE 28 of Chapter 2 stands as a short paragraph by itself, and the second chapter would more fittingly have ended with it. Verse 29 begins another paragraph which extends to verse 1Jn_3:3 of chapter 3. At this point someone might well have desired to enquire But who are the children of God, and how exactly may they be distinguished from those who are not? The answer given here is that those who are born of God are the children of God, and that they may be distinguished by the doing... read more