1 John 3:1

This entire chapter, including also the last verse of 1 John 2, is a discussion dealing principally with the children of God. We cannot find agreement with those who make this section a treatise on the "love of God," although, of course, that subject is prominently mentioned. Aside from the opening verse, love is not mentioned until 1 John 3:11, and there it is not the love of God, but God's command that we should love one another. Orr's outline is a practical summary:

<MONO><SIZE=2>The Children of God[1].

I. The divine nature is manifested in God's children (1 John 3:1-18).

A. In their being like Christ (1 John 3:1-3).

B. In doing right (1 John 3:4-10).

C. In loving the brethren (1 John 3:11-18).

II. It is by practical obedience that we have reassurance and confidence (1 John 3:19-14).

A. Our love should be genuine (1 John 3:19).

B. A good conscience results in confidence (1 John 3:20-21).

C. Answer to prayer depends on obedience (1 John 3:22).

D. Three earmarks of true children: love, obedience, and faith (1 John 3:23-24).MONO>

As Wilder said, "It is this conception (of the children of God) that here enters this epistle and dominates the whole present section (1 John 3:1-24)."[2]

[1] R. W. Orr, A New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1969), p. 614.

[2] Amos N. Wilder, The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. XII (New York: Abingdon Press, 1957), p. 251.

Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called children of God; and such we are. (1 John 3:1a)

Behold what manner of love ... Smith tells us that the Greek here has the implication "of what country,"[3] suggesting that such love is not of earth but of that heavenly country, as if he had said, "what unearthly love!"[4] A. Plummer, however, denied that this is a legitimate deduction from the Greek.[5]

The Father hath bestowed upon us ... Christ used the expression "my Father," and taught his disciples to pray "our Father"; but the meaning here "includes both,"[6] with perhaps the additional thought that God is the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

That we should be called children of God ... The essential kinship of humanity with the Creator is glimpsed in such a concept as this, as it is seen also in the great truth underlying the doctrine of the Incarnation. God would not have become a man, unless it had been true that man had been created in God's image. The most glorious truth the world has ever received is in this invitation or "call" of God to become his children.

And such we are ... It is no empty title. The believers "in Christ" are genuine children of the Father in heaven. The word rendered "children" ("sons" in KJV) is [@tekna], that is, related to God by the new birth; and this is a closer relationship than that indicated by [@huioi] (Paul's word, stressing the analogy of adoption)."[7] While no doubt true, in a sense, such a comment should not obscure the fact that "adoption" in Paul's usage carries all of the full benefits and privileges of sons by generation, having also the advantage of illuminating the truth that sonship is all of grace.

For this cause the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (1 John 3:1b)

The reason for the world's hatred of Christians lies in their hostility to all truth and righteousness. They did not recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God. John's statement here, that the world did not know him, means that, "Although they saw the human Jesus, they did not recognize him as the Son of God."[8] In connection with the rejection of himself, Christ foretold the hatred of his followers (John 16:3); and in the holocaust so soon coming upon the Christians, the same root hatred of the light was assigned here as the reason behind it.

[3] David Smith, The Expositor's Greek New Testament, Vol. V (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967), p. 182.

[4] Harvey J. S. Blaney, Beacon Bible Commentary, Vol. 10 (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1967), p. 376.

[5] A. Plummer, Commentary on the Greek Text, Epistles of St. John (Cambridge, 1886), p. 71.

[6] James William Russell, Compact Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1964), p. 601.

[7] Harvey J. S. Blaney, op. cit., p. 376.

[8] J. W. Roberts, The Letters of John (Austin, Texas: R. B. Sweet Company, 1968), p. 77.